Criterion Challenge 202426. Hong Kong CinemaSpiritual Kung Fu, directed by Lo Wei, 1978
Jackie Chan’s physicality is showcased so well in this early film from his during his rising in popularity in Hong Kong. Playing a student at a Shaolin temple, Chan has to content with ghosts that hold the secrets to a long-lost martial art. The way these spirits are woven into the story lead to some great comedy, the first few using some fun special effects in order to give the ghosts a translucent look as they terrorize the temple.
It’s so plain to see how this helped build Jackie Chan’s rise to stardom. His screen presence is so well defined as a skilled martial artist, actor, and even clown. Lo Wei’s discovery of him, especially so soon after his discovery of Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury, definitely played a part in that. Lo Wei gives every single piece of action enough room to really read and while it lacks some of the emphasis that Jackie Chan would insert through snappy editing in films that he directed himself, Wei makes sure that action, like comedy, is easy to follow.
Criterion Challenge 202426. Hong Kong CinemaSpiritual Kung Fu, directed by Lo Wei, 1978
Jackie Chan’s physicality is showcased so well in this early film from his during his rising in popularity in Hong Kong. Playing a student at a Shaolin temple, Chan has to content with ghosts that hold the secrets to a long-lost martial art. The way these spirits are woven into the story lead to some great comedy, the first few using some fun special effects in order to give the ghosts a translucent look as they terrorize the temple.
It’s so plain to see how this helped build Jackie Chan’s rise to stardom. His screen presence is so well defined as a skilled martial artist, actor, and even clown. Lo Wei’s discovery of him, especially so soon after his discovery of Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury, definitely played a part in that. Lo Wei gives every single piece of action enough room to really read and while it lacks some of the emphasis that Jackie Chan would insert through snappy editing in films that he directed himself, Wei makes sure that action, like comedy, is easy to follow.
