Just perfect...

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

THE MAN FROM HONG KONG is another splendid 'Ozploitation' classic from British director Brian Trenchard-Smith, and one of my three favourite movies that he made (along with TURKEY SHOOT and THE SIEGE OF FIREBASE GLORIA); all offer endless entertainment value. This one's a Bond knock-off that mines the-then craze for kung fu madness with the tale of a Hong Kong cop who comes to Australia on the hunt for a massive drug lord. Said drug lord is played by former Bond George Lazenby, who acts up a storm as one of the screen's biggest and most imposing heavies. The hero of the hour is none other than former Shaw man Jimmy Wang Yu, an actor who I've always enjoyed seeing on screen, and he's certainly an electrifying presence here, doing the majority of his own stunts and proving versatile and athletic throughout. The film is a straight-up action classic and limited plotting, but tons of great and bloody fights and vehicle chases that are huge fun, especially the gruelling extended fight between Wang Yu and the assassin. Supporting stars include those familiar and humorous Aussie actors Roger Ward and Hugh Keays-Byrne and a wealth of Hong Kong talent, not least Sammo Hung in a surprisingly big role. I loved it!

If it's plentiful action, you're after, and you like some nice sights of Sydney, set your sights on this flick. It a full on non stop, wonderfully orchestrated action extravaganza, you must witness, some violence here and there, but again I reiterate, action packed. The film is so cool, as in the way it's real one note plot, is manipulated and stretched by all the action sequences. taking up most of the film. I've never got more exhausted, looking at Ayers Rock for one thing. Here's what the simple plot consists of. Heavyweight Asian cop comes to Sydney to assist with the operation of a drug muel, busted at the Rock. Forced to testify, against drug czar, Jack Wilton (Lazenby, ruthlessly fantastic) due to some heavy persuasion on Inspector Fung Sung Ling's part (Jimmy Wung Yu) he's shot. Now the rest of the film, the one note plot, has Wang yu, trying to get to Wilton, where he encounters a few obstacles, which finally becomes a mission of revenge, plus an explosion encore. This film is just an action showcase, but it's a brilliant action showcase, on a high scale, but that's it. That doesn't constitute for a good film. It just constitutes, for bubblegum action escapism, and it works tremendously. But just watching it, you may become fit, because it's an exhausting action fare. Too, watching Jimmy Wung Yu, is quite fun, but he's not the best of leading men or ones that can act.

The biggest criminal in Australia is one Jack Wilton (Lazenby). He has his hands in everything: drug running, gun running, prostitution, and he even cheats when he practices Kung-Fu. Inspector Fang Sing Leng (Yu), of the Hong Kong Special Branch, has traveled to Australia to take him down. Working with the local police, Fang infuriates them because he has no rules and is a one-man wrecking crew. All of Wilton's forces are after Fang - but can any force on earth stop THE MAN FROM HONG KONG? Wow. They truly don't make 'em like this anymore. What a shame. Starting from the great opening sequence with no dialogue, on through the exciting climax, The Man From Hong Kong delivers the goods and then some. The plot is perfectly simple, enough so that the movie can be packed with interesting locations, cool music, exciting stunts, tons of Martial Arts and car-chase setpieces, and still have likable characters as well. Not only is it well-shot, it's all directed and edited with verve and energy. We salute the great Brian Trenchard-Smith, who, despite anything else he will ever do, will be a legend for this movie and Stunt Rock (1980).The movie is rife with 70's style - just check out Lazenby's "'stache-fu", and his baddie pad (not to be confused with a bachelor pad). Also we get an excellent knock-down, drag-out fight between Yu and the great Grant Page which is as enjoyable as everything else in this superb movie. And there's still time for some romance, as represented by the beautiful Rebecca Gilling as Angelica. On top of that, there's some humor, mostly represented by Hugh Byrne and his great hair as cop Morrie Grosse. Because it was the 70's, the stunts are real, and there's no political correctness. It's all just a perfect cocktail of pure, enjoyable entertainment. It's just comforting to know there are writer/directors out there that GET IT. That understand great audience-pleasing tactics.Everyone here is at their best, and of course it doesn't skimp on the action. Sammo Hung is even on board, no doubt due to the fact that this movie was co-produced by Raymond Chow and Golden Harvest. It's filled with "yes!" moments, which we believe we've mentioned before, where as a viewer, something so cool happens, you just have to yell out, "yes!".Everything is done right in this awesome film, and the 2-disc Australian DVD pays this great movie a nice tribute. If you can find it, it seems to be the ultimate way to own this classic. Shockingly, this movie was not released on VHS in the U.S. until Tai Seng did a quiet, under-the-radar release in 2001. Because it didn't receive a golden-age VHS release on, say, Vestron, Paragon, Lightning, or a label like that, the movie's cult stature grew, but mainly in other territories around the world. With the advent of DVD, this can be rectified, and all can now see this fine film.Featuring the ultra-catchy, legendary song "Sky High" by the great band Jigsaw, The Man From Hong Kong is a must-see.For more action insanity, please visit: www.comeuppancereviews.com

The hero, Yu Wang, is a poor man's Bruce Lee in this action film which is a poor man's James Bond adventure. It's an astonishingly lame-brained movie, with no plot or suspense: instead, it provides endless fight sequences which produce more yawns (from us) than thrills. As for George Lazenby, who plays the villain, he has absolutely no charm as an actor, but at least here he's passable and ALMOST makes you forget his Bond past...