New Kung Fu Cult Master (2022) poster
7.1
Your Rating: 0/10
Ratings: 7.1/10 from 104 users
# of Watchers: 305
Reviews: 4 users
Ranked #59125
Popularity #15021
Watchers 104

It continues the cliffhanger from The Kung Fu Cult Master, where Zhang Wu Ji heads out to find Zhao Min in Dadu. Unlike the righteous hero in the novels, Zhang Wu Ji's journey is much darker as he turns vengeful. Zhang Wu Ji takes the Nine Yang Manual back to the Ice Fire Island. Under Xie Xun's tutelage, he finally masters a divine martial arts technique and becomes attuned to the way of the king. Having been oppressed for being weak, Zhang Wuji realizes that the only way he can take revenge is to seize power because his real enemy is the political force behind Cheng Kun. It took Zhang Wu Ji 20 years before returning to Bright Peak. He is no longer indecisive and distracted by romantic entanglements because he is set on his goal to do whatever it takes to become the Ming Sect leader and then to become King. (Source: ChineseDrama.info) Edit Translation

  • English
  • magyar / magyar nyelv
  • dansk
  • Norsk

Cast & Credits

  • Raymond Lam in New Kung Fu Cult Master Hong Kong Movie (2022)
    Raymond Lam
    Zhang Wu Ji
    Main Role
  • Janice Man in New Kung Fu Cult Master Hong Kong Movie (2022)
    Janice Man
    Zhao Min [Mongol Princess]
    Main Role
  • Sabrina Qiu in New Kung Fu Cult Master Hong Kong Movie (2022)
    Sabrina Qiu
    Zhou Zhi Ruo [Fourth Leader of Emei Sect]
    Main Role
  • Yun Qian Qian in New Kung Fu Cult Master Hong Kong Movie (2022)
    Yun Qian Qian
    Xiao Zhao [Sacred Maiden]
    Support Role
  • Louis Koo in New Kung Fu Cult Master Hong Kong Movie (2022)
    Louis Koo
    Zhang Cui Shan [Fifth Hero of Wudang]
    Support Role
  • Donnie Yen in New Kung Fu Cult Master Hong Kong Movie (2022)
    Donnie Yen
    Zhang San Feng [Founder of Wudang]
    Support Role

Photos

New Kung Fu Cult Master (2022) photo
New Kung Fu Cult Master (2022) photo
New Kung Fu Cult Master (2022) photo

Reviews

Completed
simian33
2 people found this review helpful
Feb 10, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 2.0

A beat for beak remake of Wong Jing’s original film but done much worse

Some of you may remember back in 1993 Wong Jing directed a film called Kung Fu Cult Master starring Jet Li. It was meant to be a 2 parter with a sequel lined up but the 1st film failed critically and commercially. Subsequently the film garnered a cult following but there wasn't much demand for a remake. Wong Jing along with Hong Kong DP Keung Kwok Man brings us an updated version of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber tale, titled New Kung Fu Cult Master 1 as the title suggest this is the first in a 2 parter. The release on streaming platform already tells you about the quality of the film.

The film sees the 6 martial arts schools wanting to eradicate the so called evil faction but each school has their own agenda and wants to be ruler of the martial arts world. We follow Zhang Wuji (Raymond Lam) a child born from the father of the good martial society and the mother of the evil martial society. After years of seclusion Wuji's parents decides to return to the martial arts world but there arrival is met with the 6 martial arts schools who kills Wuji's father in the process. Years pass and the now adult Wuji with his new found friend Xiao Zhao (Yun Qianqian) overhear that all the years of feud between the good and evil factions were orchestrated by the government in secret lead by Zhao Min (Janice Man). During their little escapade Xiao Zhao is injured and Wuiji has to take her to Guang Ming mountain the base of the evil sect but due to a scheme of the 6 martial arts schools those at Guang Ming mountain mistake Wuji as a fraud. During this moment the 6 martial arts school storm the mountain to confront the evil sect and end them once and for all but Wuji manages to prevent this from happening resulting in the 6 schools retreating. Wuji is made the new leader of the evil faction and he goes to warn Wudang members of an impending attack but it's too late and he is confronted by Zhao Min.

The story is actually more complex but it will be difficult for me to cover the large amount of details present in the film. There are just way too many characters even for 2 films to cover. The film is based on the novels by famed Wuxia author Louis Cha whose complex story has been adapted many times before and I fondly remember watching the story unfold on a TV serial, it had so much time to flesh out characters and plot points while this film struggles to effectively juggle so much that's happening often skipping onto events rapidly and introducing characters with no explanation or contribution to the story.

The film is produced by the Shaw Brothers company which owns TVB so we are presented with a host of TVB actors, with Raymond Lam headlining the title character. Sadly Raymond Lam processes little charm and is rather bland in the role. The biggest names are of course Donnie Yen and Louis Koo but both are extended cameos only. Louis Koo looks bored and is killed of near the beginning as for Donnie Yen it felt like he could be played by anyone and appears during the beginning and near the end with little to do. Neither Janice Man nor Yun Qianqian can do justice to what Sharla Cheung and Chingmy Yau did for the roles. Janice Man in particular lacks the authoritive nature that the role demands often coming across as weak.

Budget constraints are apparent throughout with sets looking straight out of TV series and the costumes are just so cartoon. Lighting is not much better again looking like a TV serial just spruced up with some added shadows here and there opposed to the washed out look we get from TVB. It’s troubling when you consider that one half of the directors is a DP of renown for works on One Night in Mongkok and Seven Swords. Then there are scenes with a sparsity of extras and it really makes the scenes look small scale.

Comparisons to the original Kung Fu Cult Master film is inevitable and man does this film pale in comparison. The film almost follows the original film beat for beat. The structure and set pieces are pretty much the same but done much worse.

The fights looks like they are done for TV, they are quick and devoid of any creativity. CGI and wire work is the order of the day. Raymond Lam is no Jet Li but they could have tried doing more with him, instead we get these awkward fight scenes that feels tired and uninteresting. Donnie Yen gets a very mundane fight during the beginning and nothing after that. Then we have set pieces rip straight from the original Kung Fu Cult Master, the original we saw Jet Li versus Cho Wing in an impressive display of kung fu skills, this new version sees Raymond Lam take on martial arts actor Oscar Li where horrible CGI is featured throughout. It then has the audacity to implement the same situation where we see Oscar Li’s eagle claw ripping into the pillar which was something that played out in the original film. The ending is an orgy of CGI, energy beams coming out of the swords and things explode. Even with a host of credible fighters such as Donnie Yen, Xiong Xin Xin, Shi Yanneng, Yu Kang and Louis Fan not an ounce of quality fight choreography comes from this film. There’s also this awkward undercranking that is used occasionally in the film and this also filters into the fights.

One positive is that there’s none of the crass humour that featured in the original version.

I think my biggest enjoyment from this film was spotting celebrities like Elvis Tsui, Mars, Jade Leung, Shi Yanneng, Xiong Xin Xin, Louis Fan but none of this makes the film worth sitting through.

For more reviews:
https://asiancinemabox.wixsite.com/home/blog
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCem8JwdEFUzyDxYuM8sd8UA

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
theWatchingDuck
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 3, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Love It!

Just finished watching both parts of the movie and I quite enjoy this 2 part movies. The movie in my opinions feels more complete and less draggy. I really like how the heaven sword and dragon sabre has more story and action in it compare to the 2019 and 2001 version of it. The fight scenes you may ask? I Love It!. You can actually see them fight it out instead of just playing with ' The Force' ( you know...the star wars thingy). There is a good combination and balance of fast and slow motion fights too.I wont be commenting much on the acting ...they are all very ok.I dont see raymond lam age as a problem to me imo. Music? A cantonese song for the cantonese version would be great. But the mandarin one is still really really good!. Will I rewatch again? Well, yes and i will rewatch when i feel that its time too. Ok, thats all from me. This review may not really be too deep, or too in depth....cause i am a lazy man :P.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?

Recommendations

There have been no recommendations submitted. Be the first and add one.

Recent Discussions

Be the first to create a discussion for New Kung Fu Cult Master

Details

  • Movie: New Kung Fu Cult Master
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Release Date: Jan 31, 2022
  • Duration: 1 hr. 54 min.
  • Content Rating: Not Yet Rated

Statistics

  • Score: 7.1 (scored by 104 users)
  • Ranked: #59125
  • Popularity: #15021
  • Watchers: 305

Top Contributors

39 edits
33 edits
20 edits
19 edits

Popular Lists

Related lists from users
Completed Movies: Ranked 2022
375 titles 13 loves 2
Shows I Watched in 2022
282 titles 2 loves

Recently Watched By