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Last Hurrah for Chivalry
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List Price: $29.98
Our Price: $26.99
Your Save: $ 2.99 ( 10% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
Starring: Damian Lau, Pai Wei, Chau Wa Ngai, Kong Lau, Hark-On Fung
Directed By: John Woo
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Average Customer Rating: 
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Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0601643045344
Format: Color
Label: Tai Seng
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Tai Seng
Region Code: 0
Release Date: 2000-07-25
Running Time: 107
Studio: Tai Seng
Theatrical Release Date: 1978
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Editorial Reviews:
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In the Chinese wu hsia (martial chivalry) genre, sword-swinging heroes are often referred to as "altruists," and it's that aspect of the legend that gets a workout in this 1978 John Woo effort. Kao (Lau Kong), the duplicitous pivotal character, has purchased a beautiful wife for 1,000 taels of gold; alas, his rival, the prodigious fighter Pei, has paid her 2,000 taels to kill him. The moral is that when loyalty can be purchased, it no longer exists. The central action unfolds against this backdrop of a cynical, mercenary world. Kao selects a couple of fighters as soldiers in his quest for revenge, but being rare and noble souls they won't fight for money alone. Only after Kao, in a calculated move, helps Chang's dying mother will the fighters agree to take the case. This is only a moderately successful action movie, but it was a crucial stepping-stone in Woo's career: the action scenes, the highly emotional friendships, and the romantic music recall Chang Cheh, who Woo credits as an inspiration for his later gangster pictures, A Better Tomorrow and The Killer. The mournful resignation, the fading values, even the final assault on the baddie's headquarters, all these flourishes became staples of the Hong Kong gang films of the 1980s--though the gang flicks can't boast eccentric characters like the Sleeping Wizard, who fights in his sleep. --David Chute
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: one fine flick
Comment: As this classic opens, we find a couple of characters in vastly different positions. With one being a drunk, assasin for hire that has no morals at all. Add in a little bit of romance that is rebuffed repeatedly by the would be assassin and the woman who longs for his affection. Then we have another that's more into doing his own thing but is very well known for his martial arts skills. There's a 3rd party that plays pretty prominently in this film as well. It seems that his intentions are good when he tries to hire the skilled martial arts fighter. Its over revenge for his family that were killed.
Its what we are led to believe at least. I won't give out what it's really over. But i must say that i didnt see that one coming at all. For a film of this age, it transfers well as things are bright and lively. The colors and backgrounds are well done and of course the fighting is very well done. 2 on 1, 1 on 1, several on 1. Its pretty much all covered in this flick that should be added to everyone's DVD collection as soon as possible. Your able to watch this in Cantonese or English. I prefer the original language and reading the subtitles. It has more of an effect for me.
"Last Hurrah for Chivalry" is one film that holds your attention throughout.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: A Classic Tale Of Swordplay
Comment: John Woo leaves us a visual swordplay extravaganza in the,Last Hurrah For Chivalry,filmed 1978,nothing short of blood,violence,action,with a trace of comedy,two fighters are hired to eliminate a warlord who is accused of murdering a Chinese master's family,a good plot that changes like the seasons,excellent fight choreography,and a non-stop action adventure,surrounded with endless shady characters,makes this a martial arts film meant to be seen,and a sure-fire early example of the potential in moviemaking for director John Woo,this is a Dragon Dynasty dvd,16x9 widescreen,featuring interviews with some of the actors.(the transfer of the video could have been better,the sound is 5.1 surround.)
Customer Rating:
Summary: Clearly one of the best.
Comment: My reviews basically state if the movie is worth buying or not.This movie in my opinion is one of the greatest kung fu movies of all time.It has a great storyline,many great characters(who all can fight),and great fighting scenes.All make up a great kung fu movie.I rank it up there with Fearless as one of the best.
Another quality this has is even the stars rather good or bad take hits.I hate kung fu movies where the stars barely get touched.I loved 36 chambers but I wouldnt give it a 5 because after he learned shaolin kung fu they made him look invincible.No one even barely landed a blow and they all were supposed to be great fighters.In real fighting both fighters take blows,the question is who lands the most fatal blow.
I can watch this movie a thousand times and wont get tired of it.Really a sad ending though but this is a must see.Dont hesitate.I copped this bad boy on tape for 1 cent and that was the most valueable buy in my life.
Customer Rating:
Summary: What to say that hasn't been said-a short and simple review
Comment: LHfC is a great movie. Since it's a Dragon Dynasty release it means that the picture is as good as you're going to find on anything this old. The audio is flawless. Of course, the presentation of the menus and extras is top-notch.
The biggest point I'd like to make is that John Woo not only directed this film, he also wrote it. He hasn't done much in the way of writing when it comes to his US films. But back in HK, he wrote just about every one of his major films. To me, that makes this film all the better. If you are a Woo fan, but have somehow missed this, you'll love it. It is trademark Woo.
2 friends who fight side by side-check. Slo-mo combined with slick choreography-check. Slick moving camera that takes on a life of its own-check. Sense of epic and grandeur-check. Doves flying just prior to a major action scene-che. . .OK, so it doesn't have ALL the Woo trademarks. But most of them.
The story is very solid and takes some turns to keep it from being just standard action fare. If you enjoy Kung Fu flicks, this one is excellent. While it's not Crouching Tiger or Hero and isn't loaded with wire-fu. It is definitely the predecessor of these films and is most enjoyable, even by today's standards.
I really thought I would have to lower my expectations a bit since it was an older film that would primarily have the 'rhythmic' kung fu you could set a metronome to. But even that played out well, and more creatively than I would have thought. There's a ton of action, the characters are fun and have some dimension, the story flows well and is creative, and it's just a good movie. Any fan of martial arts flicks should more than easily be able to enjoy this one.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting as a Woo historical piece...
Comment: Fast forwarded through bit; typical chopsocky ham-handed melodrama and physical comedy (no Jackie Chan/Stephen Chow for a while yet...).
Looking at the two protagonists, one really can see the progression from here to the crime movies that Woo is so good at. (I met Lance Henriksen of 'Hard Target', and he said nothing but positive things about working with John Woo.)
I'm a fan of John Woo, but I have to admit that he couldn't do too much with this movie as he had a formula he was forced to follow. Also, comparing the action to something like Donnie Yen's work in Hero or Shanghai Knights is a night and day difference.
As much as fans will not agree with me on this, my argument against Last Hurrah is: in the pantheon of Chinese period piece/kung fu films, does this movie rank in the top five?
If you can get this on the cheap, or as a rental, I'd recommend it. Otherwise...
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