Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis: Kung fu innovator Jimmy Wang Yu (One-Armed Boxer) blends wuxia mayhem with Seven Samurai in Beach Of The War Gods. In the waning days of the Ming dynasty, Japanese marauders raid villages on the Chinese coast. A wandering swordsman (Wang Yu) single-handedly dispatches a group of the invading thugs, and agrees to help defend the town. He assembles a core team of highly skilled warriors, including mercenary knife-thrower Leng Peng (Yeh Tien, Blood Of The Dragon) and hot-headed swordsman Iron Bull Chao (Han Hsieh, A Touch Of Zen). Together, they train the townsfolk to stand up to the pirates, using strategy and skill. When the army launches an all-out assault on the town, a ferocious battle rages, leading to final conflict on the Beach Of The War Gods. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Beach Of The War Gods ranks among Jimmy Wang Yu's best films, a briskly-paced historical adventure bursting with wild action. (97 Mins)

 

Joy Sales/Legendary Collection HK DVD Synopsis: During the last days of the Ming Dynasty, the coast of Southeast China was at the mercy of marauding of Japanese pirates. When Hangchow city was occupied, the general's cousin Hsiao Feng, a fencing master-hand, went to rescue his uncle but failed. When he arrived in a small town, he met Shinobu's army tyrannizing the common people. He tried to help them out and planned to organize them to fight against the enemy. When they knew that the enemy's army carrying the provender would arrive in 7 days, they decided to annihilate them in the Beach Of The War Gods and arranged everything well there. It was at night that the enemy arrived there and was hit by the trap. When rest of the arms rushed into the town, the Chinese people fought against them hard. Shinobu finally decided to fight with Hsiao alone and was killed (97 Mins)

 

Fan-made DVD Synopsis: The Wang Yu Repertory Company burst back onto the big screen with this spectacular epic version of The Seven Samurai. Wang Yu plays Hsio Feng, a famous knight who rallies up the people of a small fishing village in Hang Chow to fight against the tyranny of invading Japanese pirates. The villagers have been told that they must pay a sum of 200,000 taels of silver to the Japanese warlord Hashimoto (Lung Fei) or their village will be razed to the ground. Rather than see the loot fall into enemy hands, Feng suggests that the money be put to better use. So it is that he embarks on his quest to seek out some fierce warriors to help him in his just cause. On the way he meets five top fighters whom he (sometimes with great difficulty) signs up. The heroes gather at the small village and plan their strategy. Within days, Hashimoto and his 1,000 strong army land at the beach of the war gods. What follows is a half an hour of non-stop chivalry and bloodshed that will leave you totally breathless. (100 Mins)

 

Views: One of my all-time favourite Jimmy Wang Yu movies, Beach Of The War Gods celebrates its 50th birthday with an all-new gorgeous 2K restoration and Blu-ray release from Eureka Video that finally delivers the film the way he wanted us to see it! Written and directed by the man himself, this early Golden Harvest production has always sat strong with me and is Wang Yu's take on the Japanese classic Seven Samurai. Here, Wang Yu plays the wandering swordsman, Hsiao Feng, who turns up at a coastal town that is being targeted by Japanese pirates and offers to protect it from the invaders. Setting out to gather his own small army of fighters, Wang Yu soon finds the people he needs to help defend the town including a mysterious knife-throwing killer, a hot-headed swordsman, honourable spear fighter, and a kung-fu fighter who has mastered a pair of deadly shields. Together, they train the townsfolk up before the next attack which leads to an all-out fight to the death in the streets and on, the Beach of the War Gods!

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Loosely based on true historical events from the Wokou pirate wars in the mid 1500s, Beach Of The War Gods is almost perfect as a martial arts epic, with plenty of memorable characters – although with hardly a female in sight – slick cinematography, and fierce swordplay battles, allowing Beach Of The War Gods to carry a certain maturity that was often missing from Wang's Yu films around this period – although that same missing piece still often made for a fun ride. It's a film of two halves, with the first setting the story in place while introducing the main characters and focusing on their plans to thwart the enemy. And while there's a bit of swordplay strewn throughout, fight fans will get what they've been waiting for in the second half with a blistering, non-stop 40 minute fight scene that entertains right to the very last minute. With shades of King Hu and Akira Kurosawa running throughout, it's clear to see who inspired Jimmy Wang Yu when he was writing and directing the film. Shot in Taiwan for Golden Harvest, due to the stars exile from Hong Kong after his rocky departure from the Shaw Brothers studio, Beach Of The War Gods may not come across as lavish a production than those from his peers, but it certainly stands strong with the best of them. Ironically though, as one of the many Wang Yu films that sees his character resent his Nipponese neighbours – the kung-fu star was genuinely a dedicated fan of classic Japanese cinema, often quoting the likes of Toshiro Mifune as one of his favourite actors, and naming the legendary Katsu Shintaro as a close friend after starring alongside him in the fun Zatoichi & The One Armed Swordsman. It's also worth noting, however, that only two years after this film, King Hu would direct his own Japanese pirate-themed wuxia film with The Valiant Ones; a brilliant film that sees cameos and stunt-work from a young Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, and Yuen Biao, among many others – but I still feel that Beach Of The War Gods is a little more exciting in some respects.

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This would be the 5th directorial effort from the star after his debut with The Chinese Boxer for Shaw Brothers, two independent Taiwanese features called The Brave & The Evil and The Sword, and the awesome One-Armed Boxer for Golden Harvest. Over the period of seven years, the kung fu superstar would deliver ten films as the director, ironically opening this new chapter of his life with The Chinese Boxer before closing with its long awaited sequel, Return Of The Chinese Boxer. Made in 1973, Beach Of The War Gods was just one of nine productions he starred in that year – along with titles such as A Man Called Tiger, Seaman No.7, The Tattooed Dragon, and Ten Fingers Of Steel – and was just a few shy of his total from the previous year which saw him deliver at least one a month. For Beach Of The War Gods, Wang Yu directs as Wang Yu does, and while it may have the polish of a high-end Shaw Brothers production and macho blood-letting of a Chang Cheh picture, there's still a rawness to his style which I quite enjoy, and with Raymond Chow behind him once again, it's clear to see why the sets and costumes look fantastic. It's also worth noting how the film benefits from plenty of great visuals which, again, look even more amazing in this restored version. The man behind the lens was Chiu Yao Hu, a Taiwanese cinematographer who started in the industry on Pai Ying's Black Invitation. He would go on to shoot a number of films starring Polly Shang Kwan including The Bravest Revenge, The Grand Passion, and The Ghostly Face, before working with Jimmy Wang Yu on The Brave & The Evil which also starred the popular actress. After Beach Of The War Gods, Chiu would return to work with Wang on films such as Four Real Friends, One-Armed Boxer Vs The Flying Guillotine, and the aforementioned Return Of The Chinese Boxer.

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While most fans of kung-fu cinema hail Bruce Lee the greatest star, a claim that is hard to deny, I can't help but feel that someone as prolific as Jimmy Wang Yu – a true innovator of Hong Kong and Taiwanese martial arts cinema – deserves to be wearing that crown more than anyone with his own directorial debut The Chinese Boxer said to have been the film that inspired Bruce himself to return to Hong Kong. With over 80 film credits to his name, it's fair to say that Wang Yu kept himself busy over the course of his five decades spent in the industry during which time he worked with many of Hong Kong cinemas finest including Lo Lieh, Cheng Pei Pei, Lau Kar Leung, Angela Mao Ying, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Donnie Yen, and many, many more – not to mention most of his generations finest directors. Joining him here are a number of Wang Yu film regulars including the fantastic Lung Fei and Tien Yeh – both of whom are very a like in features I must admit. While the former plays the fearsome samurai leader of the Japanese, Tien Yeh stars as the mysterious master of knives, Leng Ping. Making his debut with The Commander Underground in 1967, Tien had quite a number of titles behind him before first starring with Wang Yu in the fun Magnificent Chivalry just a few years later. From there, the pair would star together in many titles over the years including The Sword, The Invincible Sword, The Hero, Furious Slaughter, One-Armed Boxer, and many more. Fighting alongside him and Wang is Iron Bull Chao, played by the popular Hsueh Han; a prolific actor with over 200 credits to his name including King Hu's Dragon Inn and A Touch Of Zen, as well as many of the aforementioned Jimmy Wang Yu vehicles. Kwan Hung, who also worked with his co-stars in many of the previous titles, stars as the twin-spear fighter and also doubles-up as the action-choreographer for the film. As well as starring in around 90 titles over 3 decades, Kwan directed the action on a number of 1970s titles and directed his own feature in 1988 with New Miracle Fighters.

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As mentioned, the Japanese are led by the intimidating Lung Fei who stars as the brutal pirate leader, Shinobu Hashimoto – ironically the name of the popular Japanese screenwriter and director who frequently collaborated with Akira Kurosawa and delivered Japanese cinematic classics such as Rashomon, Hidden Fortress, Seven Samurai, Revenge, Throne Of Blood, Harakiri, and Sword Of Doom, respectively. Was this, perhaps, Wang Yu's tribute to the man that helped inspire many of his own works? Often seen as the bad guy of a thousand classics Lung Fei, much like his co-star Tien Yeh, joined forces with Wang Yu on Magnificent Chivalry after starring in a host of Taiwanese kung-fu classics. As such, Fei would go on to star in a host of Jimmy his classics, as well as many other kung-fu greats including Gold Snatchers, New Game Of Death, Shaolin Avengers, Flash Legs, 7 Grandmasters, A Massacre Survivor, World Of The Drunken Master, and many more. Joining him to fight with the Japanese are kung-fu stars Shan Mao, Tsai Hung, Su Chen Ping, Hsieh Hsing, Wang Yung Sheng, and a young Jack Long – star of classics such as the aforementioned 7 Grandmasters and World Of Drunken Master, Born Invincible, Mystery Of Chess Boxing, Ninja Hunter, and so much more.

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Around the 50 minute mark, we witness leads his men on the beach for battle at night, resulting in a major loss of men due to Wang's preparation. A second attempt the following morning kicks-off a breathtaking 40 minutes of constant fighting which does not disappoint! Inspired by the classic Samurai films of Japanese cinema, complete with Wang Yu's unique touch, the lengthy battle spreads out across the town causing the enemy to get lost in the streets while the newly trained locals do their best to take them down. Make no mistake, there's no holding back here as gangs of men leap from rooftops in unison, as a thousand blades flash across the screen, and lengthy one-shots track through the carnage without a hiccup leaving a body-count that seems pretty equal on both sides. Wang Yu is just brilliant here as he cuts through the enemy with more speed and ferocity than usual – his white robes gradually getting redder with blood as he fights on. It seems that with this action-packed finale, every 10 minutes that pass, Wang Yu ramps things up even more with harder violence, faster fights, and the carnage that ensues once Lung Fei joins the battle. Believe it or not, after all that and a 2 minute breather, the film closes with a lengthy one-on-one as the awesome Jimmy Wang Yu takes on Lung Fei in a fight to the death. Its a fantastically choreographed fight scene on and around a windmill on the beach – which includes a great WTF moment before delivering a truly memorable finish, bringing to close what could possibly be some of Kwan Hung's best work as a choreographer, and is an ending that rivals even the greatest of Shaw Brothers films!

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Overall: An incredible piece of martial arts cinema, Beach Of The War Gods is one of Wang Yu's greatest moments, and an absolute classic!

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Eureka Video Blu-ray Extras: 2K Restoration, Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng, Beached: Arne Venema & Mike Leeder discuss Beach Of The War Gods, Archival Interview with Jimmy Wang Yu, Stills Gallery, Trailer

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Joy Sales/Legendary Collection DVD Extras: Trailer

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Get your copy HERE

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Watch my unboxing video for the Eureka Video Blu-ray release HERE