Shout Factory US Blu-ray Synopsis: When a vengeful Japanese gangster has out heroes' mother murdered and one of their girlfriends kidnapped, it's terror in Tokyo and horror in Hong Kong in this renowned sequel to Duel of Fists (featuring director Chang Cheh in a rare on-screen appearance as a triad boss). The esteemed Yasuaki Kurata, the future co-star of Jet Li's Fist of Legend, adds to the fight-filled fun in a film filled with international favourites. (93 Mins)

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Black Hill Pictures German Blu-ray Synopsis: The sequel to Chang Cheh's contemporary actioner Fan Chi - Deadly Vengeance is in no way inferior to Part 1 in terms of fistfights, betrayal and murder. Fan Ke (Chiang) and his brother Wen Lieh (Lung), who runs a martial arts school in Hong Kong, learn that the killer whose leg Wen Lieh shattered in a fight, has escaped from prison. Assisted by the gang of Tokyo-based Japanese Yamaguchi (Cheh), he kills the brothers' mother and captures Wen Lieh's bride Yu Lan. With the help of his whip he wants to blackmail the two brothers until Yamaguchi makes them a lucrative offer. (90 Mins)

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Views: The surprising sequel to the 1971 Shaw Brothers hit, Duel Of Fists, sees the 'iron triangle' of David Chiang, Ti Lung and director Chang Cheh return to continue the story of the new-found brothers. I guess a sequel for the legendary director was such a rare thing, as he would often have his heroes killed in some violent way at the end of his movies – something that quickly became his trade. After a brief flashback that reminds viewers of what went on previously in Thailand, the film opens right where it ended (give or take a week). Thai gangster Chen Sing, who had gotten his leg badly-broken during the end battle in Duel Of Fists, has since been locked up but it doesn't take him long to make a plan of escape. After knocking-out a passing prison guard and stealing his keys, Chen manages to abseil down the prison wall with the help of his old friends who are waiting outside! Back in Hong Kong, Chiang is still running his construction site (complete with more fun outfits like before) while Ti Lung is now teaching at their fathers martial-arts school. Life is good, and all seems well until (almost within minutes), the semi-crippled Chen Sing shows up in Hong Kong for revenge – killing off their kung-fu brothers one-by-one. One such victim meets-his-maker right outside the school when Chen drives a truck right into him, and crushes him up against the wall before speeding off. It doesn't take long for our two heroes to give chase on their motorbikes in a scene I was actually quite impressed with, as both actors prove to do it all themselves...

 

With no helmets on, Chiang and Lung weave around on-coming traffic, smash through wooden barricades and climb from their bikes onto the truck, while still in motion. In an attempt to shake them off, Chen drives the truck over the cliff edge – with the truck exploding as it rolls down the hill but like any good villain, he manages to survive. Later that night, Chen returns to the school to cause more trouble and with the actions that follow, you just know that this guy holds one hell-of-a-grudge! Shooting a grappling-hook from the street, Chen climbs the rope with his trusted crutch in-hand and soon gains access to a bedroom balcony. Once inside, he attempts to stab the sleeping person in the bed only to find out he's been fooled by the heroic duo who are lying in wait. A brief scuffle between them is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious lady, who claims to have Ti Lung's girlfriend, Yu Lan, held hostage and offers a trade for Chen Sing to go free – a deal they quickly agree to. With their focus now set on saving the girl, things quickly shifts to Tokyo where we find the mysterious girl and Chen Sing colluding with Japanese gangster and karate master Katsu, played by the legendary Yasuaki Kurata. Once the heroes arrive in the city and get past some lengthy establishing shots, they are escorted to meet the big Yakuza boss, Yamaguchi, who is played by director Chang Cheh himself – a dastardly gangster that enjoys his 'James Bond inspired' villain's set-piece and showing off that blackened smile of his to everyone!

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Fight choreographers Tong Kai and Lau Kar Leung also return, and with things kept out of the ring this time round, they get the chance to make the fights a little more exciting. Even though Lau Kar Leung had been an actor and action-choreographer on over 100 films by this stage, he hadn't quite honed his skill as yet - with certain names of talent unable to deliver some genuine moves no doubt. I just found that, while the moves were quick, they still seemed to be quite stilted and uninspiring at times – perhaps more suited to a late 1960's kung-fu flick than a modern-day action film. It would be a couple of years after this before Leung started delivering the fights and choreography that we all talk about today, and became a legendary filmmaker in his own right. Tong Kai, who started acting just a year after Kar Leung, started his career as an action-choreographer in the 1962 film The Flaming Mountain for director Mok Hong See. He went onto choreograph over 190 in total, many of which were alongside Lau and for Chang Cheh respectively, and in '83 made his directorial debut with his first film Shaolin Prince, which starred Ti Lung and Chiang's brother Derek Yee (the famed director). Tong would quickly follow this with Shaolin Intruders (once again with Yee) and the awesome Opium & The Kung Fu Master a year later that saw Ti Lung return. David Chiang, who looks like a boy in this role with hardly an ounce of muscle on him, continues with his usual style of stiff kicks and flailing arms – looking like he took more inspiration from Jimmy Wang Yu, who was definitely not the most graceful of on-screen fighters. But it's really the handsome Ti Lung who shines in the action department, proving once again that he was a much better physical-performer than his equally famous co-star. And while there are numerous small bouts throughout, it would be the last 30 or 40 minutes of the film that really showcases the best of the action. From a throw-down with the great Bolo Yeung (who looks like he just came off-set from a shoot for the latest Village People music video) to a violent and lengthy gang fight, that eventually sees the heroic duo go up against the always impressive Yasuaki Kurata in the grand finale – it does theoretically, save the best for last. I must also note that this was also the Japanese superstar's debut role for Shaw Brothers, and possible in the Hong Kong film industry also. As with Duel Of Fists, there are plenty of recognizable faces to keep an eye for such as many members of the Yuen Clan, members from the original Jackie Chan Stunt Team, Lau Kar Wing, San Kuai, Philip Ko, Yen Shi Kwan, Chui Fat, and many more...

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With Duel Of Fists having been set in Thailand for the majority of its running time, it was nice to see The Angry Guest shift from Hong Kong to the colourful and bustling metropolis of Tokyo, from the 30 minute mark. And although there are many moments of unintentional comedy laced throughout (many of which are provided by Chen Sing from his attacks to his death), the mood is still quite dark, the fights are enjoyable, and the clothes are outrageous. The Angry Guest may not be the best of the bunch from the team involved, but it does pass the time and I did quite enjoy it for the most part. One thing I do hate about Chang Cheh's movies though, is when he wastes so much running time showing every single member of a gang revealing something – such as an axe in Boxer From Shantung. Here, it's everyone taking their jackets off to show their matching vests. It's long, it's boring, and by the fifth person we already get it! Regardless, it's a small gripe and doesn't really ruin anything in the grand scheme of things, leaving The Angry Guest as an entertaining piece that has enough good moments!

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Overall: Typically 'chop-socky' for its time and a tad over-long for what's involved, The Angry Guest is a fun action-drama that has its moments, yet is far from the best of what the 'iron triangle' involved have delivered!

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Shout Factory Blu-ray Extras: Audio Commentary by James Mudge, Trailer

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Black Hill Blu-ray Extras: Trailers, Photo Gallery

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Watch my unboxing video of the Black Hill German release HERE 

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Watch my unboxing of this Shout Factory release HERE