(Hong Kong 1992) 

Original Title: Xi Leng Xue Shi San Ying 新冷血十三鷹

 

Directed by Tsui Fat Produced by Tsui Fat Action by Tsui Fat Stunt Team Starring: Cynthia Khan, Waise Lee, Chung Fat, Yen Shi Kwan, Wan Seung Lam, Lau Ji Wai, Anthony Cho, Ng Ting Ko, Wan Seung Lam Reviewing: Eastern Heroes UK VHS Release Genres: New Wave / Wuxia 

​

Rating: 3.7 / 5

Eastern Heroes Video Synopsis: Cynthia Khan (Force Of The Dragon) leads the way in this action packed period piece drama. A band of highly skilled martial artists, the 13 Cold Blooded Eagles, are instructed by their leader, the Foster Father, to destroy surrounding kung fu schools in search of the Skills Book, knowing that whoever possesses it will unlock its martial arts secrets and become invincible. On their quest they face many obstacles, including the Shin Shu monster, a creature who practices the star bleeding skill, allowing his body to be penetrated by daggers and swords without being killed. A skillfully directed film with excellent fight sequences employing a range of weaponry and fast paced kung fu to mostly violent effect. A cross between Chang Cheh's FIVE ELEMET NINJA coupled with the stylistic camerawork used by Ching Siu Tung in THE SWORDSMAN, this is martial arts carnage at its best. (100 Mins)

​

Views: A remake of the 1978 kung-fu classic Avenging Eagle, this underrated gem came at the height of Hong Kong's 'New-wave' of film-makers and is similar to works such as Blade Of Fury, Swordsman 2, New Dragon Gate Inn, and many more that graced the jade screen - winning the world over with its crazy wire-fu and frantic swordplay. In 13 Cold Blooded Eagles, a group of highly trained assassins known as the Eagles, are sent on missions to kill everyone and anyone who is deemed an enemy, by order of their foster father King Eagle. Taken from a young age, the warriors have been brainwashed over the years in believing their fathers wicked ways and will do anything to please him. One fighter, however (Red Eagle Yu Feng), starts to question their ethics and soon finds himself hunted down by the brothers and sisters he once helped. Joining forces with the beautiful Quihua, Yu Feng stands his ground and puts all his skills to use in a deadly fight against his evil foster father!

​

Although this film came out in the mid-90s, it seems to have slipped by most people's 'go-to lists for the best wuxia movies from the New Wave period. Personally, I think its pretty damn good and a lot of fun, beautifully filmed for the most part with plenty of fun swordplay action, as well as some decent acting from a nice cast. The great Waise Lee leads the way as Red Eagle Yu Feng, and gets in on enough action to impress – although obviously doubled for his more acrobatic and trickier moves. I've never been a huge fan of Waise Lee to the same degree I am with Jackie Chan or Chow Yun Fat for example, but I can honestly say that it's rare when he disappoints me. Getting his big break in the incredible John Woo epic A Better Tomorrow, Lee quickly found the roles come flooding in with films like Fury, The Big Heat, Gunmen, and Spy Games taking him into the 1990s where his career would explode a- going onto star in over 120 productions including modern hits like The Four Trilogy, Cold War 2, League Of Gods, and Death Notice from director Herman Yau. Lee is joined (eventually) by the beautiful Cynthia Khan – someone he has shared the screen with a number of times over the years in films like Super Cops, Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop, Angel On Fire, The Avenging Quartet, Pink Bomb, Murders Made To Order, and many more, and although she is highlighted across the artwork of most releases around the world, Khan actually only stars as a secondary character who comes out to play for the last half hour. Of course, 1993 was an incredibly busy year for the actress with no less than 10 titles credited to her including The Top Lady Of Sword, Pink Bomb, Blade Of Fury, Madam City Hunter, The Avenging Quartet, and once again with Moon Lee and Yukari Oshima in A Serious Shock; Yes Madam that also starred Waise. Regardless, Ms. Khan only strengthens things on her arrival and gets to fly around gracefully while kicking ass before joining in on the grand finale. Of course, its not just Lee and Khan who impress as the film is pretty well cast, with hardly a bad performance from anyone and boasts the presence of the great Yen Shi Kwan as the foster father. Starting out in the film industry of the early 1950s, Yen did his time at the Shaw Brothers studios as an extra and bit-player right through to the late 70s where he would move into more independent productions such as Clutch Of Power, 36 Crazy Fists, Jackie Chan's Fearless Hyena and Dragon Fist, and Dance Of The Drunken Mantis for Ng See Yuen. It would be a good decade later before Yen's career got a new leases of life after he was cast as Iron Robe Yim in Tsui Hark's incredible Once Upon A Time In China, and although he hasn't really done much since the turn-of-the-century, Yen has managed to rack-up over 130 films during his time in the film industry. Fan favourite and kung fu star Chung Fat, stars as the Shinshu Monster – a fighter who proves to be a great threat to Yen's King Eagle. While he's been impressing from the early 70s, Chung Fat very quickly became known to fans of Hong Kong cinema when he joined forces with the legendary Sammo Hung, working with him on films from The Iron Fisted Monk through to Zu Warriors, Winners And Sinners to Pantyhose Hero, and many, many more. Shaw Brothers kung-fu star Wan Seung Lam, who has starred in over 160 titles, plays the White Eagle while Anthony Cho Cheuk Nin from Dreaming The Reality, Godfather's Daughter Mafia Blues, Mission Of Justice, and Angel Terminators 2, plays the Gold Eagle...

​

Brother of Hong Kong cinema stalwart Hsu Hsia - the King Of Sticks himself (Drunken Master) - director Tsui Fat, impresses with his first and last film as a stand-alone director. I'm surprised he didn't go on to direct more, although he has been a recognisable face in over 150 Hong Kong films including a host of Shaw Brothers classics from the early 70s – one of which was the original Avenging Eagle. Apart from his vast acting career, Fat would also be well known to fans of Hong Kong cinema for his action choreography on many films which began on early classics such as the awesome Five Superfighters, The Fighting Fool, The Master, Kung Fu Vs. Yoga, and the patchwork Fearless Hyena 2. Fat also worked with director Tony Liu on many projects over the years, serving as the action director on his films such as Moon Lee's Killer Angels, Devil Hunters, and Dreaming The Reality, as well as The Dragon Fighter with Michiko Nishiwaki, and earlier Donnie Yen vehicles such as Crystal Hunt, Cheetah On Fire, and Holy Virgin Versus The Evil Dead – some of which he also helped co-direct.

​

It was refreshing to watch 13 Cold Blooded Eagles again after many years, and I'll definitely not be leaving it so long next time. But I can only hope that it finds its way to Blu-ray soon as this deserves to be seen as Tsui Fat intended!

​

Overall: A highly enjoyable hyper-kinetic wuxia flick from Hong Kong's new wave era, 13 Cold Blooded Eagles offers Hong Kong film fans plenty of exciting swordplay action!