DVD Synopsis: A film featuring some of the most daring and action-packed examples of Shaolin kung fu fighting, with spectacular acting and locations...

Shao Chi's only son has been brought up in a Shaolin Temple. When he leaves, after intensive training, he is pursued by his father's enemies, all masters of the eight schools of kung fu. Shao Chi resists all their attempts to goad him into a fight... But when his mother is killed the spirit of vengeance arises: Shao Chi smashes his way to victory in eight incredible contests... against every dirty trick in the book. (78 Mins)

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Turbophase Video UK VHS: Shao Chi's only son has been brought up in a Shalin Temple. When he leaves, after intensive training, he is pursued by his fathers enemies, all masters of the eight schools of kung-fu. Shao Chi resists all their attempts to goad him into a fight... But when his mother is killed, the spirit of revenge arises. Shao Chi smashes his way to victory in eight incredible contests... against every dirty trick in the book. (78 Mins)

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Views: Sometimes known as the third entry to famed director Joseph Kuo's fun, although unrelated 'Bronzemen' films, this little classic is one I got very early on in my collection (I mean, like 30 years ago) as the VHS video artwork really had won me over. Although I watched it in its 4:3 presentation, cropped with bad picture quality, I still enjoyed The 8 Masters. Thankfully though (many years later), Hollywood East released it here in the UK on DVD and I thought - why not..? It hadn't been cleaned up that much, to be honest, but still made for a more enjoyable experience - and even after all these years, is still a lot of fun!

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The film opens with the obligatory challenge between two fighters, one of which is Carter Wong himself disguised as an older man. The story suddenly jumps forward to show a man bursting into the home of a young Wong and his mother – claiming to have once been saved by her husband. He is there (bizarrely) to return the debt as the 8 masters are coming for them both to seek revenge – I guess, after the results of the opening fight?! The stranger grabs the boy and runs (who knows where the mum went), fighting off the 8 masters as he does before reaching the Shaolin temple and his final resting place. But before passing, the hero begs the monks to look after the boy to which they agree. Unlike a lot of other kung-fu films of this time, the monks actually start training young Chu – rather than sticking a brush in his hand or hiding him in the kitchen, as many other classics seem to do with charity cases like this one. The kid who plays the young Carter Wong gets a good 10 minutes before growing up, something which is done in a pretty cool single-shot. I'd like to have seen more of him as he was a pretty good wee actor, and looked the part in his training and fighting scenes. It's not that disappointing though, as things jump up a notch or ten in the action department when the wonderful Wong (as adult Chu) finally appears on-screen and he literally makes his straight into the chambers of Shaolin. Of course, this is where he meets some old friends – the Bronzemen – and gives us a show of slick moves that hark back to his previous adventures with Joseph Kuo...

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It would be fair to say 8 Masters rattles along at a great pace. Just 20 minutes in, Chu has already passed all the Shaolin chambers and thanks his masters before setting off in search of his mother - all while experiencing his first real taste of city life after spending a good decade in the temple. I'd like to have seen director Kuo put a bit more emphasis on this, as it would be an experience akin to a long-term prisoner getting released. No sooner has Chu stopped for a bite at a tea-house, when all hell breaks loose and some local bandits start wrecking the place for no real reason. It's a fun fight scene, with a few comedic moments that keeps things interesting as Wong makes his journey. He soon arrives at his old home where he finds his blind mother, who is being looked after by the wonderful Doris Lung. I've always loved seeing Lung on-screen, the starlet of many early classics such as Jackie Chan's Half A Loaf Of Kung-Fu and Shaolin Wooden Men, along with classics like Shaolin Brothers and Shaolin Invincibles where she shared the screen with Wong once again. She also starred in one of my favourite Bronzemen spin-off films which was the hilarious, 18 Bronzegirls Of Shaolin. Here though, it turns out that Lung is actually the niece of one of the masters, and has been placed in her position to help convince Chu to accept the challenge. The titular 8 masters don't take too long in finding out that Chu has returned and set out to challenge him to a duel. Of course, Chu refuses and puts his teachings of Shaolin as his main reason for not fighting, but the 8 masters refuse to take no for an answer and soon return for another forceful attempt. Once again though, Chu refuses which unfortunately leads to the kidnapping (and death) of his mother. Naturally, this angers Chu to no end and soon, he sets out for the biggest challenge of his life – to fight and defeat the wicked 8 masters in a hard-hitting 30-minute showdown that shows Wong at his finest, and proves to be one of the best finales of any traditional kung-fu flick I've seen. Kung-fu fans will recognise the majority of the faces from the gang of masters, and none more so than Yue Fung from Shaolin Brothers and Iron Neck Li, Lu Ping from New Fist Of Fury and 18 Bronzemen, and the awesome Philip Ko from many Hong Kong classics who actually gets to take part in one of the best fights of the film. Joining them a little late in the story, in what is pretty much just an extended cameo, is the wonderful Judy Lee who tops Ko's highlight when she goes fist-to-toe with Carter Wong.

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Even with its typical and cliched 70's kung-fu storyline, there's still plenty to enjoy in this Joseph Kuo classic. As a director, he rarely fails to entertain and usually boasts a great cast - which is why it a such a shame that this film didn't make the cut for Eureka Video's release of Cinematic Vengeance - The Joseph Kuo Collection. Regardless, The 8 Masters does not disappoint and with a constant stream of fun kung-fu battles, you really can't get bored while watching. The acting is pretty decent and the handheld camerawork helps add a little something different to the experience. It's also worth noting that unlike the majority of kung-fu films from that era, this one doesn't just end with a screenshot on a final move or death, but instead delivers a few minutes of a scene that brings a proper closure to the film. And while it's not a directly connected sequel to the Bronzemen films, The 8 Masters may just be the best of the bunch!

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Overall: A classic to many, The 8 Masters underrated film is still worth a watch if you are a fan of old-school-chop-socky!

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DVD Extras: Photo Gallery