The Legend of Drunken Master

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Cinema is probably the best example of an entity that is both static and dynamic at the same time. While many movies do have the ability to surprise us by being groundbreaking or going against the confines of genre or whatnot, others prove to be just as enjoyable by sticking to what they know. Case in point, Jackie Chan’s The Legend of Drunken Master.

The film begins as an almost-slapstick comedy in which the central plot is established through a funny mix-up of packages and then turns into an action-packed semi-heist movie. Wong Fei-hung (Jackie Chan), in an attempt to avoid paying tax, sneaks a package of herbs onto a train in a rich foreigner’s luggage, but grabs the wrong package when he sneaks into the cabin and steals it back. Suddenly, he’s being tracked by a group of ruthless agents with plans to sell China’s ancient cultural artefacts to Western museums, and despite the commands of his pacifist father, he stands up for what is right and uses his legendary drunken boxing fighting skill to save the day.

Kung fu cinema from China and Hong King has definitely made its mark on Western screens and audiences. While a lot of movies pander towards that audience (because that’s where the money is), it’s nice to see some movies not treating it with the best of respect. The central theme of Drunken Master is a time-honoured one of the preciousness of cultural heritage and the villainy and corruptive power of foreign tyrants who offer to buy it. The film does a good job of depicting the heartless, determined, white man who employs corrupted locals for protection and to do all the dirty work, and it’s fun to watch this culture clash with Jackie Chan at the helm.

Chan’s iconic stunt work as well as his endearing talent for comedy pair up beautifully in this movie to produce an exciting and hilarious romp that gets the juices flowing and creates a really fun movie experience. While suspension of belief is required for maybe one or two moments –such as when he ingests some sort of lighter fuel as a means of getting the perfect level of drunk- the overall experience of The Legend of Drunken Master is light and fun: a perfect popcorn movie.

Image credit: IMDb

Of course, the fighting sequences are what you’re there for and the film does not disappoint. The fights are crisp, adrenaline pinching, and brilliant; a perfect blend of lethal and comedic, which just inspires all the warm, electrical feels.

It’s a classic, modern, kung fu movie!

Director: Chia-Liang Liu, 1994

Cast: Jackie Chan, Lung Ti, Anita Mui, Felix Wong, Chia-Liang Liu, Ken Lo, Kar Lok Chin, Ho-Sung Pak, Chi-Kwong Cheung, Yi-Sheng Han, Andy Lau, Wing-Dong Ho, Kar-Yung Lau, Siu-Ming Lau, and Suki Kwan