Now available from 88 Films
In this sequel to The Spiritual Boxer, two brothers are guiding corpses back to their villages when they stumble upon a murder plot.
Written and directed by Kuang Ni and directed by Liu Chia-liang, this fantasy action comedy is one that is utterly fun. There is a bunch in here and some of it is pure nonsense, but it is pure nonsense of the best kind. This film is one that is meant to be enjoyed more than to the studied. The story has some familiar beats and some obvious twists and turns, but there are also some surprises, and the whole is a lot of fun so even with easily guessed bits and pieces that most viewers won’t mind. The story here is entertaining, it has a lot of fun sequences, and the humor may be dated, it is still a funny in most parts. The direction here brings this fun script to life, giving it the guidance it needs to become a fun film for those who love the genre.
The cast here is led by Gordon Liu Chia-hui and Liu Chia-yung, both brothers to director Liu Chia-liang. Their performances are fun and sell the action quite well, making the film one that is well-rounded terms of performances with some good comedic timing, some strong stunts and fights, and a few other aspects to the performances. This is not a film where the performances are particularly nuanced, but it doesn’t matter in this case as it’s entertaining and fun and the performances work along those lines as well. Joining the Liu brothers are Yue Wang, Cecelia Wong, Hsi Chang, and a slew of others, some familiar faces and some less familiar faces, all of them entertaining to watch.
The film here looks good in its new high-definition release by 88 Films, and it also looked good before this new high-definition transfer. This is one of those films that has solid cinematography and lighting that really works with the sets and decor as well as with the action. The film’s cinematography and editing easily allow the viewer to see the action and enjoy it. The film as a whole gains from this new release that brings it closer to be being a better-known film.
The Shadow Boxing may be a sequel, but it is easy enough to watch as a stand-alone film. In fact, watching it without knowing that it comes as a sequel to The Spiritual Boxer does not change the level of enjoyment. Of course, watching the first film first may make some of the story elements easier to understand, but without them, the film is still its own story and its own entity in cinema. The talent on display here is solid on all fronts and seeing Gordon Liu Chia-hui outside of the 36th Chamber of Shaolin universe is always nice.