kevinolzak Review of Kung Fu: The Movie

Kung Fu: The Movie (1986 TV Movie)

The only followup directly linked to the original series

[4/10 · 1 September 2010]

This rather pointless TV movie sequel to the 70s series is the only one directly connected to its predecessor, as the 90s revival was a modern day action series shot in Canada. Like the original show, "Kung Fu" is set 100 years before, in California, where Caine is now working as a warehouse laborer alongside The Old One (Benson Fong). He becomes involved in an opium smuggling ring based in China, by way of India and America, and is basically reduced to being a detective, with unimpressive fight scenes and a plot that never really catches fire (nearly everyone winds up dead). There was really no reason for its existence, and Herbie J. Pilato's THE KUNG FU BOOK OF CAINE fails to accurately detail the confusing plot. For one thing, The Manchu played by Mako is not The Emperor, whose nephew was killed by Caine for the senseless murder of his beloved Master Po (Keye Luke), but is actually The Emperor's brother, as he refers to the nephew as his son. Another fact is that Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, was an interesting casting choice to play Chung Wang, son of Caine, but the archive footage depicts not Nancy Kwan's Mayli Ho (from "The Cenotaph") but Adele Yoshioka's Po Li (from "The Forbidden Kingdom"), in establishing the mother of Chung Wang. Scenes depicting Caine 'levitating' contradict his persona in the original series, and the final showdown with the vengeful Manchu, holding Caine's son in his power, ends in ridiculous 'mystical' fashion, a disappointing conclusion. Shockingly, it is also revealed that the Shaolin temple has been destroyed, and all the masters murdered, even Master Kan, who apparently still lived (though the actor who played him, Philip Ahn, had died in 1978). Keye Luke did return as Master Po, seen in three scenes as a simple ghost (since the Shaolin temple sets no longer existed). Also back from the 70s show were Benson Fong (in his final acting performance), Roy Jenson (from the original pilot, plus the episode "Superstition"), Mako (from "The Tide"), and an unbilled Tad Horino (8 separate episodes). Seen in archive footage are Philip Ahn's Master Kan, Richard Loo's Master Sun, John Leoning's Master The, and Radames Pera's Student Caine. A feature that failed to capture the spirit of the original series, a fatal flaw from which it never recovers, its only possible achievement being Caine's being liberated from the long-time persecution of China's Royal Family. That and the teaming of 50 year old David Carradine (also credited as co-producer) with Bruce Lee's 21 year old son Brandon, whose career eerily mirrored his father's by tragically ending at an early age. It is true that Bruce Lee was considered as an actor by the show's producers, but the concept for the series was not Lee's but Ed Friedman's. Lee wanted to do a series that was global in scope, incorporating many concepts of kung fu techniques and philosophy, an idea far more ambitious than the one that resulted. I find myself disappointed in some people's belief that the idea was 'stolen' from Bruce Lee, a notion put forth by his faithful widow, but simply not supported by fact. Loved the show, but found this lone sequel to be most unnecessary. Brandon Lee appeared in another followup in 1987, "Kung Fu: The Next Generation" (turned down by Carradine, who said it looked like "KUNG FU car crashes"), a failed pilot for a series that never came off, with David Darlow cast as a modern day Kwai Chang. The series KUNG FU: THE LEGEND CONTINUES began in 1993, and lasted 88 episodes, set in the present day, with a different Caine this time played by Carradine, who apparently needed the money. The original series was the only one to combine action and philosophy with the right combination of superb actors, most of whom are no longer with us.