Some two decades after the original Kung Fu had imploded -- mainly because of Carradine's own antics -- the actor grew weary of playing bad guys in B-movies and showed up in Canada looking to put together a production that would modernize the concept. Canada in the 90s was still struggling with the basics (like, oh, direction, cinematography, sound) but the tax incentives were in place and as long as you followed the First Commandment of Canadian film making -- START WITH A KNOWN US STAR -- you could pretty much find funding for a show on rewiring your garage. The plot twists to bring Caine together with his "son" were heroic, but once the series started, it did indeed find an audience. And, no, it was not better than the original, but it tried really hard and that counted. The fight scenes were wretched. The signature "slo mo" of the 70s series was used again, like a retread tire, but by the 90s, fight choreography had advanced and the fights, plentiful as they were, were the weakest part of the show. In fact, an argument could be made that it was the fans of the original, so happy to have Carradine back in the saddle (metaphorically) that gave this series some longevity. Seriously, if you looking for a DVD purchase, I cannot imagine anyone seriously preferring this to the 70s version.
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
(1993–1997)
Better than the original? Seriously?
17 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers