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BURNING PARADISE (1994) |
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Ringo Lam, usually noted for his modern day gun-fest actioners, takes a pop at creating a new spin of the Fong Sai Yuk story. This time, he leaves out the unnecessary baggage, such as romance, comedy, and historical accuracy as he attempts to shove Fong into the darkest pits of hell on earth. Works wonderfully, I'd say. The story starts when the Qing government burns down the Shaolin Temple - hundreds of monks and students flee to the surrounding countryside, only to be hunted down and enslaved in a wicked evil place known as the Red Lotus Temple. Fong is one amongst hundreds of his fellow peers in captivity, and chances of getting out are practically zero. But what Fong doesn't know is that one of his best friends, Hung Hei Kwoon, is working undercover at the temple, waiting for an opportunity to release them from captivity. Excellent set designs, and lovely choreographed fight scenes make this a must-see movie. The action is well executed, with good use of the ominous surroundings, but the star of the movie has to be the temple itself. Its mazes and traps are perfect for maiming, killing, decapitating, and destroying any who tries to escape. Include a most foul monster of a villain, and what you get is a top class martial arts action flick that combines the best of kung fu and weird fantasy. Although none of the stars, besides Carmen Lee, are well known, they give an outstanding performance in the film. Well recommended.
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RATING 7 1/2 / 10 |