Raiders of Buddhist Kung Fu
Gordon Liu takes on the mantle of a ruthless kung fu emperor who has mastered the Buddhist style of kung fu and diagram pole fighting technique. Hoping to usurp the wicked Emperor is Korean kicker and style master Mike Wong. In charge of the action is Lam Hark Ming, a student of both Liu Chia Liang and Sammo Hung.
From the archive
Raiders of Buddhist Kung Fu (1981) ReviewMarch 21, 2025 Ian Whittle“Raiders of Buddhist Kung Fu” Theatrical Poster Director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Gordon Liu, Wang Ryong, Kim Ki-Joo, Seol Ji-Yeon, Kwak Eun-Gyung, Baek Hwang-Gi, John Kelly, Choe Moo-Woong, Lung Ho-Yu, Park Hui-Jin, Lee Hwa-Jin Running Time: 90 min. By Ian Whittle So I picked up the DVD assuming from the cover still of Gordon Liu in his usual monk attire that this was going to be another “Gordon from Shaolin” by way of a Korea flick, but once again I have been fooled… here Gordon is the villain! A warlord in what may be Republic era China, but it’s not very clear. And I don’t think Shaolin came into it at all! So my thoughts on this mess…. IFD used the Star Wars music for their damn logo!Gordon Liu is very miscast as a very milquetoast villain, who seems way too fond of his hot sister. I find it very hard to believe the boyish Liu is supposed to be a powerful warlord here. He’s not helped by the weird old man voice given to non-sequiturs they give him – “Arrest everyone….traitors!”An unexplained Roy Horan/Bob Baker/Wallish/ gwailoA rather repulsive hunchback traitor, disfigured with a large bright red port-wine stain AND a large cold-sore…Speaking of cold, even for a Korean film this looks freezing! Several of the interior scenes show the smokey breath flying out of people’s mouths like a fog machine!The old master is very trendy; what’s with his covid mask!?The masked monkey fighter on the other hand…Ooh, the V-Ger music from Star Trek: The Motion PictureGordon looks very funny riding into battle with what looks like a dead squirrel on his headThe hero fights Gordon on the ice, bare-chested! Brrrrr….Gordon is winning easily with his staff (or “bar” as the dubber calls it), so of course he then throws it away to fight bare-handed….Eagles ex machinaI take back some of the mean things I said about Fury in Shaolin Temple…
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- Director
- Godfrey Ho
- Starring
- Mike Wong, Gordon Liu
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