Spiritual Kung-Fu

Infobox Film
name = Spritual Kung-Fu


caption = UK DVD cover
director = Lo Wei
producer = Lo Wei
writer = Pan Lei
narrator =
starring = Jackie Chan
James Tien
Dean Shek
Yuen Biao
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = Lo Wei Motion Picture Company
released = 1978
runtime = 97 mins
country = Hong Kong
language = Cantonese
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:46126
imdb_id = 0078128

"Spiritual Kung-Fu" (zh-t|t=拳精) (Quan Jing) is a 1978 Hong Kong action film directed by Lo Wei and starring Jackie Chan. The film also features Yuen Biao as the "Master of the Five Fists". Chan was also the film's stunt co-ordinator.It was known in some releases as "Karate Ghostbuster".

Along with "Dragon Fist", "Spiritual Kung-Fu" was filmed in early 1978. As Lo Wei's studio was running out of money, they shelved both films and Chan was loaned out to Seasonal Films for a 2 picture deal. Whilst there he made "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" and "Drunken Master" with Yuen Woo-ping. The success of these two films at the domestic box office prompted Lo to give belated releases to "Spiritual Kung-Fu" (late 1978) and "Dragon Fist" (1979).

Spiritual Kung-Fu was Lo Wei's response to Chan's earlier attempt at mixing comedy with kung fu in the film Half a Loaf of Kung Fu. The supernatural elements of the film were brought to life by some early examples of Hong Kong special effects, the poor quality of which may be the most comedic aspect of the film for Western viewers. Much of the scripted comedy in the film centred on Chan's over-exaggerated facial expressions and reactions to his ghostly teachers.

Plot synopsis

Yi-Lang (Jackie Chan) is a smart-alec martial arts student whose bravery leads to him signing up to defend a supposedly haunted portion of the school. The impish ghosts end up teaching him a unique style of fighting known as The "Five Style Fists". Yi-Lang masters the form, using it to progress quickly through the ranks of the school, and eventually to survive an attack from a gang of bad guys.

Kung fu style

The "Five Style Fists" kung fu style is based on the "Five Fists (Animal) Pattern", one of the early Martial Arts practiced at the Shaolin Temple, as discussed in Qiu Yue Chan Shi's book "The Essence Of The Five Fists". This system contains Dragon, Tiger, Snake, Crane and Leopard / Panther styles.

Trivia

Lei Wulong of the Tekken fighting series uses the five animal styles as a part of his move list.

ee also

* Jackie Chan filmography

External links

*imdb title|id=0078128