Review: In the early 70’s, Golden Harvest was enjoying much success in Hong Kong, largely thanks to some guy called Bruce Lee (you may have heard of him), and over a short time FIST OF FURY reached legendary status on a global level. Made in the very same year, HAPKIDO attempted to give Angela Mao similar status. The film was successful in its own territory, but now, nearly 40 years later, remains unseen by many kung fu fans.

If you like FIST OF FURY, then you should definitely enjoy HAPKIDO. Angela Mao could never match Lee’s presence (few can), but the movie is thematically similar and tells a familiar ‘rival schools’ yarn in a vintage, and very much old-school style. Basically, a Japanese school is up to no good, and it’s up to the Chinese to show them who is in charge.

What’s interesting in HAPKIDO is the presence of the Koreans. The Hapkido of the title is a Korean martial art, and the film takes time to point out that the Chinese and Koreans had a common enemy in the Japanese. The fights, choreographed by a young Sammo Hung, even recall the Bruce Lee films. Multiple opponents are taken down swiftly by a smaller number of heroes using realistic, efficient attacks.

Speaking of Sammo, HKL has made much of his presence in its marketing materials for HAPKIDO, even on the DVD menus. The big man does play a major role in the movie, but he isn’t the star and this is really Mao’s film. That’s just the nature of marketing, and it’s aimed at the more casual movie fan, so get over it. Mao is a delight to watch, even if her fighting appears to lack power and Carter Wong’s striking features demand attention in this, his debut movie appearance. Look closely (and whatever you do, don’t blink) and you can see future stars Jackie Chan, Lam Ching Ying and Yuen Biao in the background. Yuen Biao in particular looks very young – a mere 15 years old when the movie was made.

HAPKIDO is pure class. Get it on your DVD shelf!