The Eagle Shooting Heroes

Director: Jeff Lau (Chinese Odyssey 2002, Treasure Hunt)

Action director: Sammo Hung

Producer: Wong Kar Wai

Cinematographer: Peter Pau (Bride With White Hair, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon)

Cast:
Brigitte Lin - Third Princess
Tony Leung Chiu Wai - Oyang Feng
Leslie Cheung - Huang YaoShi
Jacky Cheung - Hong Qi
Joey Wong - School sister of Huang YaoShi; Cousin to Hong Qi
Carina Lau - Zhou BuoTong
Maggie Cheung Man Yuk - Grand Vizier
Tony Leung Ka Fai - Prince Duan
Veronica Yip - Empress
Kenny Bee - Wang ChongYang

This successful Chinese New Year parody of Jing Yong's Condor Heroes is all-star slapstick at its best. Director Jeff Lau, famous for his nonsense slapstick style, teams up with Hong Kong's (HK) most prolific actors as well as legendary action director Sammo Hung. Lau even wrote the screenplay. Although the movie is well-known, no one (that I'm aware of) has written a summary of the plot, so let's begin by getting to know Jeff Lau's version of the story.

(Spoilers)

Oyang Feng and his Empress cousin, upon having an affair, decide to take over the Kingdom from the Emperor. The 3rd princess, who has the imperial jade, is also attacked. Not successful in capturing the jade or the princess, the adulterers turn to the Imperial Chief, who is the Grand Vizier, forcing her to use her magic to find the princess. On the way in the air, Oyang Feng's magic boots catch fire, so he throws it down, only to land on Wang ChongYang's head. The princess happens to bump into Wang right before his death and causes Zhou Buo Tong to be mistakening think that she killed Wang ChongYang. Zhou BuoTong is a man, but he thinks he is a woman. He is attracted to men, his brother Wang ChongYang in particular. Zhou decides to track down the princess and proceeds to a nearby inn.

The princess runs into a pair of love birds, namely Huang YaoShi and his school mate. It turns out that Huang and the princess share the same master, so they are told to go to a cave to find the manuscript "Jiu Ying Zhen Jing," whose power can stop Oyang Feng. They are not successful and proceed to a nearby inn.

Oyang Feng was trapped after his magic boots caught on fire. When he finally makes his way up the hill, he immediately takes a fall back down with Hong Qi, who has decided to kill himself because his cousin is in love with Huang YaoShi. Pissed, Oyang Feng tries to kill Hong Qi without luck. Oyang's "Toad Stances" are one notch short of Hong's "18 Palm of the Dragon" and "Fei Long Zai Tian." Remembering that he originally intended to commit suicide, Hong Qi invites Oyang Feng to do the honor. However, during Oyang's attempts, Hong is never able to restrain his hands, so every time Oyang tried to kill Hong, Hong beats the crap out of Oyang. The next day, Oyang Feng attempts to kill Hong Qi again. He fails miserably. Every attempt backfires, and nearly killed himself. Luckily, he now just suffers from big ears and "sausage" lips. Hong and Oyang proceed to a nearby inn.

After a discussion with his 180-year-old ancestor, Prince Duan of Dali is determined to find his true lover, who has three "6"s on his chest. So he goes around town, requesting to see women's chests. Unable to get anyone to abide, Duan proceeds to a nearby inn.

Now that everybody has reached the inn, this is where the fun begins. Huang YaoShi mistakens Prince Duan for a thief. They have a duel, and Hong Qi joins in. Consequently, Duan discovers that his true love is none other than Huang YaoShi. Disgusted by their action, Hong Qi leaves the scene (he thinks Huang and Duan have been gay lovers). Duan can become a god if Huang says "I love you" three times, but Huang refuses. In the mean time, Zhou BuoTong has gone crazy and is hallucinating. He thinks everyone is his lost lover Wang ChongYang. Finally, Prince Duan rises to heaven after Huang accidentally says the magic words.

The next day, Hong Qi and Oyang Feng meet Hong Qi's lovely cousin, who has been crushed upon learning the romance between her brother Huang YaoShi and the princess. So she decides to play with Hong Qi and Oyang Feng. Actually, she starts to like Hong Qi when he puts on a musical for her, but he goes one step too far and hit her too hard, sending her flying 50 feet away.

Everyone is at the cave again. Zhou BuoTong is still trying to avenge her brother's murderer; Hong Qi and Huang YaoShi settle their love problems; and Oyang Feng wittily learns the hiding place of the powerful manuscripts. He uses them in the battle against the heroes. With the special power, Oyang Feng is much more dynamic than them. Just when things looks bad for the good folks, the god Prince Duan descends from above to save the day. The human-fearing monsters from the cave adopt Oyang Feng as a pet, and everyone is happy. The show ends with Zhou BuoTong and Wang ChongYang finally together.

CHARACTERS

Clearly, this movie should not be taken seriously. I think even the most serious fan of the Condor Heroes would enjoy this light comedy. This is not the funniest movie out there, but there are enough humor to keep you laughing. References to real-life names can be found, such as when Zhou BuoTong says to Hong Qi's cousin, "Who do you think you are, Joey Wong?" Of course, Joey Wong is the actress who played the cousin. They even speak Taiwanese dialects in the Mandarin dub, which is hilarious. There are also a number of musical performances, which tend to get rather long.

Tony Leung Chiu Wai is mighty ugly and enjoyable as the deformed Oyang Feng. Leung Ka Fai is very funny as Prince Duan, especially when he was on the streets hunting for women's chests. Brigitte Lin and Joey Wong play charming romantic interests of Leslie Cheung and Jacky Cheung. Everyone seems to be having fun.

ACTION

The best thing about this movie is the fast-paced wuxia action. This is as good as 90s wuxia movies get. Do not take this for granted like I did when I first saw it. As special effects will take over wuxia movies in the near future, our generation which grew up with this kind of action will miss it. Sammo Hung, who is arguably the most influential choreographer of martial arts films since the 70s, has done an outstanding job. The action is nothing less than dynamically sweet, which is unusually pleasant for a slapstick comedy.

FINAL SAY

Eagle Shooting Heroes is well worth a watch, especially towards the Chinese Lunar New Year. Leave your brain at the door and enjoy this wild wuxia parody.

Screenshots:
http://www.brigittelin.com/EagleShootingHeroes.htm