The Brave Archer and His Mate (1982)

December 6, 2016

also known as The Brave Archer 4 and Mysterious Island

Phillip Kwok takes over the role of Guo Jing, the part Alexander Fu Sheng played in The Brave Archer 1-3. While Fu Sheng plays the leading role of Yang Guo.  This is an unofficial sequel to Shaw Brothers Brave Archer Trilogy, with Little Dragon Maiden following after this film.

Chang Cheh is back to his odd style of open chest costumes in this film (one of my biggest complaints about his films).  The story is only part of Louis Cha’s (Jin Yong) The Return of the Condor Heroes.  It starts on Peach Blossom Island with Guo Jing and Huang Rong arriving at Peach Blossom Island only to have the remaining 6 of 7 Wierdos in trouble, next we fast forward to the future with Guo Jing and Huang Rong taking care of Yang Guo along with two students and their daughter.  And it ends very abruptly with Guo Jing dropping Yang Guo off with Quanzhen Sect on Mount Zhongnan.  They covered that much in 100 minutes which is about what I would expect a tv series to cover in that amount of time, not a movie.  I could only surmise that they had intended more of the story and perhaps the tragic death of Alexander Fu Sheng stopped any further progress?  I don’t rightly know.

Despite the odd costumes and abrupt ending the film is still entertaining and there is no doubting Phillip Kwok’s martial skills.  You just can not find long fight scenes done in a single shot these days.  Truly amazing choreography done by most of the Venom Mob!

Chang Cheh, Director & Script
Phillip Kwok Chun-Fung, Action Director
Lu Feng. Action Director
Chiang Sheng, Action Director
Chu Ko, Action Director

Alexander Fu Sheng (The 14 Amazons, Five Shaolin Masters, The Avenging Eagle) as Yang Guo
Gigi Wong Suk-Yee as Huang Yung (Huang Rong)
Phillip Kwok Chun-Fung (The Brave Archer Part III, Masked Avengers, The Bride with White Hair) as Kuo Tsing (Guo Jing)
Chin Siu-Ho (Crazy Shaolin Disciples, Mr. Vampire, The Lost Bladesman) as Wu Sau Man (Wu Xiuwen)
Lam Sau-Kwan (Ambitious Kung Fu Girl) as Mu Nian Zhi (Mu Nianci)
Lung Tien-Hsiang (Drunken Arts and Crippled Fist, Little Dragon Maiden, The Hidden Power of the Dragon Sabre) as Yang Kang
Wong Lik (Magnificent Wanderers, Secret of Chinese Kung Fu, Bastard Swordsman) as Ouyang Fung (Ouyang Feng), Western Poison
Chiang Sheng (18 Shaolin Disciples, Crippled Avengers, The Flag of Iron) as Prince of Fu To (Huodu)
Danny Lee Sau-Yin (All Men Are Brothers, The Brave Archer I & II) as Ouyang Ke
Candy Wen Xue-Er (Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, Sword Stained with Royal Blood) as Fu Er
Kwan Fung (Magnificent Spearman, The Duel of the Century, The Supreme Swordsman) as Huang (Huang Yaoshi), Eastern Devil
Lau Fong-Sai (Shaolin Temple, The Five Venoms, Mr. Vampire Part 3) as Wu Dun Yu
Chu Ko ( Masked Avengers, Sword Stained with Royal Blood, Five Element Ninjas) as Da Er Ba
Chan Shen (The 14 Amazons, The Web of Death, Disciples of the 36th Chamber) as Senior Teacher Or
Chow Kin-Ping (The Brave Archer Part II & III, Shaolin Disciple, The Kid with the Golden Arm) as 2nd TeacherScholar Chu Chung
Wan Seung-Lam (Two Champions of Shaolin, Bastard Swordsman, The 13 Cold-Blooded Eagles) as Third Teacher
Wong Wa ( Masked Avengers, Five Element Ninjas) as Fourth Teacher
Lily Li Li-Li (The Wandering Swordsman, The Web of Death, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter) as Fifth Teacher