Master of the Flying Guillotine

[DavidFullam]

It seems like just a few years back this film was on either FLIX or the Movie Channel seemingly every other day. Man, I miss that.

[Sardu]

The main theme music to this always sounded like someone had taken a Black Sabbath album and slowed it to half speed.  Knowing the general Chinese regard for international copyright law I wouldn't be surprised.  Some day I'll rip that music and speed it up and find out what it is!

[Jim H]

It's called System16.  Some German band made it, there are other "system" songs that are sped up/slowed down to different degrees.  And yeah, from everything I've gathered, it was unlicensed.  Master of the Flying Guillotine is Taiwanese in origin, which ignores copyright even more flagrantly than Hong Kong.

[Sardu]

Ah, thanks for the info!  I'm going to see if I can track that down...

[leela]

  The first time i seen this?? man dont know had to be 20 something years ago. now my kids watch it, people whom ive met and "showed them the way"  watch it. This movie is in our family for years to come. i found it on dvd at best buy for............can u believe it??? 7.99!!!   i bought 3 "just in case"  anyone know of any good old school ones like this title to share??? just some names of movies i mean! would appreciate it!!!      leela

[elDuendeVerde]

I want to say that the soundtrack has some stuff from Neu! (the song you are referencing), Tangerine Dream, and Kraftwerk...all unlicensed of course.

Is the Japanese character the same guy who plays Evil Betty in Kung Pow: Enter the Fist?  I think he is.  I also think the guy who play Wimp Low is in this movie as well.

Ah, good times, good times.

[Jim H]

I want to say that the soundtrack has some stuff from Neu! (the song you are referencing), Tangerine Dream, and Kraftwerk...all unlicensed of course.

Is the Japanese character the same guy who plays Evil Betty in Kung Pow: Enter the Fist?  I think he is.  I also think the guy who play Wimp Low is in this movie as well.

Ah, good times, good times.

I would guess so.  It's worth noting that the film Kung Pow is based on stars Jimmy Wang Yu (star and director of MOTFG), they show a brief clip of him in the end credits.

[Steven Strauss]

Thanks for posting this review, one of my all time favorite Kung Fu movies, love the soundtrack and am using some audio clips for overdubbing a fun little video.

Cheers

[DarknRahl]

One other thing I learned from watching this movie is that once you decide to leave your house for more than a week don't run the risk of having it burgled, simply exit through the wicker roof and then burn it to the ground instead.

[ralphyralph]

I liked this movie, but the charm wore off really quick after the tournament scene.

[Rev. Powell]

Probably my second favorite martial arts film after ENTER THE DRAGON. Yeah, it's that good.

One comment: the Indian character looks like he's played by a Chinese actor with his skin darkened. It's like the Taiwanese version of blackface. Bengaliface?

The Thai character really looks Thai, though. I wonder if his ridiculous pre-fight dancing was meant to mock Thai culture, or was just a character quirk? These 70s Taiwanese and Chinese kung fu movies can be racist at times, especially against the Japanese.

[Jim H]

Probably my second favorite martial arts film after ENTER THE DRAGON. Yeah, it's that good.

One comment: the Indian character looks like he's played by a Chinese actor with his skin darkened. It's like the Taiwanese version of blackface. Bengaliface?

The Thai character really looks Thai, though. I wonder if his ridiculous pre-fight dancing was meant to mock Thai culture, or was just a character quirk? These 70s Taiwanese and Chinese kung fu movies can be racist at times, especially against the Japanese.

Neither.  They really do that, though the exact moves may be exaggerated or not really accurate.  Friend of mine lived in Thailand, and said they did this before every Muay Thai match he watched.

! No longer available