The 7 Grand Masters

Great item that came on time and it works great.

Makes you wonder why hollywood can't churn out a halfway decent action movie when this beauty was probably made for less than it costs for one day of catering on a set today? Anyways... what's left to say that all the other reviewers haven't already said (and probably said better)? Great Kung Fu movie for fans who enjoy their martial arts flicks short and definitely sweet with about an 85% fighting to 15% everything else ratio! The characters, storyline, effects, and acting are all rather underwhelming (some awful wig applications come to mind) but the fighting is almost as good as it gets (as everyone here mentioned, the weapons fight is must see material)and delivers so much that you forgive and forget about all that other stuff that is necessary for most movies to work. Genre enthusiasts should bless Tokyo Shock for bringing this classic to DVD (which amusingly enough was neither filmed in Tokyo or in any way shocking but...) as it fits nicely alongside many of their other excellent releases like Riki-Oh, Ichi The Killer, and Versus (well maybe it looks a little odd next to those titles, but a fantastic release either way).

Seven Grand Masters is one of the great works of the golden age of Hong Kong Wuxia (martial arts hero) cinema. It is up there with classics such as Drunken Master, Snake in Eagle's Shadow, and 36th Chamber of Shaolin. The plot is simple with very few twists or complexity, but the characters are engaging and the story is not only compelling but inspiring. It has the perfect balance of every element that make sense a great Wuxia movie great: excellent choreography, acting, good character development, over-the-top costumes, and just the right combination of slapstick comedy. My current collection of martial arts movies is almost 100 strong, and I can confidently say that the genre doesn't get any better than this. It is quite simply one of the best kung fu movies ever made.

I just wish I could see it for the first time again.This movie is great. We all know Kung Fu movies typically have plots you skip after the first viewing, since they are a) convoluted b) corny as hell or c) stupid. 7 Grandmasters, however, doesn't suffer this pitfall; it has a minimalist storyline that's somewhat archetypal and fun to follow (especially when they use visual comparisons in fights between the new student and the Master). You know exactly what's going on, and enjoy the journeys of the two main characters.Mainly, though, Jack Long steals the show. You have to expect great things from the brother of Ghostface Killer, and he doesn't disappoint. His martial and acrobatic skills are awesome to behold, and his dignified presence as a confident and reserved Grandmaster of Kung Fu is iconic.Even if you think Kung Fu movies are all kitschy crap, try this out. You'll at least enjoy some of the great coreography. And if you're a kung fu addict, this is as good as they get.

This is rated as 5 stars for 'needs to be in your collection' not the 'be all end all.' This film is what old kung fu should be, and what remastered dvds from that era should look and sound like today. The picture and sound are great, and includes an original language track. The story is good, if not a little predictable, but well paced.The fights are amazing. Some fights are true martials arts (just to see who is the best with no intention to hurt the other person), some are real fights, some are ambush/brawls. With the different styles, the different masters, the weapons used, and then a story to wrap them together, this becomes such a great sampling of the way it should have been done back then.The rest has been said in other reviews. Buy it if you like, or are interested in, classic kung fu.

I am an advid martial arts fanatic. I have purchased some dummies and some classics. But this movies stands above any of the ones that I have just purchased. I have waited for a long time and with the right price, I got just what the Doctor ordered. This movie, in all its integrity, has what it takes to become an all-time classic. The fight scenes and styles and characters will astound you. THIS IS A MUST FOR ANYONE TO HAVE AND A CONSTANT JOY TO WATCH. I HAVE NOT STOPPED WATCHING THIS MOVIE FOR AT LEAST 12 HOURS. For anyone who knows good KUNG-FU and can relish the quality of good photography, will indeed love it. The quality of the movie in my opinion, rated AAAAA+. Also, get Hell's Windstaff w/ Hwang Jang Lee a.k.a. "The Silver Fox" Another great movie. Hurry! Hurry!

Outstanding

this is my all time favorite Kung-Fu flick.i have seen over 200 Kung-Fu flicks...im not into the flying around with wires and cutting walls in half with 1 punch flicks.but what i do like is the old school hardcore/hard working flicks...(drunken master 1,shaolin vs wu-tang,prodigal son,snake and crane arts of shaolin etc etc..)this movie,IMO if you want to see one of the best fight scenes ever created is for you.the part where Jack Long meets the guy who was so determined to have him assasinated and Jack Long shows up bare fisted,but yet his rival has a whole weapon rack that he uses against him....Jack Long uses each weapon against him until there is no others.this is my favorite fight scene. i dont think any movie will ever match it,the pure skill and precision ( on the original version) is just amazing...no string,no flying just pur hardcore fight seens.the only other movie that i can honestly compare it with is the end fight seen in drunken master 1.this is a must have for any collector.the basic story is Jack Long has to go fight all the 7 masters of the regions to show to his secret rival that he does deserve the title as the grandmaster...each fight just shows how bad ass he is but he was never that popular as an actor,but my favorit with jackie chan being the second.my favorite movie of all time.