After the runaway success of 'Drunken Master', literally scores of exploitations of the same theme were churned out for a quick buck. Every one of these producers used clones of Yuen Siu Tien or, if they were fortunate, the man himself. Unfortunately some have alleged that the deluge of work that hit Yuen after 'Drunken Master' contributed to his death a couple of years later. Whether this is true is not something that will be debated, but there was no doubt that many of these exploitations were poor in comparison. 'Sleeping Fist' was one of the more watchable ones thanks to leading star Leung Kar Yan and the highlighting of a very unusual style. Another significant strength is the presence of acrobatic kid Wong Yat Lung who strikes up a pleasing chemistry with his co-star. So much was this in evidence that they were again put together in the superior 'Thundering Mantis'. Although it is certainly different in some areas, 'Sleeping Fist' suffers from a storyline that's too formulaic; there is no attempt to add any twists or turns in the way that some films have done. Therefore it becomes easy to telegraph what will happen and even when it will happen. 'Sleeping Fist' is not brave enough to offer any variations on a very tired theme, but it is consistently rewarding from an action perspective. It is this that recommends this film to ardent genre fans.
-Andrew Saroch
http://www.dragonsdenuk.com/
THE FILM:
A cute, dirty little street urchin, known only as The Kid (Wong Yat Lung), crosses paths with Constable Chin Ta Khan (Leung Kar Yan- Eagle Claw, Knockabout, The Victim), who is being attacked by a gang he has gathered evidence against. The Kid insults the gang, he and Chin instantly form a bond, and escape from the gang so Chin can heal his previously wounded body. After rescuing a girl (from some men who loaned her money and now want her to become a prostitute) and some more bonding, Chin and the Kid hole up for the night, but are attacked by the gangs leader Ba Tin, who Chin even not in a wounded state is no match for. They are saved by Old Fox (Simon Yuen- Snake in the Eagles Shadow, Drunken Master, Buddhist Fist, Dance of the Drunken Mantis) a foul mouthed, wisened kung fu master of the elusive Sleeping Style. Old Fox takes the two under his wing (although The Kid is reluctant, resulting in some comic foiling), teaching Chin the Sleeping Style forms, Man, Monkey, Bird and Fairy/Woman so that he can deafeat the evil Ba Tin. Along the way, they are reunited with the girl they rescued, and every time they run into town for wine, end up saving her from thugs. Eventually, we are set for the final showdown between Ba Tin and Chin, with The Kid throwing a kick or two.
Now, the success of Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master, not only made a star out of Chan, but a breakout star of Simon Yuen. Yuen is the father of esteemed martial arts director Yuen Woo Ping (Crouching Tiger, Iron Monkey, In the Line of Duty 4), and a true life martial arts expert, whose screen charisma was so strong, despite his pudgy frame and age, had audiences clamoring for films with Yuen as a dirty old kung fu master. He was actually so mobbed by fans (and Triad film producers) during the filming of Sleeping Fist (1978), he had to change hotels. Yuen is doubled somewhat in fight scenes, but considering his age and the fact that he would be dead in two years (plus does anyone complain when Sean Connery is doubled in a James Bond movie- I don’t think so?) it is understandable. Still, he is a central figure in classic martial arts films, one of the top identifiable character actors of the genre, and Sleeping Fists is one of his big films.
One cannot discount the other talent of Sleeping Fists, Leng Kar Yan and the acrobatically, double-jointedly inclined kid Wong Yat Lung. Both are solid performers in their own right, and the duo would prove so popular with Sleeping Fist that they and director Yip Wing Tsui would team up again with Thundering Mantis.
Sleeping Fist is a light, more comedic, and charming kung fu film. Although I am not very big on such films and prefer my kung fu a little more serious or wild, Sleeping Fist is still so well paced and infused with enough character that I really didn’t mind the cute stuff as much as I usually would (some cute moments to look out for, Old Fox steering the Kid around like a puppet fighting a group of thugs- the kid when finally liking Old Fox, dresses exactly like him- some urination humor). Although I still hate the Kid, I can tolerate him. The Sleeping Style I’m 99% certain is entirely fictional, and it is an obvious attempt at capitalizing on the Drunken Master success. The Sleeping Style is basically Drunken style, relaxed but without the loopiness and with some giant yawns thrown in.
THE DVD:
Ground Zero presents a fairly bare, Region 0, budget minded DVD.Picture- The fullscreen picture has muted colors, and is very soft, throughout, and it is basically like buying a fair vhs of an older and good kung fu film. Oddly enough, Ground Zero uses a Sleeping Fist fight scene as an extra on their Shaolin King Boxer DVD, and the scene is lettterbox. Strange they didnt use the same source here. Sound- 2.0 mono English dub with no hiss, pops, reverb, or noticeable flaws. Extras- 14 Chapters. Wu Tang into and Wu Tang music video. Trailers for Blazin’, Gangstresses, and a Wu Tang/Kung Fu Classics commercial. Bonus fight scene (film unspecified) lasting 2 minutes.
-John Wallis
http://www.dvdtalk.com/
The story begins with an orphan boy know only as 'the Kid' (Wong Yat Leung) who unwittingly steps into the middle of a fight between police captain Chin Tai Ba (Leung Kar Yan) and a gang of ruffians. Chin Tai Ba has obtained evidence to convict gang leader Chau (Eddie Ko) who has sent his men out to find the policeman. Although Chin wins the fight he is badly hurt and 'Kid' offers him shelter and a place to rest. It isn't long before the pair are tracked down by Chau himself but Chin is rescued by an old man (Yuen Siu Tien) who intervenes. The old man is a kung fu master of the 'Sleeping Fist' technique and takes both Chin and 'Kid' as his students. Everything is now set for the final showdown.
Although the plot is quite generic there are enough smaller threads to provide interest and the film moves along at a speedy pace without ever dragging. Eddie Ko again makes a fabulous villain but doesn't get that much screen time. Apart from a short fight sequence early on his part in the film is mainly in the exciting final showdown.
The fights are all well choreographed with a good sense of rhythm and certainly match any of the fight scenes in Leung Kar Yan's better known films. Some of Wong Yat Leung's fight scenes may seem a bit unbelievable as he is quite a young boy taking on grown men, but his level of skill and agility (not to mention his amazing flexibility and balance) is certainly impressive. Yuen Siu Tien also moves well for a man of his advanced years.
Leung Kar Yan is at his best here and again provides convincing moves that make him look like a classically trained martial artist. For fans of Leung Kar Yan this is definitely worth tracking down.
-John Richards
http://www.wastedlife.co.uk/
