In 1978 Jackie Chan made "Drunken Master". A month earlier, Billy Chong made the same movie only he called it "Jade Claw" or "Crystal Fist". In both movies a kung fu wannabe works in the kitchen of a kung fu school and meets his master there. The storyline similarities go on and on but let me just make one remarkable point. The master in both movies was Simon Yuen. Soon after both actors tried to break into the American market. Again Billy Chong beat Jackie Chan to the release. This time he also beat Jackie Chan by making a western and a black/Chinese buddy movie. To truly appreciate "Sun Dragon" I compare it to "Battle Creek Brawl". Still, I can't understand where that horrible dubbing came from. I can't believe a movie could play in theatres with those idiotic voiceovers. Anyway, putting the sound aside, "Sun Dragon" certainly wins for action and for hitting all the pluses that USA audiences would go for, like making it a western too. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of skill from the "Hollywood" stuntmen. The stuntmen in Jackie Chan's movie dragged the film into the ground. Carl Scott fought like Sammo Hung spray painted black and I mean that only as a compliment. Nevertheless both movies flopped and the motion picture industry worldwide pulled the plug on kung fu movies after 1982 and that was the end of Billy Chong. It was not the end of Jackie Chan because he made action comedies with great stunts that had a lot of fighting too (but not kung fu movies). That's another review though.
8 Reviews
Kung fu fans will have a field day
Leofwine_draca2 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Pretty much a straightforward kung fu beat-'em-up, which offers straight action all the way through and no plot. Learned film critics and scholars may take exception to this kind of exploitation movie, but not I: as long as a film can keep me consistently entertained for the hour-and-a-half running time I'm happy, and I was very happy watching this movie. It's not great, it's nothing you haven't seen before, but there are certain charms which makes it an engaging watch.
It's a low budget film, very badly dubbed indeed, about two youngsters out for revenge against some thugs, most of whom seem to be various karate champions from the period. Lots of non-stop fighting and action continues, all shot in a low budget but convincing way, with lots of breaking props and the slight impression that the film has been sped up a notch.
Billy Chong is the nominal hero this time around. Born in Indonesia, he carved a small niche for himself as an action hero in the late '70s and early '80s, before moving to television later on in his years. He's a pretty good fighter, very fast, and he's perfectly adequate here in a couple of splendid battles. Sharing kung fu hero status is the even less well-known Carl Scott, a young black fighter who appeared in about three martial arts films. He's also pretty good, although neither star is that memorable to be quite honest.
The various bad guys and villains are either weird and/or funny: there's a Chuck Norris wannabe who breaks blocks of ice, a couple of would-be Bruce Lee Chinese fighters, a knife-thrower, a Red Indian (!) – basically a Chinese guy doled up like Jackie Chan in SHANGHAI NOON - a big fat Chinese guy who pokes people's eyes out, and plenty more people waiting to get their asses kicked. The action remains entertaining throughout thanks to the wealth of interesting locations to fight in, whether they be bridges, rivers, bar-rooms, fields, houses and what-not. Nothing classic here, but kung fu fans will have a field day.
It's a low budget film, very badly dubbed indeed, about two youngsters out for revenge against some thugs, most of whom seem to be various karate champions from the period. Lots of non-stop fighting and action continues, all shot in a low budget but convincing way, with lots of breaking props and the slight impression that the film has been sped up a notch.
Billy Chong is the nominal hero this time around. Born in Indonesia, he carved a small niche for himself as an action hero in the late '70s and early '80s, before moving to television later on in his years. He's a pretty good fighter, very fast, and he's perfectly adequate here in a couple of splendid battles. Sharing kung fu hero status is the even less well-known Carl Scott, a young black fighter who appeared in about three martial arts films. He's also pretty good, although neither star is that memorable to be quite honest.
The various bad guys and villains are either weird and/or funny: there's a Chuck Norris wannabe who breaks blocks of ice, a couple of would-be Bruce Lee Chinese fighters, a knife-thrower, a Red Indian (!) – basically a Chinese guy doled up like Jackie Chan in SHANGHAI NOON - a big fat Chinese guy who pokes people's eyes out, and plenty more people waiting to get their asses kicked. The action remains entertaining throughout thanks to the wealth of interesting locations to fight in, whether they be bridges, rivers, bar-rooms, fields, houses and what-not. Nothing classic here, but kung fu fans will have a field day.
Hilariously charming
Andrew42615 November 2020
Though the dubbing is perhaps the worst thing that I've ever heard, Its pros far outweigh the cons. Campy, hilarious, charming in its own right and full of surprisingly fantastic fight choreography. Definitely worth a watch if you like Kung-Fu B movies
Fantastic, even by the standards of the genre
JohnSeal24 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Not 'fantastic' as in 'really good', but 'fantastic' as in 'beyond belief'. A Hard Way to Die is a bizarre martial arts tale set in an Old West that definitely isn't the Old West. In this Old West, the population is equal parts Asian, African-American, and White, and they all work, relax and fight together in equal measure. When they play pool in the local bar, they all happily listen to country-western music. I thought at first the film was making some tenuous connection to the construction of the railroads, but that doesn't seem to be the case: characters refer to being on an island, and many of them are dressed in modern-day wear. The acting style is best described as 'flowery', the dialogue stilted, and the dubbing alone worth the price of admission (or the dollar you might pay for the tape at a garage sale). As bad as it is, it's way more interesting than your average chop socky affair.
Your average everyday ho-hum run-of-the-mill kung fu flick
rde1 March 1999
You may think that the secret to becoming a kung fu master is years of practise and dedication. But let me tell you; you'll never be truly good unless you see your family killed by evil kung fu men who laugh crapulently as they inflict that final blow on your dying father. Only after witnessing this heinous crime will you be able to study under the master who lives down the road, ultimately revenging yourself.
But I digress. What of the this film? Invoking standard kung fu plot #1, with a couple of minor variations involving American actors, Zhu zai xie lei (or Sun Dragons as my copy was called) could, on a generous day, be described as below average. I'm in such a generous mood, so I'll try to be kind regarding this film's myriad flaws.
Let's start with the dubbing. This won't be a problem for everyone watching the film, but if you see the same print I did you're in for a treat; the single worst dub in the history of cinema. Trying to encapsulate such awfulness in a few words is impossible, it really does have to be heard to be believed. Then there's the really bad editing. The dismal plot. And the kung fu.
If you're of the opinion that quantity will make up for quality, then this is the film for you. Containing as it does more than the average number of fights, you'll be reasonably happy as long as you like watching one guy beating the crap out of six people at a time. However, these scenes are too frequent and too long to hold the interest for long, and I found myself keeping an eye on the foot fodder in background, patiently waiting for another opportunity to get kicked in the face by one of our heroes.
The traditional bosses, who we would expect to give us a decent show, fail to do so. After the unremarkable fights leading up to the end, the viewer has the right to at least hope for something better; this does not happen.
Overall, the film is sufficiently cheesy and fight-filled to keep one watching, and it does have a tendency to fall into the 'so bad it's watchable' category occasionally.
This is a movie that's bad enough that it shows you how a movie shouldn't be made, but not sufficiently bad that you'll find yourself unable to stick with it.
But I digress. What of the this film? Invoking standard kung fu plot #1, with a couple of minor variations involving American actors, Zhu zai xie lei (or Sun Dragons as my copy was called) could, on a generous day, be described as below average. I'm in such a generous mood, so I'll try to be kind regarding this film's myriad flaws.
Let's start with the dubbing. This won't be a problem for everyone watching the film, but if you see the same print I did you're in for a treat; the single worst dub in the history of cinema. Trying to encapsulate such awfulness in a few words is impossible, it really does have to be heard to be believed. Then there's the really bad editing. The dismal plot. And the kung fu.
If you're of the opinion that quantity will make up for quality, then this is the film for you. Containing as it does more than the average number of fights, you'll be reasonably happy as long as you like watching one guy beating the crap out of six people at a time. However, these scenes are too frequent and too long to hold the interest for long, and I found myself keeping an eye on the foot fodder in background, patiently waiting for another opportunity to get kicked in the face by one of our heroes.
The traditional bosses, who we would expect to give us a decent show, fail to do so. After the unremarkable fights leading up to the end, the viewer has the right to at least hope for something better; this does not happen.
Overall, the film is sufficiently cheesy and fight-filled to keep one watching, and it does have a tendency to fall into the 'so bad it's watchable' category occasionally.
This is a movie that's bad enough that it shows you how a movie shouldn't be made, but not sufficiently bad that you'll find yourself unable to stick with it.
A B-movie full with action and some great fights
geobomber28 December 2006
Who cares about the dubbing or the editing or the mambo jumbo. If you've seen enough b-kung fu movies like me you'll appreciate this one. It's loaded with fights and weapon fights. They may not be up to par with jackie chan's drunken master 2 but they are a little more complex then fist of fury. Seriously if you see the part where billy does the hurricana on the one guy in the cabin then you'll understand what im talking about. This movie makes everyone who can't fight seam like they can fight. Heck even Carl Scott is damn good! I've seen seen almost every Van Damme movie, every Jackie Chan movie, most of Sammo Hung's movies, etc.. and this thing is action packed! I found it at walmart in a double pack with another Billy chong movie which isn't as fun as this one. Anyhow don't listen to the other review and go find this masterpiece! One of the best b movies out there!
"Classic Joint from a Bygone Era"
kevinkishin16 March 2021
Diversity leads to future films
GOWBTW-5STARreviewer4 February 2024
Many martial arts films have always been Asian. Now there are other racial groups that have embraced the arts.
A black family has been murdered. The surviving victim has been trained in Kung fu. The friend is Chinese. They make a great team. His friends are assaulted. One is murdered. Both victims take their revenge on those who have done them wrong.
This movie has opened the door to non-Asians doing martial arts. And two Asian groups doing different martial arts. Hardly see any stereotype in the films. A few racial epithets. But other than that, it was enjoyable. I remember Jim Kelly and Steve James put their prowess on the line, this martial artist show his moxie in this film.
5 stars.
A black family has been murdered. The surviving victim has been trained in Kung fu. The friend is Chinese. They make a great team. His friends are assaulted. One is murdered. Both victims take their revenge on those who have done them wrong.
This movie has opened the door to non-Asians doing martial arts. And two Asian groups doing different martial arts. Hardly see any stereotype in the films. A few racial epithets. But other than that, it was enjoyable. I remember Jim Kelly and Steve James put their prowess on the line, this martial artist show his moxie in this film.
5 stars.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
