Operación Escorpión

"Operation Scorpio" is not one of the best HK action flicks you can find. The story is only mildly engaging, and at times utterly confusing. The martial arts choreography is unique and fascinating (in one of the fights, superhuman strength is pitted against superhuman agility; in another one, we have "scorpio-style" kung fu vs. "eel-style" kung fu!), but a bit too "exaggerated" for my tastes. I'd say there is about 40% wirework and 60% physical skill involved, but even that percentage is still to be admired. One other thing the film lacks is star power: Chin Kar Lok is likable, but not strong enough to carry the entire film as a lead (but that girl he rescues is incredibly lovely). Overall, if you just skip to the last 20 minutes and the three main fights, you won't have missed much. (**)

SCORPION KING (which I saw under the title OPERATION SCORPIO) boasts some of the finest production values you're ever likely to come across in a martial arts movie. (When one grew up watching the Poverty Row kung fu movies that played theaters in this country during the 1970s, the A picture production values of more recent fare is striking, indeed, by comparison.) There are several things in SCORPION KING that lend it distinction: the hero draws his own manga (which ties in nicely with the notion of the illustrated kung fu manuals everybody's after in many of these movies) and he prepares himself for his eventual kung fu training by first joining a bodybuilding group. (This could've come right out of Bruce Lee's TAO OF JEET KUNE DO.) The late (and truly great) Liu Chia-Liang plays the hero's "Noodles Kung Fu" instructor.

This Martial arts comedy is set in 1920s Hong Kong; protagonist Yu Shu attends a prestigious private school but he spends his time drawing martial arts comics and dreaming of being a hero... much to the annoyance of his teacher and his father. When a friend is bullied he tries to help even though the bullies are stronger. Later he helps rescue Mei, a girl he rather fancies who has been sold into servitude who is about to be resold into prostitution. This act leads to him being expelled from school. He and Mei start working at his uncle's noodle restaurant. He also starts attending a local Kung Fu school... although he might just be learning more in the restaurant. Eventually Mei is found by the man intending to sell her so Yu Shu, with some help, must rescue her and others; this will mean fighting the son of the crime boss... a man known as The Scorpion King due to his unique fighting style.

This film provides lots of exciting martial arts action combined with quite a few laughs. The fights are all brilliantly choreographed; they feel very physical despite some obvious wire work. The story is effective even if it doesn't provide any real surprises. The training scenes to slow the action somewhat and the fact that he is actually learning more working in the kitchen won't be a surprise to anybody who has seen 'The Karate Kid'. The cast does a fine job; most notably Kar Lok Chin and Chia-Liang Liu as Yu Shu and his uncle. Jung Yuen was solid as The Scorpion King despite a rather ridiculous hair style! May Mei-Mei Lo was likeable as Mei. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to those looking for martial arts and a few laughs but nothing too intense.

These comments are based on watching he film in Cantonese with English subtitles. I have used the character names listed on the IMDb rather those on the DVD box.

Operation Scorpio (AKAThe Scorpion King) doesn't slip into top gear until the last 25 minutes or so, but when the action does hit top speed, it delivers some truly amazing martial arts scenes that demand the viewer's attention. That is not to say that the first hour is worthless— just that compared to the final fight-fest, it seems a bit underwhelming.

The plot revolves around Yuk-Su, a talented comic artist who dreams of being a hero—just like those he depicts in his drawings. When Yuk-Su rescues a young maid, Siu-Yu, who is being sold into prostitution, he incurs the wrath of her evil boss, Wa. Led by Sonny, master of scorpion style kung fu, Wa's henchmen give chase to Yuk-Su and the maid. Yuk-Su's father intervenes but he is injured. After being rescued by some friendly bodybuilders, the three eventually hide out at a noodle restaurant, owned by their friend, Master Yat.

Yuk-Su learns to cooks noodles, but also regularly sneaks out in order to secretly build his strength and learn kung fu under the tutelage of Jean, the teacher of the musclebound hulks who rescued them. When Master Yat must leave on business, Yuk-Su is left in charge of the kitchen; however, he pops out to practise his skills with Jean, leaving Siu-Yu to serve the customers. Sonny and his men visit the restaurant and, disgusted by the noodles they are served, trash the restaurant.

When Master Yat learns that Yuk-Su has been sneaking out, he tells him that he should have learnt kung fu from him; it transpires that Master Yat used to be a top Triad assassin, until he decided to try and change his ways. Under the guidance of Master Yat, Yuk-Su improves his skills, even learning the art of the shadowless kick! Yuk-Su eventually gets a chance to try and become a real hero when his friend, Fatty, announces that his maid has also been sold into prostitution. With Jean, they visit Wa posing as French brothel keepers looking for new women. When Fatty's maid is presented to them, she accidentally blows their ruse and at last the action kicks off big style. Despite his best efforts, Jean is badly beaten by Sonny and he and Yuk-Su are forced to flee. On returning to the restaurant, Yuk-Su finds it ablaze; and worst of all, the bad guys have found Siu-Yu! Yuk Su, accompanied by Master Yat, returns to Wa's place to try and rescue Siu-Yu...

Despite some fairly entertaining training scenes, the slow build up to the final action at Wa's house is rather too drawn out and devoid of any serious fight scenes. It is a shame that the tedium wasn't broken up by a decent scrap midway, rather than saving all of the juicy stuff until the end.

The last fight, however, is worth the wait in the end; Won Jin gives a jaw dropping performance as the high kicking Sonny who scuttles, flips and spins with amazing skill and dexterity, and Chin Kar-Lok gives a solid performance as Yuk-Su, the artist-turned-fighter. Also particularly good is old-school kung fu star Lau Kar-Leung (AKA Liu Chia Liang) as Master Yat, proving that this old-timer has still got what it takes to kick ass! Although not a perfect film, Operation Scorpio has enough standout action in its finale to definitely warrant a viewing.

NB. I may have got some of the names wrong. My DVD calls characters by different names than those listed on IMDb.

Awesome kung fu movie! Won Jin makes possible the best debut in the history of kung fu action movies here! with unmatchable kicking skills and just sheer menace!

The rumors about his death are all false, he is alive and kicking (heh) On the recent Hong Kong Legends DVD release of this film it has a interview with him, wich is recent. It also includes an awesome showcase of the man himself :) a must buy :)

4 outta 5