The Shaw Brothers Studio and Ho Meng Hua unleashed their deadly decapitating flying machine film “The Flying Guillotine” in 1975 and it was a hit. However released in 1978 due to several actors dropping out and rewritten during production, their problematic official follow-up almost died a horrible death. Meanwhile, Jimmy Wang Yu was quick to let loose his action packed but outrageous flying guillotine related version “One Armed Boxer Vs the Flying Guillotine” which was in fact a sequel to his “One Armed Boxer” (1971). Acknowledged in the West as “Master of the Flying Guillotine” it went on to become a cult favorite with fans.
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Again set in the Qing Dynasty, besides having his own guillotine team in the palace, Emperor Yung Cheng also sends out his trusted flying guillotine wielding assassin Fung Sheng Wu Ji (Kam Kang) to kill off any remaining rebels. However, it happens that his two nephews have the misfortune of engaging in a fight with the one armed boxer Yu Tien Lung (Jimmy Wang Yu) and get themselves killed. Upon receiving the bad news, a furious Fung sets his hideout on fire and armed with a new compact version of the flying guillotine, he immediately sets out to kill Yu. Furthermore, because of his blindness, he vows to kill every one armed man he comes across till he gets his target.
In the meantime, Yu has become a kung fu instructor after setting up a school where he teaches his students the chi breathing technique to maintain an overall balance for the body. Upon mastering the technique, one's body becomes so light that one can actually walk on walls and ceiling as demonstrated by their Master Tien Lung himself. Of course he has no idea that he is being stalked by one bloodthirsty Imperial assassin.
Conversely, the master of the Eagle Claw School has decided to hold a tournament in which the participants fight each other to the death in every round. Besides treating viewers to a wide range of kung fu fighting, this little diversion from the main plot also serves to flash out the blind assassin who shows up to kill the unfortunate one armed combatant. The brief comic relief provided by the challenger who uses the monkey style is a much needed distraction. Showing off her Eagle Claw style briefly, Doris Lung turns up as the daughter of the Eagle Claw School.
There is a brief subplot which touches on the rebels and their fight against the Qing regime but it never comes to any culmination but revenge and action are the main focus here and Wang Yu is not shy in that department. There are plenty of interesting weapons and styles on display, an arrogant Thai boxer and a Yoga master who can extend and retract his arms are both interesting and memorable. Accordingly, Yu has to use his wits and environment to fight them after they team up with Fung to become a powerful deadly trio. As a bonus, Lau Kar Leung and his brother Lar Kar Wing further provide the amazingly choreographed action seen throughout.
Kam Kang's portraying of the revenge-driven blind Qing Court cutthroat Fung Sheng Wu Ji is dazzling and unforgettable. Interestingly he now carries a very compact folded version of the original dreaded flying killing machine but just as lethal. What makes him even cooler is the accompanied techno music from the German Krautrock band Neu! every time he appears on the screen and it really suits him and makes him more evil. Besides sampling Neu!, Wang Yu also makes wonderful use of more electronic outbursts from Craftwerk throughout his production to great effect. Of course the highlight is his final fight with Fung which takes place in an undertaker's shop in which he uses all kinds of tricks to encounter the deadly weapon.
Made cheaply in Taiwan by First Films, a Hong Kong company, this is easily Wang's most crazy and over the top production but won the hearts of many kung fu fans in the West. Although this is not a perfect film it is undoubtedly an extremely entertaining production with some interesting visuals and music from the highly creative mind of Wang Yu.
