Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Returning home with his father after a shopping expedition, Wong Fei-Hong is unwittingly caught up in the battle between foreigners who wish to export ancient Chinese artifacts and loyalists who don't want the pieces to leave the country. Fei-Hong must fight against the foreigners using his Drunken Boxing style, and overcome his father's antagonism as well.
The Legend of Drunken Master is one of Jackie Chan's most celebrated showcases of drunken boxing, a highly distinctive martial arts style that gives the film an unmistakable identity. The action choreography, particularly in the finale, is genuinely exceptional — Chan's athleticism and comedic physicality reach a peak here that few action films have matched. Novelty earns a 4 because drunken boxing as a combat style, combined with Chan's unique brand of comedic stunt work, makes this film one-of-a-kind in execution and tone. The ending earns a 4 for its extraordinary extended fight sequence, widely regarded as one of the greatest action climaxes in martial arts cinema history. Plot is functional but straightforward — a fairly simple artifact-smuggling premise that serves mainly as a vehicle for set pieces. Acting is serviceable genre work with Chan charming and Anita Mui a memorable comic standout, but not deeply impressive. Cinematography is competent Hong Kong action filmmaking without particular visual distinction.