I deeply appreciate that 'Tiger claws' has no pretense about what it is: this is a B-movie, through and through, with no aim but to entertain. Any viewer unable to fully embrace all the idiosyncrasies of movies on this level will probably look at this and see bad acting, cheesy writing, and self-indulgent dialogue. And these things may well be true - but I watch these same qualities play out and I see a picture that knew exactly what it wanted to be, and had no care for how it may appear to outsiders. I watch 'Tiger claws,' and I love every minute of it.
So much about this feature is emphatically over the top, to the point that it seems clear to me it was intended at least in part as a tongue-in-cheek parody of its more serious-minded brethren. Consider the repetition in dialogue of "martial arts!" or heightened discussion of "law!" and police procedure. Consider the great ease with which the plot progresses ("We're looking for a master." "No." Three minutes later: "You helped me, here's where you'll find a master."). Consider the embellished dialogue, scene writing, and direction that accentuates the many instances of "Martial arts!" action. Consider the tropes that round out the characters (their backgrounds especially) and the story (the ending not least of all).
And more than even any of this, there are two aspects of 'Tiger claws' in particular that really leap out at me, and that both seem in their own way to cement the purposeful slant of the feature. First is the score composed by Varouje - almost entirely synth-driven, and characterized by tasteful flourishes of light percussion. It's compelling, enjoyable music that adds a hint of atmosphere befitting a much more grandiose martial arts saga - and the filmmakers surely knew it. Above all, the acting grabbed my attention from the word go - not because it's bad, but because I think it seems very specifically geared toward that same fluid, uncomplicated, direct, and frankly playful approach to action-oriented storytelling. Actors' body language, and most of all their delivery, is consistently and willfully restrained, not just declining but denying the sincerity and feeling that would impart their characters' intent with all due weight. At the same time - please do not think for one moment that I'm belittling anyone's vocal timbre (whether natural or affected), because I'm not, but it truly seems like everyone in the cast was selected for voice patterns that are notably higher in pitch, on average, than I can ever recall seeing in another movie. (Unless - it feels unlikely, but could this be a calculated trick of sound design?) It's hard to explain with written words, but suffice to say that the result is a title that impresses as distinctly exaggerated, all in the name of having a good time - and it provides exactly that, in spades.
With all this said: recognizing what 'Tiger claws' wants to be, I think this is pretty great! I like what I see. The cast gratifyingly lean into the ham-handedness. Set design and decoration is thoughtful and well-minded. Kate Healey's costume design, and the work of hair and makeup - defining the appearance of the players and their parts - all look swell, and that includes blood. For all the flavors of excess, I think Kelly Makin demonstrates a keen sense as director for how to build each shot and scene, with some singular instances I think are quite clever, and I likewise admire Reid Dennison's capable editing. I honestly like J. Stephen Maunder's screenplay: the dialogue is delightfully overstated, and characters are consciously one-dimensional, but these only work in the favor of the title's construction. Though the narrative is far-fetched and outlandish, it's sufficiently absorbing to keep one's interest, and I appreciate the tone that it strikes. That goes for the scene writing, too, which I also think is reasonably dynamic, and fairly stimulating - more in line with what an earnest martial arts thriller would offer, to Maunder's credit. And, not to overlook the able contributions of anyone else behind the scenes, but the fight choreography is genuinely terrific.
When all is said and done, 'Tiger claws' is a little bit of an odd mix as a showcase of martial arts. It mashes together an overall attitude of less than serious cheekiness - pure, deliberate B-grade entertainment - with some unexpectedly strong elements that reflect a sincerity the title otherwise rejects. It's a little weird, and though I sharply disagree, I understand why this is not necessarily held in as much esteem as I think it deserves. All I can say is that if one is open to both sides of this delicious curiosity, then it's hard not to walk away feeling very satisfied.
It's unfortunate that Cynthia Rothrock, given appreciable billing, is nonetheless only second fiddle to co-star Jalal Merhi, instead of being put on equal footing in the film as it presents. It's a pleasure to see Bolo Yeung here, of course, though one can't help but wish he had still more screen time. More substantively, there's at least one plot point that could have benefited from further development, as it would have helped to flesh out a couple characters (the antagonist especially). And once more, I won't for one moment pretend that this amalgamation of highfalutin fun with violent thriller undertones is going to meet the preferences of wide general audiences. But for all its idiosyncrasies, I rather think this is surprisingly solid - much more so than I would have imagined at the outset. With the music, fight scenes, and performances all standing out the most, by one measure or another - as far as I'm concerned, 'Tiger claws' is roundly enjoyable, and well worth checking out for anyone who's looking for a no-frills action romp to relax with.
