Although it carries a run-of-the-mill plot, with the Japanese occupying China and a band of rebels standing up against them, The Big Fight, from directors Sung Ting Mei (The Traitorous, The Silver Spear) and Sun Sheng Yuan (Immortal Warriors), in what would be their directorial début, is still a pretty exciting wee film!
With decent performances from all, The Big Fight is a pretty serious affair focusing on a tournament organised by the Japanese in a bid to kill or cripple the Chinese fighters. He film has plenty of fight scenes courtesy of Chen Chin, and features some great battles including that with weapons, mixing in judo, sumo and karate with the kung-fu, that come fast and often.
It also features a pretty decent cast with Tin Peng, from A Touch Of Zen, Dragon Gate Inn, and 18 Bronzemen, as the leading-man, with Cheung Ching Ching of Fearless Fighters & One Armed Swordswoman fame, by his side. Plenty of faces from Taiwanese classic kung-fu films help fill it out such as Cheng Fu Hung (Fearless Hyena), Choi Wang (Beach Of The War Gods), and Jack Long (7 Grandmasters) to name but a few...
The Big Fight won't ever go down as a classic or come up in any fans top-ten, but it sure is far from terrible and clears its 90 minute running time at a great pace. Although there are plenty of fights throughout, the last 40 minutes is just non-stop with many highlights leading up to the all-out frantic finale, which is brilliant!
Think of it like an early 70's Ip Man without the gloss and star-power.
Overall: Has most likely slipped under the radar of most kung-fu film fans, but The Big Fight is certainly worth the watch!
