montecristocount

Excellent movie, made me remind the legendary "Tootsie" but the end is much nicer, the conflict starts when Luis a beginner writer decide to wear his lover clothes to escape from being caught by her husband and the he finds his true love (Virginia) when she is about to commit suicide.

Certain scenes are just a little ridiculous, but who cares, is just like a nice salad with only one ingredient that you are not very happy with.

Trough the characters you could find yourself trying to conquer a crazy but tender love, an unreachable dream, a real friend with whom you got your best moments where the most and the least important thing is sex.

It's 1972, This is the Mexican version of "The night of the living dead" Professor Zovek was a real national hero. He was an authentic athlete, able to swim, jump the boxer's rope and perform sit-ups without stopping for more than 8 hours. He became famous for his escapes (better than Houdini's) and his demonstrations of his physical and mental strength, like stopping 8 motorcycles from start running using his teeth, a biting device and some chains (everything documented on TV and WITH audience in the studio).

The Fuji Telecasting Company LTD from Japan sent some agents to Mexico to invite the Professor for a special program "The World Surprise Show" where super stunts, strong men and extraordinary talented people were presented every six months having the best of the best in this Show, when they heard about Zovek, they thought it was like the "Zovek brothers" where one was an escape artist, another probably making the records an maybe another being the professional hypnotist etc. but they were surprised when realize that the Professor was everything in one man, so they called him and gave him the title of "The first Incredible Showman in the world".

With this we can understand why the producers of this movie the "Rosas Priego" brothers offered Zovek a contract of 9 movies, because they knew that success was guaranteed, at least in the local market.

Yes, this is a low budget film and the special effects are nothing if you compare those to Terminator's or Matrix's, but this is early 70's. Look for example the movies of that time like 007's or Roller Ball and you won't find Silicon Graphics style at all. In the other hand take a look to "Wild Wild West" where you have a superstar, Will Smith; there is a big budget and that was made in 1999 and for real that's a poor, empty movie.

The makers of this movie had to re-write the script because Professor Zovek was killed in a helicopter accident in March 1972 so they invited to the wrestling star "Blue Demon" to finish the story, and of course the Professor never saw the movie.

The fighting scenes looks real because actually The Professor was a Martial Arts Teacher (he trained the Military Police of the Mexican Army and received some offers from some other countries in Eastern Europe) and he mastered western boxing, French fencing and oriental Martial Arts.

When the cable TV industry was spreading in Mexico in early 80's even the next generation of kids enjoyed and cheered Professor Zovek every time they were presenting "La invasion de los muertos" and Professor's first movie "El Increible Profesor Zovek". So I know this movie has the power to make a kid to fall in love with it.

Considering the time when the movie was made, it's special effects, sound, and style will be found good.

El Increible Profesor Zovek is considered the best escape Artist in all history in Mexico (a Houdini like), but in addition he was an extraordinary athlete, he performed in a live TV show 17,800 non stop sit ups in 8 hours (no tricks on it)and did the last 200 carrying his secretary on his hands over his head; he made another record by swimming more than 8 hours (uninterrupted) for another TV program, he could drag a series of eight cars using a biting piece and his teeth and he did it. He was a Martial Arts expert and even an instructor of the Mexican Army Military Police (he broke concrete blocks, woods and other stuff, which is not very surprising today, but the way he did it make it interesting, because before breaking his targets, he first stood in one foot over the targets lifting a woman, and that was a proof of the clean free-of-tricks exhibition). He was able to escape from chains, strait jackets and handcuffs without tricks or keys. So he became in late 60's early 70's a national hero, all kids were dreaming to be as strong and wise as Professor Zovek.

Producers took advantage of his popularity to start a series of movies with Zovek as a star (the first contract was for nine). They could make 1 and a half because he was killed in a very strange accident in March 1972; the audience respected and admired the Professor and they continued cheering his adventures in this movie and in "La invasion de los Muertos" (Mexican version of "The night of the living dead") with the Professor as central character so he was acting himself in both movies.

He couldn't finished the making of "La invasion de los muertos" because of his accident so they rewrote the script and called a Mexican wrestling star "Blue Demon" to finish it.

People knew that most of the amazing actions they saw on screen performed by Zovek were somehow part of his repertory.

You gonna enjoy watching this movie where Zovek demonstrates his abilities fighting a crazy scientist, Leobardo Druso (Jose Galvez) Nobel price in physics who wants to conquer the world using some kind of telepathic orders.

Dr. Druso has to kill to colleagues by placing a bomb in an airline flight, and he does because he needs to be free to continue with his experiments. Zovek is involved because he has been following the process of their work using his telepathic skills.

When Dr. Druso realizes that the Professor sent his secretary Virginia (Nubia Marti) and his driver Chano (German Valdez "Tin-Tan")to follow his men, he order his kidnapping to investigate and use the powerful mind of the professor.

Mexico 1971. Dir. Rene Cardona Screenplay Chano Urueta

I was influenced by this movie to start training Martial Arts, first Kung fu, then Tae Kwon Do. It gave me some motivation when I lost almost all my friends because I was the kind of kid always searching for adventures and physical activities and they just disappeared from the scene because of the Atari's video games.

I loved the values of this 5 masters of the Shao Lin temple by honoring their ancestors, masters and school-temple and giving some pay back to the bad guys who betrayed and killed their people.

The stunts are great athletes and for sure great martial artists as well, but above all real combat experts instead of flying wired clowns.

The music is good, but I don't like the sound that all movie makers add to punches and kicks almost as fake as those "Pow" from Batman but I guess that is or was a standard in the industry so that is not their fault (producers and/or director of this movie).

Considering the context and the year when it was made, this movie deserves respect because it's original and it inspired so many kids when we start enjoying the benefits of VCR's (Beta format) back in early to middle 80's. Plus it teaches to kids that if you want to win, you need to pay the price and you need to go through training and discipline.