Showing posts with label Dorian Tan Tao Liang. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dorian Tan Tao Liang. Show all posts

Monday, December 22, 2014

Profile of Tan Tao Liang - Happy 67th Birthday!

Today marks the 67th Birthday of Tan Tao Liang aka Dorian Tan aka Delon Tan!


The birthday boy, Tan Tao Liang aka Flash Legs



Tan Tao Liang was born in Pusan, Korea on this date of Dec 22 in 1947. He has an amazing agility in his kicks. Tan, more known for his flashy kicks than, say, Hwang Jang-Lee's powerful kicks, he was nicknamed "Flash Legs". He won many Tae Kwon Do (TKD) tournaments in his teens and early 20's and was a World Champion.


Tan is one of the best kickers in the 1970's/80's Hong Kong films along with Hwang Jang-Lee, John Liu, and Casanova Wong. He started teaching TKD in Monterey Park, California in 1987, but is now living in Taiwan. His students still run his TKD School in California. He retired from films in 1985.




'Flash Legs' Tribute 




Kung Fu Master Tribute 





Earlier today, I posted 2 full movies of Tan Tao Liang that he is best known for:





The Hot, the Cool, and the Vicious

The Leg Fighters aka The Invincible Kung Fu Legs

Happy 67th Birthday Tan Tao Liang!





Here are some of Master Tan's 'famous' pupils, some of whom you will recognize and some of whom may surprise you!



1) Kam Kong


Kam Kong in 1978's Invincible Kung Fu Trio


Kam Kong is probably best known for his role as 'Fung Sheng Wu Chi' in "Master of the Flying Guillotine [aka One-armed Boxer vs. the Flying Guillotine (1976)]".





For 2 GIF Sets I've made from "Master of the Flying Guillotine [aka One-armed Boxer vs. the Flying Guillotine (1976)]", please check out:







2) Shannon Lee


Daughter of Bruce Lee; she learned TKD from Master Tan for her role as 'Mandy' in "Enter the Eagles" aka "And Now You're Dead" which I posted here.

The beautiful and deadly daughter of the Dragon, Shannon Lee


Here are some GIFs I've made of Shannon in action:







3) John Liu Chung-Liang


Liu learned TKD from Master Tan when Liu attended the National Taiwan University. Liu goes on through Master Tan's rigorous training to join Tan as one of the superkickers of the 1970's/80's.


John Liu known for his Leg Holding Skills
From Secret Rivals II
(Please click picture for larger resolution)






4) Jonathan Ke Quan


Quan, better known as 'Short Round' and 'Data' from "The Goonies", studied Taekwondo under Philip Tan on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  Quan would go on to further his TKD training under Master Tan.


Jonathan Ke Quan as "Short Round", 1984, 12 years old
Quan in 2013, 42 years old

WOW! Look at Short Round all grown up!





5) Yuen Biao


In 1976, John Woo directed a young Yuen Biao (as well as Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung) along with Master Tan in "Hand of Death". During the filming, Tan taught Yuen Biao TKD.


Yuen Biao in Shanghai Express
Please click for larger resolution


Check out Yuen Biao in action, please check out these posted movies:





For more info on Tan Tao Liang, please see:


Happy 67th Birthday Tan Tao Liang! [The Leg Fighters (1980) (Full Movie)]

Happy 67th Birthday Tan Tao Liang aka Dorian Tan aka Flash Legs! 


In his honor, I am posting my favorite movie of his, The Leg Fighters aka The Invincible Kung Fu Legs.


Enjoy!




Click for super high res picture


The Leg Fighters (1980)
aka The Invincible Kung Fu Legs

Phoenix (Ha Kwong-Li) is the prodigal daughter of sorts with a chip on her shoulder. She's asked to learn kung fu from kicking expert Mo Ku-fung (Sun Jung-Chi), but despises his harsh training. She and Chin Pan, her mischievous servant say good riddance when he leaves to attend to his sick wife. Replacing him is another top kicker named Tan Hai-chi (Tao-liang Tan) who resumes training. Phoenix transfers her disdain to Tan and their relationship sours until she gets mixed up with two idiot village bullies named Ding Dong and Dong Dong. Tan exploits the situation in order to humble Phoenix, who in turn agrees to be a dutiful student going forward. Focused leg training resumes until a vicious master of the ground kick named Peng Fung (Peng Kong) comes looking to avenge Tan's killing of his brother. Phoenix joins her new master in fighting Peng in a battle of leg mastery.







Other Tan Tao Liang entries:





For more info, please see:




Happy 67th Birthday Dorian Tan Tao Liang! [The Hot,The Cool, and The Vicious (1976) (Full Movie)]

Happy 67th Birthday Tan Tao Liang aka Dorian Tan aka Flash Legs! 


In his honor, I am posting The Hot,The Cool, and The Vicious.


Enjoy!



Click for super high res picture


The Hot,The Cool and The Vicious (1976)
aka "Nan quan bei tui zhan yan wang"
Tan Tao Liang, Wang Tao

Black Stone is a quiet sleepy town until a mysterious stranger arrives. Secretive of his business he soon arouses suspicion especially when his identity is revealed as the infamous, troublemaking 'Southern Fist' fighter Pai Yu Ching. Tan Tao Liang plays 'Northern Leg' Captain Lu, the towns 'sheriff' who finds himself in deep water when the mayor's son murders his (Capt Lu's) mother-in-law. Lu is steadfast in his resolve to catch the killer but has many obstacles put in his way, particularly Ms. Li (Suen Ga Lam); the sister of an ex-sheriff who Lu accidentally killed and wants revenge, and the mayor, who hires Pai Yu Ching to protect his house from any would-be lawmen that might try to arrest his son. The mayor has other reasons for keeping Lu at arms length as he is deeply involved in a counterfeiting ring. Pai Yu Ching is actually a secret government official, who in the beginning is often in staring contests with Capt Lu but eventually seeks Lu's help after his partner is killed by the hotels owner (who is secretly in cahoots with the Mayor). When matters get out of hand the mayor calls on his partner, the strange Mr Lung (Tommy Lee), for help. Mr Lung is a kind of golden haired, white faced gorilla-like creature that speaks in an echoed voice and walks with a limp. He is, however, extremely competent at mantis kung fu. Mr. Lung eventually helps the mayor capture Capt Lu and Pai Yu Ching after they find the seal that makes counterfeit money. Ms. Li puts aside her hatred for Capt Lu and rescues him a Pai and kills the mayor. Capt Lu and Pai Yu Ching then hunt down Mr. Lung for a final showdown.







Other Tan Tao Liang entries:





For more info, please see:




Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Some of my favorite martial arts/action movies



I am somewhat of a martial arts/action movies buff. Many fans always compare their Top Ten list of All-Time Favorite Martial Arts Movies or Action Scenes. I, to date, cannot be pegged into a Top Ten of my favorites.

So I 'cheat' and come up with a few lists broken out into various categories. I guess one day I will have my Top Ten list, but until then, check out mine. 

Do you agree? Disagree? What is your Top Ten?



Some "oldschool" I love (in no order)

1) Five Venoms - 'nuf said... Wing Tsun master Leung Ting did the MA choreography

2) Invincible Shaolin aka Unbeatable Dragon - 5 Venoms gang stars... evil Manchu general, Wang Lung-wei, manipulates Northern Shaolin to fight Southern Shaolin -- features "Snake" learning the Yung Chun (aka Wing Chun) style and "Toad" learning Southern Praying Mantis - 2 of my fave styles

3) Shaolin vs Ninja aka Heroes of the East - Gordon Liu (Master Killer) marries a Japanese woman... inadvertently his comments to his wife about the Japanese MA is misinterpretted as a diss by her martial brothers and sensei... the sensei sends 7 of his students... all experts in various arts to challenge Liu - judo, single nunchuku & single sai vs butterfly swords; japanese spear vs red-tassled spear; etc

4) Invincible Leg Fighters - Dorian Tan shows why he should be in consideration as one of the best kickers of the oldschool generation (My friend says he was very good in The Hot, The Cold, and the Vicious -- I haven't had a chance to watch yet)

5) 5 Masters of Death aka 5 Masters of Shaolin - the first kung fu movie I can remember seeing... i was ~10 yrs old; all star cast -- all from director Chang Cheh's stable of actors/godsons -- a who's who of oldschool superstars: David Chiang, Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, etc

6) 36th Chamber of Shaolin aka Master Killer - Gordon Liu -- inspirational training scenes on a par with Rocky training scenes


loads more...


Bruce Lee/Jackie Chan/Jet Li

1) Way of the Dragon aka Return of the Dragon - prefer this over Enter the Dragon - Bruce Lee wrote, directs, stars, and did the MA choreography

2) Enter the Dragon - 'nuf said

3) Armor of God - Jackie plays the Asian Hawk, a Chinese Indiana Jones... loads of action.. one stunt almost killed Jackie and left him with a hole in his head

4) Fist of Legend - Jet Li remakes Bruce Lee's The Chinese Connection aka Fists of Fury

5) Once Upon a Time in China 1-3 - Jet Li plays Wong Fei-hung


Some recent I love in no order

1) Flashpoint - more action movie than pure martial arts movie, but Donnie Yen vs Calvin Chou is the wet-dream of any MMA/BJJ fan

2) Ip Man 1 & 2 - Donnie again... these 2 movies may be a thin veil of the Chinese Nationalism... both movies follow the same structure... Ip Man is challenged by the rest of the CMA community, he beats them... foreigner comes in and kills one of the Chinese MA community who was a friend of Ip's... he fights the foreigner and wins ... think it was a little unrealistic for him to take on 10 karatekas in #1 -- but overall, love Donnie's acting... he doesn't play his usual cocky self (which is closer to real life for him)... he plays a subdued/reserved man. The tabletop fight vs Sammo in #2 is way over-the-top but so enjoyable!

3) Legend of the Fist - Return of Chen Zhen - no surprise, Donnie yet again... may have been a statement to Hollywood casting Taiwanese pop idol Jay Chou as Kato lol... great visuals/sets a la Tim Burton's Batman... the opening fight vs the German soldiers had me so hyped, I couldn't sleep that night! watched it over and over! the adrenaline and testorene overflowed! overall uneven movie for me, but Shu Qi/Hsu Chi's acting as well as Donnie's was good. The fights and visuals helped make this movie for me to be a favorite - it could've been better

4) 14 Blades - ok my last Donnie for now lol - Donnie in a period piece, plays Green Dragon, the best of the Emperor's secret police... takes on a powerful eunuch ... look for oldschool Chen Kuan-tai in a cameo fight; plot is a little confusing, but scenery is beautiful and the fights entertaining... love rottie Kate Tsui with her whip/veils style

5) Ong Bak - Tony Jaa - love the thai bareknuckle fights... 1 little krabi krabong fight... Jaa's inspirations while growing up was Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan... lots of Chan's 'parkour' stunts by Jaa. 

6) Tom Yum Goong aka The Protector - Tony Jaa again. towards the end, probably homage to Bruce Lee's Game of Death, filmed in one long take, he is in a restaurant and fights his way to the upper floors; one of my fave scenes ever, Jaa breaks the arms and legs of 53 goons if memory serves (yes I'm a martial arts movies geek, i sat there and counted! lol at me)

7) Yamada - The Samurai of Ayothaya -- Buakaw has a part in this... based on Historical figure, samurai stranded in Thailand, comes to adopt Thailand as his homeland and helps defend it from attacks -- if you loved the Thai bareknuckle action in Tony Jaa's Ong Bak, check this one out!
 

8)The Raid: Redemption - Iko Uwais in an almost pure 90 mins non-stop adrenaline ride! one fave scene is his use of the PR-24 baton paired with a folding knife against ~10 bad guys.

9) The Man From Nowhere aka This Man - in the bonus features of the dvd, the making of part... it's mentioned the powers that be behind this movie wanted to show something different to the Korean audiences and they went with the Filipino martial arts... my fave art... fight scenes were short and ballistic... last fight scene had the star fight off like 10 guys with a gun and later a knife... the knife fights is one of the best in recent memory... when i watched this movie, the testosterone/adrenaline overflowed...couldn't sleep afterwards (i watch these 'violent' movies when the wife and kids are asleep)

10) City of Violence - Korean movie, 2 buddies take on the rest of the Korean mafia that is out to kill them... parts of it is homage to the cult classic The Warriors


loads more...



Will be watching sooner or later:

Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins - period piece
War of the Arrow - period piece





I really have to come up with my Top Ten list lol ... what are some of your favorite martial arts movies?


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