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Chiang Sheng with Lee Chung-Yat in Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983)
A b tier venom special: Lee Chung-Yat and Ti Lung in Death Ring (1984)
Lu Feng and Lee Chung-Yat in Death Ring (1984)
Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983) Review
This film is quite unique. While it may not have had the same budget as some of the other films like Shaw Brothers had, for example, that doesn’t make it any less exciting. It features quite a few of the Venom Mob's actors who are trained in Peking Opera. There are other familiar faces, like Chris Lee Kin-Sang. The film itself highlights some elements of opera performances and the various roles that you would encounter in real life. Chang Cheh has been noted as loving Chinese opera, and it is apparent when you watch this film. It is done with such care and there is a genuine emphasis on the performances. The plot is mainly centered around the opera troupe, so the story gradually begins to unfold through their performances until it leads up to the major events in the film, which happen on and off stage. Everyone is caught in a web of betrayal, secrets, and the growing presence of the supernatural.
All the performances were brilliantly executed. Chiang Sheng's character is a male that happens to play female roles in the opera performances, and he brings a fun twist to the film with his flirtatious but dramatic personality. The movie is what I would describe as darker and gloomier, so he lightens the mood at times. It is definitely different from some of the characters you would see him portray at Shaw Brothers. Lu Feng also delivers a strong and feisty performance because his character is one of the few involved in developing a malicious plot. He causes some interesting confrontations throughout the film. He has good chemistry with Lee Chung-Yat as the two often clash, keeping you on the edge of your seat to see what happens next. Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi and Lee Chung-Yat don't disappoint, either. Lee Chung-Yat plays a slightly hotheaded character with a gentler side towards specific characters that makes you forget that he's just playing the role because it is so believable. He really embodies human emotion and shows that there are two sides to every character. Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi shines with his beautiful knife skills, which pair well with his mysterious vibe. It was nice to see him have a good bit of screen time and interact with everyone else since they all have different reactions to him. He brings a lot of surprises and twists to the screen. It is hard to tell just what he is going to do next, so the unpredictability makes you want to keep watching to see what happens.
Incorporating the supernatural elements was a very interesting idea. Chang Cheh does make it work as usual since the way he went about it was set up well throughout the movie. It was not necessarily so sudden that it was confusing. There seemed to be hints at it as the movie progressed, so it was not difficult to see coming. This made for a unique film since it appeared to be trying to establish something that would stand out, even though it seemed to be getting a lot of negative reviews. Although the effects are not the greatest at times, it is definitely worth sitting through. I feel this factor makes sense, as Lu Feng has mentioned that they didn’t have as many resources in Taiwan, so they likely did their best with what they had! The makeup and costumes are quite good as they allow the actors to stand out or indicate when they’re playing different roles on stage or within the film.
Overall, the acrobatics are spectacular, and the action is fast-paced but not disappointing when everyone breaks out into a fight. Even the fighting that takes place on the opera stage and the acrobatics are great. The action keeps rolling once it starts, with a lot of the cast getting in on it. It was beautifully crafted to attract your attention. The entire mood of the film is definitely dark and mysterious, so it isn't one that's lighthearted. I highly recommend checking this out at least once if you enjoy the Venom Mob and Chang Cheh's innovative movies like Heaven and Hell or The Nine Demons, to name a few. Since a lot of the actors are Peking Opera trained, it doesn't feel artificial, and I quite enjoyed them bringing their skills to light in a brilliant display. If you are interested in Chinese opera, then this would be worth seeing as well, to experience how Chang Cheh brilliantly incorporates the supernatural into the fun, slower-paced plot.
Lee Chung-Yat and Chiang Sheng battle in The Nine Demons (1984)
The Nine Demons (1984), directed by Chang Cheh
Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983)
Lee Chung-Yat and Chris Lee Kin-Sang in Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983)
Lee Chung-Yat in He is My Brother (1989)
Lu Feng and Lee Chung-Yat in Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983)
Don't @ me, but I ship Zuo Qi (Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi) with all these characters.
Happy Halloween (if you celebrate it)!! Instead of candy, I am handing out pictures of them 😌