The Legend of Drunken Master

Name: The Legend of Drunken Master
Genre: Action, Comedy
Released: October 20, 2000
Duration: 99 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Ho Sung Pak, Jackie Chan

2000

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 87 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 87 Ratings

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Drunken Master

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Movie Details & Credits

Dimension Films | Release Date: October 20, 2000 | R

Starring: Ho Sung Pak, Jackie Chan

Summary: When Chan mixes up his luggage during a train trip, he finds himself at odds with evil foreigners trying to steal sacred imperial treasures. Never before have such elaborate, acrobatic fight sequences been captured on film. (Dimension Films)

Director: Chia-Liang Liu and Jackie Chan

Genre(s): Action, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 99 min

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Critic Reviews

TNT RoughCut Andy Klein

May well stand as his (Chan) final word on true martial arts cinema. Read full review

Jami Bernard

A pleasure, chock full of creatively choreographed fight scenes. Read full review

Shawn Levy

It's a film with a silly story, and it's been dubbed laughably into English. Yet it's a transporting bit of fluff, full of zest, miraculous physicality and cheeky humor. Read full review

Joey O'Bryan

The film delivers some of the most spectacular and intricately choreographed martial arts fighting ever seen on film. Read full review

Jay Carr

Intoxicating fun. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Has a great deal of the unapologetically broad and silly comedy. Read full review

Peter Stack

Among Chan devotees, it achieved cult status. Read full review

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User Reviews

ElbanNinja

Mar 23, 2019

I highly recommend that you watch the cantonese version with subtitles.

Why do you ask? Because the soundtrack is not the same and the fx sounds are vastly superior. I watched the english version and the magic is not there at all. The end scene fight vs Ken Lo is the best fighting scene ofI highly recommend that you watch the cantonese version with subtitles.

Why do you ask? Because the soundtrack is not the same and the fx sounds are vastly superior. I watched the english version and the magic is not there at all.

The end scene fight vs Ken Lo is the best fighting scene of all time. Did you know Ken Lo is Jackie Chan personal bodyguard in real life?

Also in the cantonese version, the ending credits are sang by Jackie Chan himself and the song owns, don't miss on that!

The fighting scene under the train is also amazing. There are so many good stuff in this movie. The acting is also super nice for a Kung Fu movie. The actor roaster is really huge. Anita Mui is funny as hell in that movie and I love her acting, she's amazing.

Jackie was in his prime in that movie, an absolute madlad. This movie is maybe my favorite movie of all time.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

HelpU

Jul 19, 2009

Wait.... I thought this was Drunken Master... Not the Drunken Master 2 released in America as The Legend of the Drunken Master. Well they certainly made everything less mysterious and more childish. Honestly, if you think this is the best kung fu movie ever made, your brain will explode if Wait.... I thought this was Drunken Master... Not the Drunken Master 2 released in America as The Legend of the Drunken Master. Well they certainly made everything less mysterious and more childish. Honestly, if you think this is the best kung fu movie ever made, your brain will explode if you watch Drunken Master the original and there are a lot better kung fu movies than that, that don't constantly resort to slapstick without a moment of seriousness.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

clem666

Dec 17, 2020

I don't really have much to write and think about this movie. It made me have a agreeable time without having to concentrate a lot. The jokes are original. The dumbest jokes don't influence the plot so much, keeping it straight. The scenrio is original. The pace is good and smoothly switchesI don't really have much to write and think about this movie. It made me have a agreeable time without having to concentrate a lot. The jokes are original. The dumbest jokes don't influence the plot so much, keeping it straight. The scenrio is original. The pace is good and smoothly switches between plot and fights. The overall acting is great, with a particular mention to Anita Mui (playing as Chan's mother-in-law). She is especially funny and unpredictable without being excessively foolish. As always Chan's choregraphies are awesome and varied. Final scenes are really worth the trip. You have to watch the making of in which you can realize what Chan was willing to do to achieve all these amazing stunts.
Unfortunately it is maybe the last really good full-lenght movie Jackie Chan produced.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

YorkMan

May 5, 2016

Drunken Master II (I am reviewing the original HK release, and not the awful, dubbed, edited, re-scored US release) rounded off the early 90's 'classic kung fu' boom with some considerable style.

Jackie returns as Wong Fei Hung, reprising the role from the original movie (released inDrunken Master II (I am reviewing the original HK release, and not the awful, dubbed, edited, re-scored US release) rounded off the early 90's 'classic kung fu' boom with some considerable style.

Jackie returns as Wong Fei Hung, reprising the role from the original movie (released in 1978) that made him the biggest star in Asia. Sitting in the director's chair is kung fu movie legend Lau Kar Leung.
Lau is a kung fu master whose skills can be traced back to Wong Fei Hung (Lau's father was a student of Wong Fei Hung's most famous student, Lam Sai Wing) and having him take up the reins behind the camera was something of a coup for Jackie at the time the film was being made.

Lau's presence can be felt in all aspects of the movie.

Although it is a 'Jackie' picture, Lau (as director, choreographer, and co-star) gives the production a sense of authenticity.
Jackie was interviewed at the time and was exasperated by the fact the other big Wong Fei Hung Movie(s) at the time (the Once Upon A Time In China series) used wires and other 'effects' to accentuate the action on screen.
Lau, Jackie, and Jackie's stunt crew, all combine to take the kung fu fighting right back to the old school. Long takes, wide angles interspersed with close ups and, because Lau is the choreographer, the movements used by those fighting are authentic to the 'style' that Wong himself used in real life.

Unfortunately though this level of authenticity was pushed out of the window when, after Lau's character is killed, Jackie effectively took over production of the movie and choreographed the final fight scenes of the film himself.
As such there is a massive step-change in the way the final 'battle' is not only choreographed, but also in how it's shot and lit. Jackie fights his (real life) on/off bodyguard Ken Lo in the final reel, but it's so rapid-fire and uses dozens of short 'pieces' cut together, that there's no sense of the two fighters on-screen are actually engaged in martial combat. It's much more like an intricate dance, that level of strength and power being put into each kick, punch and block are just not there.

However, despite the final 20 minutes coming over like a completely different movie in tone and direction, it's still a truly remarkable 'old school' kung fu actioner.
The cast is all good, Lau's direction is just spectacular, and the film has a polish to it that you only get from the budget a Jackie picture would be given.
Downsides (apart from that disappointing final reel) are too many comedy elements (a necessary(?) carry over from the tone of the original 1978 film) and a few unnecessary exposition scenes and pointless cameos.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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57	#57 Best Movie of 2000
37	#37 Most Shared Movie of 2000