Cui ming fu (1967) User Reviews

An Entertaining Cat 3 Movie from Hong Kong

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 28 October 2023]

This film begins with an attractive woman by the name of "Ying Nian" (Fanny Fan) seducing the wealthy owner of a private yacht and, while he is sleeping, stealing a treasure map that belongs to him. Then, with the help of an accomplice, she escapes on a smaller boat just minutes before the yacht is attacked by pirates. Once aboard the vessel, the pirates quickly kill the owner and, to their surprise, also find a treasure map hidden on his body as well. The scene then shifts to a Chinese crime lord by the name of "Gin Te Biu" (Wei Lo) making a surprise visit to the home of one of his trusted subordinates named "Poon Wai Dat" (Feng Ku). While there, he informs Poon Wai Dat that he is looking for a sister he was separated from since childhood by the name of "Gin Mei Li" (Tina Chin-Fei) and requests his help in finding her. He further goes on to say that he has in his possession a treasure map and requests the necessary funds to finance a recovery mission. Being the loyal person that he is, Poon Wai Dat immediately agrees to help him and then gives him the phone number of another trusted lieutenant within his organization named "Ma Loong" (Kuang-Chao Chiang) for further assistance. What Gin Te Biu doesn't consider, however, is that Ma Loong isn't nearly as delighted to hear from his old boss and, after agreeing to meet him at a specific location the next morning, double-crosses him to the police. Not long afterward, Ma Loong acquires the treasure map, only to discover that the map has two parts and Ying Lian has the other one. Meanwhile, a sophisticated adventurer by the name of "Teng 'the Owl' Lei" (Ching Tang) acquires knowledge of the secret treasure map and, with the assistance of Gin Mei Li, decides to personally get involved as well. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that, for a Cat 3 movie from Hong Kong, this turned out to be surprisingly entertaining. Admittedly, some of the action scenes could have used a bit of improvement, but it had an interesting plot and the presence of several attractive actresses like Tina Chin-Fei, Fanny Fan and Shirley Huang (as "Ma Loong's mistress) certainly helped in that regard. That being said, while possibly not as good as some of the better films in the James Bond franchise, this one has its own unique appeal, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Another candidate for "What's Up Tiger Lily?"

[freakus · 8/10 · 10 January 2000]

This is a very swingin' cheesy Matt Helm/In Like Flint/Austin Powers sort of film. Only it's not tongue in cheek. If you have seen "What's Up Tiger Lily?", it was a re-dubbing of a cheesy Japanese spy film. Woody Allen could easily have used this film instead. If you like the swingin' mod styles of the early sixties then this film is for you.