Shanghai Joe (1972)

- Il mio nome è Shangai Joe
Go, Joe, Go, 23 July 2005

The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe is easily one of the best Spaghetti Western / Kung Fu movies I've ever seen. Wait a minute . . . it's the only Spaghetti Western / Kung Fu movie I've ever seen. It's a strange mix of genres that actually works.

Joe is a Chinese immigrant in the Old West. All Joe wants is a job and a chance to make a new life for himself. He faces continual racial prejudices and injustice. Being a peace loving man, he takes it all in stride. But when pushed too far, he turns into a butt-kicking machine. When Joe sets a group of Mexican slaves free, the local "Big Man" hires four killers to get Joe. Can Joe's Kung Fu skills save him from these gun-toting, knife-throwing bounty hunters?

The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe has a lot of things working against it. Chen Lee, in the title role, isn't the most engaging sort of actor. He's actually rather bland. Klaus Kinski, who gets top billing, is on screen for less than 10 minutes. Mario Caiano brings nothing inventive of note to the direction. And the score by Bruno Nicolai, while entertaining, is not very original. But none of that really matters. This isn't art - it's about having a good time. And on that level, The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe works. Watching Joe kick the crap out of a bunch of cowboys is a real blast. The fight scene between Lee and Kinski is the highlight. If you've ever wanted to see a Kung Fu master fight after being shot in both legs, this is your movie.

8/10