Shaolin Challenges Ninja

Shaolin Challenges Ninja CHALLENGE OF THE NINJA Release date: 1979 Alternate titles: Shaolin Challenges Ninja, Heroes of the East Director: Liu Chia-liang Starring: Liu Chia-hui, Yuko Mizuno, Shoji Kurata Plot: A Chinese man marries a Japanese woman, and they spend a lot of time arguing about what is better--kung-fu or karate. They compete a lot, and Ho (Chia-hui) beats her every time until she uses ninjitsu. He doesn't like ninjitsu, and eventually she leaves and goes back to Japan. Realizing that he loves her a lot, he tries to get her back by writing a letter in which he talks about how Japanese martial arts and Chinese martiala rts are related. Her brothers, however, interpret the letter as a challenge, and travel to China to fight Ho. Ho's wife follows soonafter, realizing what has happened. Ho and the ninjas battle, and he manages to beat each one. At the end, Ho and the Japanese have come respect and like one another. Review: Possibly one of Liu Chia-liang's most ground-breaking films. The Japanese aren't evil, the interracial couple (to people in the US they may all be Asian, but in Asia there are very distinct racial lines) is a positive thing. Plus, this may be the only kung-fu film where no-one is killed. There is a ton of fighting though. But the hostilities are a result of a misunderstanding between cultures, and by the end, the two cultures realize that more than fighting, they simply need to talk and understand one another. A definite high- point for Liu Chia-liang, whose career is almost nothing but high points.