A criminally underrated sequel to one of the best martial arts movies ever made can be watched online for free. Directed by the now-legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping, Drunken Master played a crucial role in Jackie Chan’s rise to stardom, the onscreen image he later developed, and his signature brand of comedy.
Given the tremendous success it achieved, it’s no surprise that Drunken Master became one of the many martial arts classics to get a sequel. With Jackie Chan reprising his role as Wong Fei-hung, Drunken Master II was another mᴀssive hit for the star in 1994, and has been credibly referred to as a sequel that’s actually on par with the original.
Despite what the тιтle implies, Drunken Master II wasn’t the first follow-up to the 1978 Jackie Chan classic. In fact, it had two sequels just a year after the original’s release, and both of them are available to be streamed right away, at no cost. One in particular is an often-overlooked martial arts gem deserving of more attention.
One Of Drunken Master’s Characters Led Two Sequels In 1979
In Drunken Master, Jackie Chan’s Wong Fei-hung is depicted as an expert in drunken boxing style kung fu, but like many heroes in the genre, he doesn’t start the story a master martial artist. He has to go through rigorous training, which he receives from Sam Seed.
Played by Yuen Siu-tien, Sam Seed is introduced as a drunken beggar who uses his intoxicated state to conceal (and even enhance) his true skills. After Wong realizes the talent of Sam Seed, he convinces him to take his student, setting a truly memorable old-school kung fu movie training sequence ahead of his final showdown with the villain, Hwang Jang Lee’s Thunderleg.
After Drunken Master, Jackie Chan moved on and signed a contract with Golden Harvest, ending his brief partnership with the studio behind the film, Seasonal Film Corporation. But Seasonal Film Corporation wasn’t ready to walk away from Drunken Master just yet; in fact, it wasted no time in following up on the movie’s success by making two sequels, both released within the same month in 1979.
Yuen Sui-tien is the real-life father of Yuen Woo-ping, who served as the director of Drunken Master and Dance of the Drunk Mantis.
Story of the Drunken Master and Dance of the Drunk Mantis shined the spotlight on Sam Seed, with Yuen Siu-tien returning to play Sam Seed in both movies, which take place sometime after Jackie Chan’s 1978 movie.
In each of the two films, Sam Seed has to become the mentor to a new protagonist in need of training in kung fu. Story of the Drunken Master replaces Wong Fei-hung with Casanova Wong’s Chi Wai, and Dance of the Drunken Mantis pairs Sam Seed with Yuen Shun-yi.
Dance Of The Drunk Mantis Brings Back Three Of The Best Parts Of The Original Movie
Drunken Master will always be remembered as a great Jackie Chan movie, but it’s important to note that he wasn’t alone in making it the classic that it is today. Also key to its popularity were Yuen Siu-tien, Hwang Jang Lee, and of course, Yuen Woo-ping.
In addition to directing the film, he oversaw its martial arts choreography. Yuen Woo-ping’s involvement helped ensure that Dance of the Drunken Mantis‘ fight sequences live up to the expectations of the original, even without Jackie Chan’s inclusion in the cast.
Drunken Master, Story of the Drunken Master, and Dance of the Drunk Mantis are all streaming on Tubi.
Making that task easier was the return of Hwang Jang Lee. Known for his prowess in kickboxing, the Korean actor wowed audiences with his impressive high kicks in his showdown with Jackie Chan in Drunken Master, and displays those skills once again in Dance of the Drunk Mantis, this time playing Rubber Legs, a rival of Sam Seed.
Sam Seed’s drunken behavior, slapstick approach to the action, and rougish persona, not to mention Yuen Siu-tien’s acting style, made Sam Seed a highlight of Drunken Master, and he brings that same charm to Dance of the Drunk Mantis, which doubles down on its use of the character.
Dance Of The Drunk Mantis Is A Must-Watch Martial Arts Classic
On paper. A Drunken Master sequel without Jackie Chan may sound like a film that’s doomed to disappoint, but Dance of the Drunken Mantis succeeds regardless. Underscoring how integral Yuen Siu-tien was to the original, Dance of the Drunk Mantis uses Sam Seed early and often in the story, setting up several humorous character moments and employing a fun dynamic between him and his new adopted son.
Hwang Jang Lee’s super-serious Rubber Legs creates an appropriate contrast with the mischievous and nonchalant Sam Seed, and gives the movie a great martial arts rivalry to drive the story. And in true old-school kung fu movie fashion, that rivalry gets pᴀssed on to the student, as it falls on Yuen Shun-yi’s character to defeat Hwang Jang Lee’s villain.
