Martial Arts Movie Junkie

In 1994, Jackie Chan decided to create a sequel to one of his first big hits, Drunken Master. The sequel continues the story of Wong Fei-Hong, and Jackie teamed up with Lau Kar-Leung for the film. However, Jackie and Lau Kar-Leung did not see eye to eye on the film, eventually leaving Jackie in the director’s chair. Would Jackie be able to pull the film together and still create a satisfying experience?

Drunken Master II Trailer

Story/Characters

Given today’s standards, Drunken Master II’s story doesn’t hold up as well as it used to. The evil foreigners are at it once again, stealing artifacts from the Chinese. While this seems tired now, it’s simply because it’s been overdone these past few years. However, there are still elements that ensure the plot revolves around the characters and not the events that overlook them. I think this is one of the best decisions for Drunken Master II.

It had been a while since I have seen this film, and I forgot how developed the characters are. Anita Mui plays a wonderful mother, showing both her stern and humorous side at all the right moments. Jackie also shows the ups and downs of using drunken boxing, which I think is great given how lighthearted the original film was. All of the supporting characters are just as developed, but the villains are casually overlooked because they are apparently just bad for no other reason. All in all, the characters give enough depth to the story to make you care about them.

Action/Choreography

This is Jackie at his best, and there are very few fights that are as memorable as the ones in Drunken Master II. Jackie uses just enough wirework to make you question if he’s even using them while throwing in some crazy stunts and choreography. If you look closely enough, you can see where Jackie had control of the action compared to Lau Kar-Leung.

The finale, which pits Jackie against former bodyguard Ken Lo, is one of the best in the industry, and proves that fights can be long and intricate without losing the interest of the audience. The shots are very wide and cuts are few and far between, letting the audience see the action for what it is. Drunken boxing was made popular by Chan, and he makes sure to use every style and method well while sprinkling in his trademark humor.

Own it, Watch it, or Skip it?

For me, Drunken Master II is a no-brainer. The story is good and the characters are interesting. The fighting is intense and a blast to watch, even after all these years. If anyone were to watch one Jackie Chan film, this would be one of the top contenders. This movie is one of the reasons why I became a fan of Jackie, and I’d recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. This is one you need to have, you’ll be going back to it for years to come.

Own it

The Legend of Drunken Master DVD (US Version)

The Legend of Drunken Master Blu Ray (US Version)

Not to contradict my own verdict, but try to find a version that isn’t the US one if you can. The US version has different music and the references to the drunken gods are skipped over. While its fine if you have no other option, I’d say a HK release is worth the effort.

Case in point (the dub is different but the music changes are noticeable)