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Grinding the Stream November 2020 UPDATES: Chinese/Hong Kong Cult Cinema

Welp, it's November and we're still in the middle of a pandemic. It's looking more and more likely that lockdowns are on the way for the winter. So I'm reluctantly bringing back Grinding the Stream. As per usual, I'm including as many movies as I can per each category as I scour Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Fandor, Shudder, Tubi, Midnight Pulp (a "+" will be included wherever subscription fees apply), VUDU’s free selections, The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix, Crackle, Dark Matter TV, Night Flight, Peacock (a "+" will be included wherever subscription fees apply), Shout Factory TV (though most of their titles can also be watched via Amazon Prime).


Again, be warned – all of the free apps have ad breaks (I know, it sucks) and the video quality is inconsistent from app to app. Sometimes it's genuine HD, other times, it's sub-VHS. I've also included links to my own reviews of some of these films.



King Hu Movies

  • Dragon Inn (1967) – Criterion Channel

  • Touch of Zen (1971) – Criterion Channel


Liu Chia-Liang Movies

  • The Spiritual Boxer (1975) – Amazon Prime

  • Challenge of the Masters (1976) – Amazon Prime

  • Executioners from Shaolin (1977) – Amazon Prime

  • The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) – Netflix

  • Shaolin Mantis (1978) – Amazon Prime

  • Heroes of the East (1978) – Amazon Prime

  • Dirty Ho (1979) – Amazon Prime

  • The Shadow Boxing (1979) – Amazon Prime

  • Spiritual Boxer II (1979) – Amazon Prime

  • Return to the 36th Chamber (1980) – Netflix

  • Martial Club (1981) – Amazon Prime

  • Legendary Weapons of China (1982) – Netflix and Amazon Prime

  • The Lady Is the Boss (1983) – Amazon Prime

  • Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1984) – Amazon Prime

  • Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985) – Netflix and Amazon Prime

  • Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986) – Netflix and Amazon Prime


Chang Cheh Movies

  • The Magnificent Trio (1966) – Amazon Prime

  • The One-Armed Swordsman (1967) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • The Assassin (1967) – Amazon Prime

  • The Trail of the Broken Blade (1967) – Amazon Prime

  • Golden Swallow (1968) – Amazon Prime

  • Return of the One-Armed Swordsman (1969) – Amazon Prime

  • The Invincible Fist (1969) – Amazon Prime

  • Have Sword Will Travel (1969) – Amazon Prime

  • The Flying Dagger (1969) – Amazon Prime

  • The Wandering Swordsman (1970) – Amazon Prime

  • The Heroic Ones (1970) – Amazon Prime

  • Vengeance (1970) – Amazon Prime

  • The Duel (1971) – Amazon Prime

  • Duel of Fists (1971) – Amazon Prime

  • The Deadly Duo (1971) – Amazon Prime

  • The Anonymous Heroes (1971) – Amazon Prime

  • Four Riders (1972) – Amazon Prime

  • The Water Margin (co-directed with Pao Hsueh-Li and Wu Ma, 1972) – Amazon Prime

  • The Delightful Forest (co-directed with Pao Hsueh-Li, 1972) – Amazon Prime

  • The Boxer from Shantung (co-directed with Pao Hsueh-Li, 1972) – Amazon Prime

  • The Angry Guest (1972) – Amazon Prime

  • Man of Iron (co-directed with Pao Hsueh-Li, 1972) – Amazon Prime

  • The Delinquent (co-directed with Kuei Chih-Hung, 1973) – Amazon Prime

  • Blood Brothers (1973) – Amazon Prime

  • Five Shaolin Masters (1974) – Amazon Prime

  • Heroes Two (1974) – Amazon Prime

  • The Savage Five (1974) – Amazon Prime

  • Disciples of Shaolin (1975) – Amazon Prime

  • The Four Assassins (1975) – Amazon Prime

  • Shaolin Temple (1976) – Amazon Prime

  • Magnificent Wanderers (1977) – Amazon Prime

  • The Five Deadly Venoms (aka: The Five Venoms, 1978) – Netflix and Amazon Prime

  • Invincible Shaolin (1978) – Amazon Prime

  • Crippled Avengers (1978) – Amazon Prime

  • Kid with the Golden Arm (1979) – Amazon Prime

  • Two Champions of Shaolin (1980) – Netflix and Amazon Prime

  • Masked Avengers (1981) – Amazon Prime

  • The Sword Stained with Royal Blood (1981) – Amazon Prime

  • Ode to Gallantry (1982) – Amazon Prime

  • Five Element Ninjas (1982) – Netflix and Amazon Prime

  • The Weird Man (1983) – Amazon Prime

(there are a LOT of these on Amazon Prime that I haven't personally seen, so if you like the ones I've mentioned here, you'll be very happy)


Other Shaw Bros. Classics

There are so many of these available, so I’ve narrowed it down to personal favorites.

  • Princess Yang Kwei Fei (Kenji Mizoguchi, 1955) – Criterion (pre-Shaw Bros. Shaw & Sons)

  • The Twin Swords (Hsu Tseng-Hung, 1965) – Amazon Prime

  • The Sword and the Lute (Hsu Tseng-Hung, 1967) – Amazon Prime

  • Valley of the Fangs (Jeong Chang-hwa, 1970) – Amazon Prime

  • The Shadow Whip (Lo Wei, 1971) – Amazon Prime

  • The 14 Amazons (Cheng Kang, 1972) – Amazon Prime

  • The Flying Guillotine (Ho Meng-Hua, 1975) – Netflix and Amazon Prime

  • Master of the Flying Guillotine (Jimmy Wang Yu, 1976) – Fandor and VUDU Free

  • The Web of Death (Chor Yuen, 1976) – Amazon Prime

  • The Battle Wizard (Pao Hsueh-Li, 1977) – Amazon Prime

  • Clan of Amazons (Chor Yuen, 1978) – Amazon Prime

  • Flying Guillotine II (Hua Shan and Cheng Kang, 1978) – Netflix and Amazon Prime

  • Human Lanterns (Sun Chung, 1982) – Amazon Prime (horror film)

  • The One-Armed Boxer (Jimmy Wang Yu, 1972) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • Five Fingers of Death (Jeong Chang-hwa, 1972) – Amazon Prime

  • The Avenging Eagle (Sun Chung, 1978) – Amazon Prime

  • Black Lizard (Chor Yuen, 1981) – Amazon Prime



Jackie Chan Movies (see more below)

  • The Cub Tiger from Kwang Tung (Gam Yam, Ngai Hoi-Fung, and Corey Yuen, 1973) – Amazon Prime and Roku Channel

  • New Fist of Fury (Lo Wei, 1976) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • Hand of Death (John Woo, 1976) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • The 36 Crazy Fists (Chen Chi-Hwa, 1977) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • Magnificent Bodyguards (Lo Wei, 1978) – Amazon Prime

  • Half a Loaf of Kung Fu (Chen Chi-Hwa, 1978) – Criterion Channel

  • Spiritual Kung Fu (Lo Wei, 1978) – Criterion Channel

  • Fearless Hyena (Jackie Chan and Kenneth Tsang, 1979) – Amazon Prime, Criterion Channel, and Roku Channel

  • The Big Brawl (Robert Clouse, 1980) – Tubi, Crackle, and Shout Factory TV

  • The Young Master (Jackie Chan, 1980) – Criterion Channel, and Midnight Pulp

  • Fearless Hyena II (Lo Wei and Chuan Chen, 1983) – Criterion Channel

  • Police Story (Jackie Chan, 1985) – Criterion Channel and HBO Max

  • The Protector (James Glickenhaus, 1985) – Tubi

  • Police Story 2 (Jackie Chan, 1988) – Criterion Channel

  • Island of Fire (Chu Yen-ping, 1990) – Amazon Prime, VUDU Free, and Tubi

  • City Hunter (Wong Jing, 1993) – Amazon Prime, Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix, Tubi, and Shout Factory TV

  • Crime Story (Kirk Wong, 1993) – Roku Channel and Tubi

  • First Strike (aka: Police Story 4: First Strike, 1996) – HBO Max


Michelle Yeoh Action Movies

  • Royal Warriors (David Chung, 1986) – Midnight Pulp

  • Magnificent Warriors (David Chung, 1987) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • Tomorrow Never Dies (Roger Spottiswoode, 1997) – Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HULU

  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee, 2000) – Amazon Prime

  • Silver Hawk (Jingle Ma, 2004) – Popcorn Flix

  • Reign of Assassins (John Woo & Chao-Bin Su, 2010) – Amazon Prime and Tubi


Sammo Hung (directed) Movie

  • Magnificent Butcher (co-directed with Yuen Woo-ping, 1979) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • Knockabout (1979) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • The Victim (1980) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • The Prodigal Son (1981) – Midnight Pulp

  • Wheels on Meals (starring Jackie Chan, 1984) – Amazon Prime

  • Heart of Dragon (starring Jackie Chan, 1985) – Midnight Pulp

  • My Lucky Stars (starring Jackie Chan, 1985) – Criterion Channel and Midnight Pulp

  • Millionaires Express (1986) – Amazon Prime

  • Eastern Condors (1987) – Midnight Pulp

  • Painted Faces (1988) – Netflix (drama based on the true childhood Peking Opera training of Hung, Chan, and Yuen Biao)

  • Mr. Nice Guy (starring Jackie Chan, 1997) – VUDU Free

  • BONUS: Lucky Stars Go Places (third sequel in the Lucky Stars series, starring and produced by Hung, directed by Eric Tsang) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp


Yuen Woo-ping Movies

  • The Bloody Fists (Ng See-Yuen director, Yuen choreographer, 1972) – Tubi

  • Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (starring Jackie Chan, 1978) – Midnight Pulp

  • Born Invincible (Joseph Kuo director, Yuen choreographer, 1978) – Amazon Prime

  • Magnificent Butcher (co-directed with Sammo Hung, 1979) – Midnight Pulp

  • Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979) – VUDU Free

  • Dreadnaught (1981) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • Shaolin Drunkard (1983) – Amazon Prime

  • In the Line of Duty 4 (1989) – Amazon Prime

  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (directed by Ang Lee, 2000) – Amazon Prime

  • The Forbidden Kingdom (directed by Rob Minkoff, 2008) – Tubi

  • True Legend (2010) – Tubi

  • The Grandmaster (Wong Kar-wai director, Yuen choreographer, 2013) – Netflix and Tubi

  • Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (starring Michelle Yeoh, 2018) – Netflix

  • BONUS: Wing Chun (starring Michelle Yeoh, 1994) is currently sitting on YouTube (click here)



Tsui Hark Movies (directed, written, and/or produced)

  • Chinese Ghost Story, A Chinese Ghost Story II, and A Chinese Ghost Story III (all directed by Ching Siu-Tung, 1987) – Amazon Prime

  • Once Upon a Time in China (featuring Yuen choreography, 1991) – Amazon Prime

  • Green Snake (1993) – Fandor

  • Knock Off (1998) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • The Era of Vampires (aka: Tsui Hark's Vampire Hunters, 2003) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • Seven Swords (2005) – Amazon Prime, Crackle, and Tubi

  • Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010) – Amazon Prime, Shout Factory TV, and Tubi

  • BONUS: We're Going to Eat You (1980) is sitting on YouTube (click here)


Category III Movies

In 1988, Hong Kong introduced a rating system that included Category III. These were essentially X-rated softcore sex, nudity, graphic violence, and mention of real Triad gangs. There's a short sort of "Golden Era" of Cat III movies released between '88 and 1997, when the colony was absorbed by Mainland China.

  • The Seventh Curse (Lam Nai-Choi, 1986) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (Lam Nai-Choi, 1991) – Fandor and Tubi

  • Sex and Zen (Michael Mak, 1991) – Midnight Pulp +

  • Robotrix (Jamie Luk Kim-Ming, 1991) – Amazon Prime

  • The Untold Story (Danny Lee Sau-Yin and Herman Yau, 1993) – Amazon Prime

  • BONUS: Eternal Evil of Asia (Man Kei Chin, 1995) is sitting on YouTube (click here)

  • BONUS: Ebola Syndrome (Herman Yau, 1996) is sitting on YouTube (click here)


Other Horror, Fantasy, and Cult Titles

  • The Oily Maniac (Ho Meng-Hua, 1976) – Amazon Prime

  • Last Hurrah for Chivalry (John Woo, 1979) – Criterion Channel

  • Witch from Nepal (Ching Siu-Tung, 1986) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • Full Contact (Ringo Lam, 1992) – Fandor

  • Future Cops (aka: Super School Overlord; Wong Jing, 1993) – Midnight Pulp (MUST SEE action comedy satire of The Terminator featuring superstar actors as Street Fighter characters)

  • The Bride with the White Hair (Ronny Yu, 1993) – Amazon Prime, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • The Bride with the White Hair II (Davide Wu, 1993) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • BONUS: Drive (Steve Wang, 1997) – VUDU Free and Tubi (underseen American/Taiwanese/Japanese co-production)


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