KUNG FU THEATER presents INVINCIBLE POLE FIGHTER

The Hollywood Theatre's monthly Kung Fu Theater series hosts Lau Kar Leung's 1984 Shaw Brothers' classic Invincible Pole Fighter (aka Eight Diagram Pole Fighter) for a one-night-only, rare 35mm screening on their big downstairs screen.  If you're not already a rabid fan, all you really need to know about this one is that it's Kung Fu Theater major domo Dan Halsted's favorite kung fu flick of all time.  'Nuff said; the man knows his martial arts cinema.  The rest of us?  We're just here to learn.

Here's the lowdown on the event:

Kung Fu Theater presents an extremely rare 35mm print of the kung fu masterpiece Invincible Pole Fighter! Around here, we consider this the greatest kung fu movie of all time. Advance tickets are strongly recommended for this show. 

Invincible Pole Fighter (1984) A family of fighters is ambushed by invaders in a fierce battle that leaves the family's father and four of six brothers dead. One of the remaining brothers (Gordon Liu) swears revenge, and forces his way into the Shaolin Temple to master his pole fighting skills. When his younger sister is kidnapped by the invaders, it's payback time. After numerous jaw-dropping fight scenes, there is a massive climactic battle that ranks among the greatest action scenes in movie history. This film is directed by martial arts master Lau Kar Leung (36th Chamber of Shaolin), stars Gordon Liu (36th Chamber, Kill Bill) and was a huge influence on the Wu Tang Clan. This is an all-out kung fu masterpiece. 

Invincible Pole Fighter plays one-night-only at the Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, February 12th at 7:30pm.  More info available here.

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RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH THE GRINDHOUSE SECRET MOVIE MARATHON

What better way to soothe your post-New Year's Eve noggin' than with a round of exploitation, grindhouse, and kung fu shot straight into your visual cortex via the Hollywood Theatre's 35mm projector?  Co-presented by the Grindhouse Film Festival and Kung Fu Theatre (both the creation of Hollywood head programmer Dan Halsted), there's a mysterious trio of cinematic treats awaiting all who assemble within the Hollywood's large downstairs auditorium--the New Year's Day Grindhouse Secret Movie Marathon!  3 films, 6 hours, a ton of old trailers, and there's absolutely no word in advance of what will be screening tomorrow.  But the mystery is all part of the fun.  Trust me, local movie nerds will be talking about this for months.

Here's what up, according to the folks behind the event:

The Grindhouse Film Festival and Kung Fu Theater present the New Year’s Day Grindhouse Secret Movie Marathon! Come spend your hangover with a triple feature of mind-blowing 70's cinema! We’re not telling anyone what’s playing, but it will all be from extremely rare 35mm prints. 

We’ll give a couple of clues: First up will be a movie with giant monsters battling and tearing the planet apart! The second movie is a gritty crime film that is one of the most underrated movies of the 1970's. The last movie will be an extremely rare kung fu film. 

Plenty of 35mm exploitation trailers before each movie too (blaxploitation trailers, horror trailers, kung fu trailers and more). There will also be a giveaway for one free pass to all Grindhouse Film Festival and Kung Fu Theater screenings in 2013! In order to win, you must watch all three movies. Tickets are only $10 for all three movies. The movies start at 3:00, 5:00 and 7:15.

The six-hour long Grindhouse Secret Movie Marathon happens on New Year's Day at the Hollywood Theatre beginning at 3pm.  More info available here.

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KUNG FU THEATER presents MARTIAL ARTS OF SHAOLIN

It's only been a few months since the nearly 50-year-old Jet Li shot his way through The Expendables 2, a series so improbably successful that a third installment is already a foregone conclusion.  Does anybody else remember when Li's martial arts prowess was the only weapon he needed?  If not, Kung Fu Theater is ready to refresh your memory with a rare 35mm screening of Martial Arts of Shaolin (aka Shaolin Temple 3), starring a young, fresh faced kid who doesn't need any firearms to make his way through this world. 

Directed by Lau Kar Leung (The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter aka Invincible Pole Fighter), the 1986 Shaw Brothers film plays Tuesday night at the Hollywood Theatre.  Here's what the folks behind Kung Fu Theater have to say about the event:

Kung Fu Theater presents an extremely rare 35mm print of the kung fu classic Martial Arts of Shaolin! 

Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986) A young Jet Li stars as a monk from the Northern Shaolin Temple who sets out on a quest of vengeance against the man who killed his parents. When his initial attempt fails, he finds himself on the run from a powerful Lord and his army, and must team up with students from the Southern Shaolin Temple to stay alive. Featuring a wide array of fighting styles, martial arts weaponry, and non-stop jaw-dropping fight choreography. No other film has ever shown off Jet Li’s incredible kung fu ability like this. Directed by master Lau Kar Leung (36th Chamber of Shaolin). Don’t miss this!

Martial Arts of Shaolin plays one-night-only at the Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, December 11th at 7:30pm.  More info available here.

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KUNG FU THEATER presents FIST OF THE WHITE LOTUS

Yet another solid Shaw Brothers Studio flick comes to the Hollywood Theatre courtesy of this month's installment of Dan Halsted's ongoing Kung Fu Theater series.  For November, Dan's chosen Lo Lieh's 1980 kinetic classic Fist of the White Lotus (aka Clan of the White Lotus) to entertain the Kung Fu crowd.  It's Gordon Liu vs. Lo Lieh (as the evil, white haired Pai Mei) in a no-holds barred battle to the death.  You wanna see a dude kick ass while getting dressed after a bath?  Need to bone up on your tiger style?  This is your movie, people!

Here's what the folks at the Hollywood have to say about Tuesday night's presentation:

Kung Fu Theater presents the only known 35mm print of the martial arts masterpiece Fist of the White Lotus! One of the top five kung fu movies of all time! 

Fist of the White Lotus (1980) Gordon Liu is out to avenge the destruction of the Shaolin Temple! But he’s up against an incarnation of the greatest villain in martial arts movie history: the unstoppable white eyebrowed Pai Mei (Gordon Liu played another incarnation of Pai Mei in Kill Bill Vol. 2). Lo Lieh plays the villain here, and he’s at his trash-talking, beard-stroking, kung fu annihilating best. He’ll even fight while he’s naked. But watch out for his kung fu crotch! The opening credit sequence alone is worth the price of admission, and the fight scenes are choreographed by kung fu master Lau Kar Leung (director of 36th Chamber of Shaolin). Don’t miss this, it’s a crowd-pleasing masterpiece. 

35mm kung fu trailers before the movie.

Fist of the White Lotus plays one-night-only at the Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, November 13th at 7:30pm.  More info available here.

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KUNG FU THEATER presents IRON FINGERS OF DEATH (aka SHAOLIN PRINCE)

Dan and the crew at the Hollywood Theatre have yet another Shaw Brothers classic lined up for this month's Kung Fu Theater presentation.  On the menu: the über-obscure martial arts flick Iron Fingers of Death (1982), directed by Tang Chia (Lightning Fists of Shaolin).  As per usual with these monthly events, it's a rare 35mm print that will be on hand, so, if you've got any inclination to see the film, this is probably your only chance to see it on the big screen.

Another reason to show up at the Hollywood on Tuesday night: t-shirts.  The brand spankin' new Kung Fu Theater t-shirts, designed by "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien go on sale Tuesday night for twenty bucks a piece.  Want a lil' preview of what your torso could look like after Tuesday night?  Take a gander:

Here's what the Kung Fu Theater release has to say about Tuesday night's event:

Iron Fingers of Death (aka Death Mask of the Ninja aka Shaolin Prince) (1982) 

Two princes are separated at birth. One is raised by the prime minster, and the other by three weird Shaolin Monks. Both are trained in kung fu, and must eventually combine forces to defeat the evil “Iron Fingers”. Along the way, they’ll encounter an aquatic assassin, a Chinese exorcism, and a group of monks who combine their bodies to become one intertwined mass of unstoppable fighting power. This is the directorial debut of Tang Chia, one of the greatest (and craziest) martial arts choreographers of all time. 

35mm kung fu trailers before the movie.

Iron Fingers of Death plays one-night-only at the Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, October 9th at 7:30pm.  More info available here.


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KUNG FU THEATER presents CRIPPLED AVENGERS

 

Is it already time for another installment of Kung Fu Theater at the Hollywood Theatre?  Man, this year is just slipping through my hands!  Well, back to the good news: KUNG FU on a big ass screen, projected from a rare 35mm print!  And, boy, do Dan and the crew at the Hollywood have a real treat in store for faithful attendees this month.  It's a Shaw Brothers classic directed by Kung Fu Theater favorite Chang Cheh: 1978s Crippled Avengers.

As per usual, buying tickets in advance is advisable, as these events regularly sell out.

Here's the details courtesy of Kung Fu Theater's release:

On Tuesday September 18th at 7:30pm, Kung Fu Theater presents an extremely rare 35mm print of the martial arts classic Crippled Avengers. 

The Venom Mob star as a group of men each individually attacked and left crippled. One is blind, one is deaf and mute, one legless, and one mentally challenged. Now they must each learn unique kung fu to overcome their disabilities and exact revenge on the person responsible: the ruthless man with the iron hands! Get ready for non-stop martial arts mayhem, wild acrobatics, and homoerotic funky style (did ancient kung fu masters really roam the Chinese countryside bare-chested, sporting huge sideburns?) Directed by Chang Cheh. 

35mm kung fu trailers before the movie.

 

Crippled Avengers plays one-night-only at the Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, September 18th at 7:30pm.  More info available here.


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KUNG FU THEATER presents MERCENARIES FROM HONG KONG

Dan Halsted's monthly Kung Fu Theater series strikes again at the Hollywood Theatre this coming Tuesday night.  As per usual, Dan's got an über-rare 35mm print to share with the martial arts faithful of Portland; this month's selection is Mercenaries from Hong Kong, an early 80s release from the prolific Shaw Brothers Studio.

The film eschews the period-based action of many Shaw Bros. classics, instead focusing on the (then) modern day travails of a Vietnam vet who's moved into killer-for-hire work after the war ends.  Here's what the Kung Fu Theater crew has to say about the film:

A martial arts mercenary-for-hire is recruited for a dangerous mission of tracking down a deadly assassin in Cambodia. He assembles a crack team to assist him: a knife expert, a sniper, a kung fu master, and a bomb specialist. Dressed in synchronized tracksuits, they set out on a nail-biting adventure filled with car chases, motorcycle stunts, shootouts and kung fu fights. It doesn’t take long for the double crosses to set in, and the mercenaries have to question who they can trust as they fight for their lives. This is over-the-top martial arts action insanity!

Mercenaries from Hong Kong plays one-night-only at the Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, June 12th.  More info available here.


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KUNG FU THEATER presents INVINCIBLE SHAOLIN

Kung Fu Theater hits the Hollywood Theatre once again with a screening of Chang Cheh's (The One-Armed Swordsman) 1978 film Invincible Shaolin.  Hollywood Theatre programming maestro Dan Halsted claims it's "one of the greatest films in the Shaw Brothers canon."   He's got the only existing 35mm print of the film and will be sharing it with the faithful Kung Fu congregants for one-night-only.

Halsted's got a couple of things planned before running the film, too.  Here's what he's got in store for ya:

I'll be showing a slideshow from my adventure unearthing the largest collection of 35mm kung fu films in the Western Hemisphere (including this film). 
I'll also talk about my experience being a victim of excessive force by the Portland Police, my recent lawsuit, and how the city attorney tried to use my kung fu collection against me in the case. The issue with the Portland Police using excessive force has been tolerated for far too long. See the KATU story about my case here.

And here's the Kung Fu Theater synopsis of Invincible Shaolin from their press release:

Kung Fu Theater presents the only known 35mm print of INVINCIBLE SHAOLIN. One of the greatest kung fu films of all time! INVINCIBLE SHAOLIN (1978) The Venom Mob is back! 
The stars of FIVE ELEMENT NINJAS return as a group of fighters who are pitted against each other in a North Shaolin vs. South Shaolin kung fu showdown! Three South Shaolin students start intensive (and extremely strange) training to master various fighting styles and martial arts weaponry. Funky style and huge sideburns reign supreme, colliding with director Chang Cheh's trademark violence and homo-eroticism. Get ready for non-stop kung fu mayhem, and some of the best training sequences in martial arts movie history. A true classic.

Invincible Shaolin plays one-night-only at the Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, May 8th.  More info available here.


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KUNG FU THEATER presents DREADNAUGHT

Dan Halsted's bringing a rare 35mm print of Yuen Woo-Ping's 1981 film Dreadnaught to the large screen at the Hollywood Theatre tonight.  As with most of Halsted's Kung Fu Theater and Grindhouse Film Festival events, this is a one-night-only event, not to be missed by fans of martial arts and Hong Kong cinema.  And what self-respecting fan of genre cinema would want to miss a flick like this one, featuring characters with names like Mousy and White Tiger?

It all goes down this evening at 7:30 .  Here's a brief description of the film via the press release:

On Tuesday April 17th at 7:30 at the Hollywood Theatre, Kung Fu Theater presents the only known 35mm print of Master Yuen Woo Ping's classic DREADNAUGHT. Tickets are $7. 

DREADNAUGHT (1981) Yuen Biao (EASTERN CONDORS) and Leung Kar Yan (THE VICTIM) star as a young men seeking to learn kung fu from a legendary master. Meanwhile, a crazed kung fu killer named White Tiger is randomly putting on spooky makeup and unleashing his martial arts skills on unsuspecting victims. It's up to the two young men to stop White Tiger, but not until they master the Eagle Claw style, and fight a mysterious double-faced villain. Featuring Yuen Biao's acrobatic skills, a jaw-dropping kung fu lion-dance sequence, and some of the most incredible martial arts choreography you'll ever see. 

Kung Fu Theater presents Dreadnaught at the Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, April 17th at 7:30pm.  More info here.


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