#last hurrah for chivalry

[ogradyfilm]

Recently Viewed: Last Hurrah for Chivalry

Last Hurrah for Chivalry is aptly titled: what begins as a fairly typical revenge narrative gradually evolves into a dark, subversive deconstruction of the tropes and clichés that define the wuxia genre. Bloodshed, after all, can hardly be described as “honorable” when history is written by the victors, loyalty is negotiable, and even the most seemingly righteous of warriors ultimately reveal themselves to be manipulative, Machiavellian masterminds. Outside of myth and legend, conflicts are seldom as morally simplistic as “good versus evil”; in reality, there are only ruthless despots, ambitious aristocrats, opportunistic bandits… and the innocents caught in the crossfire. True brotherhood is like an oasis in the middle of a vast, barren desert—a rare and precious virtue that must be cherished and savored before it evaporates.

Compared to his innovative, influential “pistol operas” of the ‘80s and ‘90s (A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard Boiled), director John Woo’s work here is relatively traditional, reminiscent of old school Shaw Brothers productions—from the acrobatic fight choreography (characterized by its dancelike rhythm) to the charmingly primitive special effects (many of the gravity-defying stunts are achieved via reversed footage) to the distinctive sound design (the resonant “clang” of clashing blades, the gentle “whoosh” of fluttering fabric). There are, however, a few visual flourishes that set the film apart from its predecessors. The buildup to one duel, for example, is shot exactly like a Spaghetti Western, cutting between sprawling wide shots of the desolate landscape and tight closeups of the combatants’ steely-eyed glares, sweat-drenched hands, and gleaming sword hilts. In another scene, the main antagonist is randomly accompanied by a cackling hunchback lifted straight out of a Universal horror flick. Later still, the heroes plan their climactic assault on the villain’s stronghold like a caper à la The Italian Job or The Guns of Navarone, complete with a montage depicting the daunting obstacles they’ll face en route to the final confrontation.

This intoxicating cocktail of stylistic inspirations elevates the otherwise conventional material. While Woo’s authorial voice is not yet fully developed in Last Hurrah for Chivalry, the movie offers a fascinating early glimpse at the storytelling instincts that would eventually distinguish him as action cinema’s most imaginative auteur.

[danobre3]

Last Hurrah for Chivalry - 1979 - Dir by John Woo - CINEMIN review

[mad-prophet-of-the-airwaves]

Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979, John Woo, Hong Kong)

[cinnamaelfwon]

A couple other things from last year

[romanceyourdemons]

List of 5 -10 Chinese films to watch, across all genres? Just curious what you would recommend.

golden age: the goddess (1934), the big road (1935)

third generation: two stage sisters (1964)

1970s wuxia: a touch of zen (1971), last hurrah for chivalry (1979)

heroic bloodshed: a better tomorrow (1986)

1990s mo lei tau: justice, my foot! (1992)

fifth generation: farewell my concubine (1993), the story of qiu ju (1992), hero (2002)

wong kar-wai: happy together (1997)

first taiwanese new wave: the puppetmaster (1993), yi yi (2000)

second taiwanese new wave: what time is it there? (2001)

hong kong handover film: spl: kill zone (2005)

sixth generation: a touch of sin (2013), long day’s journey into night (2018)

(ofc this is not a comprehensive list of the movements and genres within mainland chinese, hong kong, and taiwanese film, but they are some of my favorite styles)

[jonnyjlm]

fung hak-on as pray in last hurrah for chivalry (1979)

[silencewhippersnapper]

LAST HURRAH FOR CHIVALRY IS GETTING A CRITERION RELEASE I OPENED THE EMAIL AND PUT MY HAND OVER MY MOUTH AND GASPED

[film-book]

‎

The Criterion Collection - March 2023 DVD, Blu-ray, & 4K Ultra Releases: MILDRED PIERCE, INLAND EMPIRE, LAST HURRAH FOR CHIVALRY, & More https://film-book.com/the-criterion-collection-march-2023-dvd-blu-ray-4k-ultra-releases-mildred-pierce-inland-empire-last-hurrah-for-chivalry-more/?feed_id=137165&_unique_id=6409e6f3381d9

[omercifulheaves]

John Woo

[cinemaronin]

Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979)

豪俠 Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) directed by  John Woo

[fuforthought]

Today’s delivery. Last Hurrah for Chivalry and Hand of Death Blu Ray put out my Eureka Entertainment. Two absolute classics.

Don’t be a fanny, go and buy it. Long before John Woo was filming Chow Yun Fat shooting people in the chest, he was making kung fu classics.

[romanceyourdemons]

the five deadly venoms (1978) is probably my favorite classic hong kong wuxia film, as much as or more than a last hurrah for chivalry (1979). although, like many mediocre films from this period, the film does set itself up specifically to show off as many martial arts styles as possible, it does what most mediocre and even some good films in the genre neglect to and centers itself around a compelling central mystery and the internal journeys of its characters. the main story follows the six disciples of a now-imploded sect; trained in isolation, they neither recognize each other in a literal or a familial sense, and must keep a paranoid eye out for their nominal brothers whose faces and intentions they do not know as they try to clean up or profit from the shattered remnants of their sect. this premise maintains high and engaging tension throughout the film, but it is not all the film has to offer. rather than confining itself to jianghu matters—or, perhaps, rather than claiming jianghu matters remain confined to the jianghu—it also deals with the corruption of the song dynasty legal system. these two narrative strands complement and build on each other in a comprehensive and well-paced way not common in this period. the story is good, and the execution is excellent, with gorgeous costumes, flashy and well-shot fight choreography, and excellent acting from the venom mob in their first group appearance. everything in this film is as it should be, and many things are better than usual. for these reasons, i fully endorse the five deadly venoms (1978)’s status as a cult film, and highly recommend it

[albertserra]

Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) dir. John Woo

[silencewhippersnapper]

another day, another criterion release announcement that DOESN’T include last hurrah for chivalry