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Kung Fu - The Complete First Season [1973]


RRP: £30.99
Our Price: £19.99 (subject to change)

"Scan" version of a great tv production... Shouldn't we be warned?
Review date: 2008-09-04 Rating: 6 out of 10

Although this is a fine series and an excellent return to an influential icon when I was a kid (everyone was dodging Indian arrows and oriental influences at school...) I'm angry with the fact that the picture has been "zoomed", and therefore damaged, to fit a full 16:9 screen. I find this a true insult to the original format and a very bad service to the people who worked to get their vision on the screen way back then. As a customer, I strongly feel that there should be a clear warning about this. Bad form.

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Reviews


A classic
Review date: 2008-01-14 Rating: 8 out of 10

I remember this series as a high point from my youth. I didn't know anything about kung fu but I loved the representation of the hero with unstoppable powers who places more value in the philosophy than the fighting ability. It was one of the reasons I became interested in martial arts films and martial arts.

Watching the DVD set confirmed my memories, and the additional material about making the series gave a lot of fascinating insight - if you are a fan then I would recommend this DVD set for the extras alone.

The disappointment for me was realising that the standard of martial arts depicted is not very good. Some of the chinese experts in the flashback sequences are good, but David Carradine is not. He admits freely that his training was as a dancer, and nobody can fault his excellent acting, but I was still left feeling one of my childhood dreams had been undermined.
Such a pity they never hired Bruce Lee.

Now there is a classic Kung-Fu realization in this; "for the eye to see, the mind must be ready to grasp what is seen, Grasshopper". I love this stuff. Everyone should watch this series at least once.

Kung Fu - the spirit of the Seventies reborn
Review date: 2007-11-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

When Kung Fu was first aired in the Granada region, way back in 1973, it used to be on every other week because the TV execs weren't really sure how audiences would respond to its rather radical (as then!) ideas about life/death, good/evil, etc. Mysticism, Ying-Yang, Buddhism and a host of other eastern philosophies were only just beginning to make their mark on our rather blinkered outlook on life. But nobody should have worried. Kung Fu was groundbreaking stuff, it's true, but the acting, story lines and the atmosphere generated by the show made it an instant hit. David Carradine was superb as Caine; it's hard to imagine now anybody else playing the role! Stories about Bruce Lee coming up with the original concept are rather spurious; this legend, first told by Lee, has been perpetuated ever since by his fans but it's quite clear from the documentary that is included in this 3-disc set that this not quite the case. Lee actually had an idea for a similar show which was to be called 'The Warrior' and I understand some of it was filmed, but never aired. I can't imagine Lee playing Caine and it just shows you what a wonderful thing karma is - for this show, with Carradine, Keye Luke, Philip Arne and a tremendous host of guest stars is head and shoulders above anything else that has been produced for television. The fight scenes are extremely good - they are actually BELIEVABLE. Caine often gets punched, kicked and thrown to the ground, he never jumps as high as a three-storey building, and he never executes a flying forward summersault. And how refreshing is that! This is mostly due to David Chow, who choreographed all of the fight scenes and was one of the great exponents of Kung Fu before he 'mysteriously' died! Kam Yuen then took over, for part of the second and all of the third series, and the fight scenes are very different but still good. Add those amazing pieces of Taoist philosophy and you have a heady mix that sets Kung Fu apart from anything else. It is very special and it is absolutely timeless. Viewing it nearly 35 years after it was first shown, it still has the ability to move me spiritually. I am sure it will have the same effect on those coming to it for the first time. An extraordinary achievement this deserves to be in anyone's collection!

Brilliant TV
Review date: 2007-02-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

The original showing of Kung-fu pre dates me and for years I didn't know where the 'grasshopper' reference came from. When I picked up Kung-fu I instantly saw why this was such the legend it was. Each episode is packed with just the right mix of action and story with frequent words of wisdom that are easy to take to heart. All potential proverbs in their own right.

Kung-fu does not strike me as OVERLY dated at all compared to some things. Although in one episode (either this series or the next) contains a scene with a raven that I'll never forget, it was so ridiculously fake and the wires/string were easily visible. The fight scenes aren't quite as hectic as modern shows have either but when Caine beats his arrogant foe it still leaves you with a smile on your face. Kung-fu makes you feel good time and time again and I think everyone who has ever seen it has, at one point in their lives, wanted to be Kwai Chang Caine. And quite rightly so.

Well worth the money for this wonderful classic that deserves all the praise it receives.

The Return of Kwai Chang Caine
Review date: 2006-11-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

Kung Fu, what a wonderful iconic series to be reborn on DVD. Made in a time when the story was all that was needed to support each individual episode, how refreshing it is to watch today.

Do not just look to the martial arts flashback sequences, but look for the simplicity, peacefulness, and subtle wisdom of the Shaolin priesthood teaching that is embodied in this series. This is what made Kung Fu magical. Each episode tells an individual story in its own right. No gimmicks! As one reviewer wrote, this is quality.

For those who are asking does it exist, The Shaolin Temple lies on the outskirts of Deng Feng city, some 80km from Zhengzhou city, China, and is still active today. The Shaolin Academy is 7km away from the Temple complex, and dates to 457AD. Both have a wonderful history. Been there!!!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
David Carradine

Creators:
David Carradine (Primary Contributor)
Abe Polsky (Writer)
Bernard Bossick (Writer)
Charles McDaniel (Writer)
Daniel B. Ullman (Writer)
Del Reisman (Writer)
Ed Spielman (Writer)
Elinor Karpf (Writer)
Eugene Price (Writer)
Frank Dandridge (Writer)
Kittridge Buston (Writer)
Larry H. Gibson (Writer)
Lloyd Richards (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900242509
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2004-07-05
Number of discs: 3
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 792 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1972-10-14
Language: Croatian (Subtitled)
Language: Czech (Subtitled)
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: Turkish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Greek (Subtitled)
Language: Romanian (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: Slovene (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Bulgarian (Subtitled)
Language: Portuguese (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)

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