The Lucid Nightmare: Tang Ching

Monday, December 7, 2015

Saturday, November 30, 2013

i SPY ASIASPY: Summons to Death

Summons to Death
Director: Wei Lo
Year 1967

Summons to Death is a wonderfully 60's spytastic extravaganza brought to us by the legendary Shaw Brothers. Bound in swinger style and brimming with vibrant audacity, this interesting Asiaspy flick plunges its audience straight into outlandish adventures filled with equally wild characters. Super charged with a stellar cast and set against some of the most picturesque locales, Summons to Death is an outstanding adventure flick with a wicked espionage attitude.

The film follows super swinger secret agent Teng Lei, AKA The Owl, and circus acrobat Mei Li as they are stuck together on a dangerous hunt to recover a lost pirate treasure. Armed with one half of a treasure map and their wits, the two set off on a wild goose chase filled with ruthless pirates, vicious gangsters, and deadly women. Can Teng and Mei work together, or will the lure of the treasure be too much for their unlikely truce.

Tang Ching takes on the role of Teng Lei, the suave secret agent who's got a way with the ladies. Introduced in truly grand style, Teng lounges around his psychedelic bachelor pad showcasing some of the most unusual furnishings this side of a Derek Flint flick. Ching takes the role with stride as he effortlessly embodies the cool and skillful agent, injecting a most essential tongue and cheek attitude to the film. Being no stranger to the genre, seeing that he starred in Interpol 009 and Angel Strikes Again, Ching has a grand time with the proceedings, lapping up every single ridiculous moment.

Pairing up with Ching is Tina Chin Fei as Mei Li, the baby-faced sister of the fearsome gangster Brother Gin. Another Asiaspy alum, Fei has had a number of memorable roles in the genre, including Temptress of a Thousand Faces and Interpol 009, where she also co-starred along side Tang Ching. In Summons to Death, Fei plays a painfully sweet character who knows how to hold her own. She's also a great contrast against the other female member of the cast, Fanny Fan. Sultry, deceptive, and all around venomous, Fan plays Ying Nian, a unscrupulous nightclub singer with a sadistic side. Another vet of the genre, Fan appeared in Angel with the Iron Fists and she also had a small role in The Golden Buddha, but with Summons to Death she is really given ample opportunities to shine. Soaking up the scenery and looking absolutely stunning in various stages of dress, she truly leaves her mark on the film, and makes it the better for it.

As for the overall feel of the film, it's just plain wacky fun. From agent Lei's psychedelic bachelor pad, to the pirates swanking ship, to a swinging nightclub, to Ying Nian's pink filled groovy bedroom, this film has got the goods on unusual and vibrant locations. Set across a wide array of locales, the production goes to great lengths in showcasing to its audience a plethora of picturesque visuals which truly capture the globetrotting nature of the spy genre. Pristine beaches, neon-caked streets, smoke-filled casinos, and idyllic islands are in abundance and director Wei Lo films it all in vivid style. Hyper realized and outstandingly robust, Summons to Death is a visual treat that keeps on giving.

Ridiculously camp, the film stays true to its era and tongue and cheek genre tendencies, as it forges into some outlandish territory. Agent Teng Lei gets into all sorts of wild situations, including a hypnotic seduction ordered out by the sultry Ying Nian who uses a poison filled kiss to control the mind of our hero. Of course that isn't the only memorable moment of the flick, as Teng Lei also has some morbid fun with a corpse at the morgue and even makes out with a statue in order to lock up his swanky bachelor pad. Weird doesn't even cover some of the moments of this film, but all of these oddities add up to one entertaining Asiaspy entry.

Summons to Death is insanely succinct in brining on the strangeness while thoroughly dishing out the goods on what makes this genre so damn fun to watch. An unbeatable secret agent, a string of gorgeous femme fatales, a gaggle of baddies, and an abundance of breathtaking locations and sets are delivered at a constant pace, and the energy of the production is top notch. Vibrantly displayed and lovingly represented, Summons to Death is without a doubt a beautiful rendition of the genre.

Tang Ching, Tina Chin Fei and Fanny Fan, all do a great job with the material given to them, and each one makes their own unique part stand out. Tang Ching especially takes on the challenge of Agent Teng Lei with a confident stride, never breaking out of his cool collective demeanor, not even for a second. Enjoyable to the last, Summons to Death is an off the rails adventure film with an espionage twist. As unrestrained as they come, this Asiaspy effort is one that truly embraces the wackiness of the genre. Amplifying the elements that make these types of films so much damn fun, Summons to Death successfully hits its mark as a 60's spy entry in which fun is held most important above all things. If you love the Asiaspy genre, then give this one a go. Summons to Death is one.....

Lose the top and then we'll talk.

What the hell is going on in this wacky place?!?!

You just keep making out with that wall pervert!

Have you seen these weirdos?

So I guess high fives are out of the question?

Dinner Time Staring Contest...... GO!

Go fish... bitch!

Deserted Beach Staring Contest..... GO!

Hello there!

My arm would feel a lot better if you took your clothes off.

Maybe someone should call an ambulance.

Zombie!!!!!

Now we're talking!

Raise your hands, raise your hands or I'll shoot.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

i SPY ASIASPY: Interpol 009

Interpol 009

Director: Ko Nakahira

Year 1967

Interpol 009 is a swinging Asiaspy flick which focuses more on the ridiculous aspects of the spy genre, more so than the action oriented ones. Immersed in a 60's vibrant style and overflowing with zany flavor, this unusual espionage feature dives headlong into the absurd yet comes out smelling like roses thanks to the charismatic efforts of its lead character and the wild antics he gets into. With its eye-catching photography and its tendency to get a little silly, Interpol 009 is a highly enjoyable entry in the shamefully forgotten genre of Asiaspy.

The film follows the smooth spy Chen Tianhong, AKA Agent 009, as he is assigned to a mission in Hong Kong, where an international counterfeiting gang is printing U.S. Bills and distributing them throughout the Asian territories. Armed with his lethal wit, attuned fashion sense, and unparalleled fighting skills, 009 embarks on a wild mission to take the gang down, but he won't go it alone. Making allies in the most unlikely of places, 009 befriends a local pickpocket named Huang Mao and the two take the counterfeiters head on. Disguised as gamblers at the gang's casino, the pair infiltrate their headquarters from the inside, but unfortunately everything doesn't go to plan. Femme-fatales, nameless thugs, and hired hitmen begin coming out of the woodwork, and they do all they can to take the two heroes out of the picture.

Tang Ching takes on the role of Agent 009 and he does a wonderful turn as the suave ladies man with a license to kill. Extremely confident and always effective, the character of 009 is a classic portrayal of 60's secret agent prowess and Ching does an amazing job with the material. Always on point and extremely magnetic, Ching knocks the role out of the park as he gives an extremely entertaining performance as the lead man and uncompromising hero. Ching is no stranger to the genre, or Shaw Brothers films for that matter, as he has had two memorable roles in Summons to Death and Angel Strikes Again, two highly enjoyable Asiaspy productions. In Interpol 009, his first stab at playing a secret agent, he does a fabulous job, giving that highly contagious charisma and unabashed coolness that the role demands.

As for the rest of the cast they fill out their roles respectively, allowing Tang Ching's Agent 009 to interact with a colorful assortment of characters, while in the process getting himself into a wide array of ridiculous situations. Li Kun plays the role of Huang Mao, a pickpocket and overall goof. Kun fills in for the slapstick and comedic portions of the film, doing the usual comic relief shtick that is customary for a sidekick. He does a great job with what he is given and his efforts inject an added sense of fun into the proceedings. As for eye-candy, Margaret Tu Chuan and Shen Yi give memorable performances as just a few of the lovely ladies that 009 romances throughout the film. Yi plays a sultry nightclub singer who catches the eye of Agent 009, while Margaret embodies the evil villainess Pai-Lan Cheng, the leader of the counterfeit gang. They both do great things with the little time they have on screen, and each hold their own against Ching's Agent 009's overwhelming charisma.

Aside from the excellent cast of characters, the film is brimming with a great array of fun aspects that help keep it engaging as the story rushes along. Gadgets, guns, and girls is the name of the game in this entry, and 009 has an abundance of said items at his disposal. The gadgets range from a lighter that doubles as a smoke bomb, a watch that serves as a listening device among other things, and chewing gum that can change into metal when combined with perfume. Strange to say the least, but 009 uses each of these devices with great effect, including the chewing gum when placed inside a key hole and then hardened to forge a make-shift key. Now that's unusual, but ridiculously fun to see in action.

Speaking of action, the film isn't particularly catered to displaying much, but when it does kick in it ignites to absurd levels. For instance, when cornered by an army of henchmen after infiltrating their mansion, 009 decides the best course of action in confronting these goons is to jump onto a chandelier and proceed to firing wildly at the surrounding attackers. The scene is without a doubt beyond logical, but it makes for a sequence that is so damn fun to watch and infinitely unpredictable. The photography of Interpol 009 is also a great asset of the production, giving a great deal of eye-pleasing moments in most every scene the film throws at you. From lavish mansions, to colorful nightclubs, to sun covered beaches, to bustling streets, the film works wonders with the locations that it covers. All in all, the movie may not be the best example of the Asiaspy genre, but it is one hell of a fun time.

Interpol 009 is a fantastically silly Asiaspy entry which seems to have a blast playing in the 60's espionage playground. Cinematically robust and colorfully presented, this grand Shaw Brothers production is without a doubt an interesting experience and one you're not likely to forget. The wild nature of the film and the unrestrained absurdity that it possesses is sure to please even the most critical of the genre.

Tang Ching as the lead hero, Agent 009, is an absolute gem and his witty banter and promiscuous hijinks are what make the film so enjoyable and appealing. Filmed in visually pleasing splendor by director Ko Nakahira, the vibrant colors and picturesque locales match perfectly against the lively characters and spirited atmosphere. This delightful combination adds up to a highly enjoyable entry in the Asiaspy cannon and one that is sure to tap into the interests of all of you out there that enjoy this type of wild, wild cinematic ride. Interpol 009 is a.....