Quentin Tarantinohad exceptionally kind words forTheHot, the Cool, and the Vicious,a movie that unfortunately receives very little attention today, nearly 50 years after its release. It wasn’t exactly well-known when it first graced the big screen in 1976 either.
Directed by Lee Tso-nam,TheHot, the Cool, and the Vicousis a widely overlookedold-school kung fu moviestarring lesser-known martial arts actor Dorian Tan. The movie sees Dorian Tan play “Northern Leg” Capt Lu, a talented martial artist who teams up with an undercover government operative to battle his town’s corrupt mayor and his thugs.
Made by an independent studio on a low budget and packed with a cast of mostly unknown actors,The Hot, the Cool, and the Viciousmay feel like a rather forgettable, run-of-the-mill1970s kung fu movie, but in the eyes of Quentin Tarantino, it’s so much more.
Quentin Tarantino Considers The Hot, The Cool, and The Vicious To Be One Of The “Most Entertaining” Movies Ever
The Hot, The Cool, And The Vicious Is One Of Quentin Tarantino’s Favorite Martial Arts Movies
During an appearance on thePure Cinema Podcastwhere he discussed his love for old-school kung fu movies, the critically acclaimed filmmaker heaped praise onTheHot, the Cool, and the Vicious, even going as far as to call the 1976 film “one of the most entertaining movies ever.”
Tarantino specifically mentioned the ending that was put together for the film, remarking that the final fight between the three titular characters is “just amazing” and “as fun as cinema gets.”
He referred to the film’s director, Lee Tso-nam, as “one of the great martial arts directors.” Tarantino specifically mentioned the ending that was put together for the film, remarking that the final fight between the three titular characters is “just amazing” and “as fun as cinema gets.”
The Hot, the Cool, and the Viciouscan be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Although not as long as some final showdowns in old-school kung fu movies,the finale ofThe Hot, the Cool, and the Viciousfeatured a heated battle in which the two protagonists face off against the main villain, exchanging blows for five minutes of screentime.
The Hot, the Cool, and the Vicious Is A Highly Underrated Old-School Kung Fu Movie
It Has Well-Choreographed Fight Scenes And An Excellent Combination Of Kung Fu Movie Tropes
It may not have the high-profile cast and crew of amartial arts gem likeThe 36th Chamber of ShaolinorEnter the Dragon, but upon watchingThe Hot, the Cool, and the Vicious, it’s not hard to see where the film’s appeal comes from. It contains top-notch martial arts choreography, made even more realistic and engaging by the number of long takes included in the fight scenes.
Of course,The Hot, the Cool, and the Vicious’entertainment value isn’t built solely on its epic ending; it offers plenty of exciting fight scenes along the way, not to mention a bizarre and unique villain. It also combines several of the mostpopular tropes in the martial arts movie genre, including revenge and the unbeatable hero.
All things considered, It’s not hard to see why an old-school kung fu movie affociando likeQuentin Tarantinowould find it enjoyable.
