Madcap Taiwanese kid's fantasy packed with supernatural action

Lin Hsiao-Lao was a cross-dressing actress of the 1980s who was forever getting cast as 'boy hero' characters in a series of low budget Taiwanese fantasy epics. I previously watched the delirious CHILD OF PEACH so I had some idea of what to expect with this one, and it's a film that doesn't disappoint, packed to the rafters with crazy action as it is.

The storyline? It defies comprehension for the most part, except to say that there's an evil wizard who goes around stealing souls and putting them in earthenware jars. Only the titular character and his juvenile apprentice friends have the power to stop the villain and his wicked army.

KUNG FU WONDER CHILD sets out to entertain and it certainly does that in spades. It's an effects film throughout, using copious wirework to show the main characters flying around the scene and doing insane moves and stunts. The magic element to the storyline is off the scale, with revived corpses, an animated dragon, a hopping vampire, a female spirit, a miniaturised adventure, plus all of those '80s-era laser effects. There's also plenty of toilet humour here too; I normally don't like it, but somehow it works in Asian films and is very funny. Kung fu star Jack Long and the lovely Japanese actress Yukari Oshima play in support, while the veteran kung fu helmer Tso Nam Lee directs.

Mandarin-language cinema across Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore explores historical reflection, cultural identity, and personal sacrifice, often expressed through poetic visuals and sweeping narratives. In Mainland China, this takes the form of allegory and large-scale epics that reflect on national history. Taiwan emphasizes intimate modernist realism, generational change, and the search for identity. Singapore contributes stories of migration, multiculturalism, and the negotiation of tradition in a globalized city.

The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

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A clan leader's spirit essence is captured by an evil wizard and it's up to the Kung fu Wonder Child and her friends to save the day.

Hsiao-Lao Lin and Yukari Ôshima in Kong-Fu Wonder Child (1986)

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Yukari Ôshima in Kong-Fu Wonder Child (1986)

Hsiao-Lao Lin in Kong-Fu Wonder Child (1986)

Kong-Fu Wonder Child

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