''The Scorpion King'' (released in Hong Kong as Operation Scorpio) () is a 1992 Hong Kong

martial arts film Martial arts films are a subgenre of action films that feature martial arts combat between characters. These combats are usually the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often are a method of storytelling and character expression a ...

directed by David Lai, and produced by

Sammo Hung Samuel "Sammo" Hung Kam-bo ( zh, t=洪金寶, j=Hung4 Gam1-bou2; born 7 January 1952) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and Film director, director, known for his work in martial arts films, Hong Kong action cinema, and as a figh ...

. The film stars

Chin Kar-lok Chin Ka-lok, sometimes credited as Chin Kar-lok ( Chinese: 錢嘉樂, Pinyin: Qián Jiālè, born 6 August 1965), is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, and television presenter. Chin was born in Hong Kong, the younger brother of actor a ...

Lau Kar-leung Lau Kar-leung (; born 28 July 1934 – 25 June 2013) was a Hongkongers, Hong Kong Martial art, martial artist, filmmaker, Stage combat, fight choreographer and actor. He is best known for the films he made in the 1970s and 1980s for the Shaw ...

and Kim Won-jin. The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 12 November 1992.

Plot

Budding comic book artist Yuk Su (

Chin Kar-Lok Chin Ka-lok, sometimes credited as Chin Kar-lok ( Chinese: 錢嘉樂, Pinyin: Qián Jiālè, born 6 August 1965), is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, and television presenter. Chin was born in Hong Kong, the younger brother of actor a ...

) finds himself living out the fantasies of his alternate world when he saves a young girl from an illegal prostitution racket. After he was expelled from medical school his father took Yuk Su to one of his father's friends to help him keep up with his education. Soon he found a teacher (

Lau Kar Leung Lau Kar-leung (; born 28 July 1934 – 25 June 2013) was a Hong Kong martial artist, filmmaker, fight choreographer and actor. He is best known for the films he made in the 1970s and 1980s for the Shaw Brothers Studio, notably those starrin ...

) who can help him live on his dreams and be a legendary hero. With the aid of his fecund imagination and the help of an aging kung fu expert Yuk Su becomes something even he had never dared dream, a hero in real life.

Cast

as Yuk Su / Yu Shu *

as Master Yat / Master Lo *

May Lo May Lo Mei Wei (born 1 September 1966) is a Hong Kong former actress. Personal In 1986, Lo met singer Jacky Cheung during the filming of ''Devoted to You'', a movie that they both starred in. On 15 February 1996, they married in London, Englan ...

as Jade * Kim Won-jin as Sonny Wang * Fung Woo as Uncle Chai * Victor Hon as Mr. Wang * Frankie Chin as Bull / Jean Pal * Steven Yuen as Inspector Hua * Tiffany Lau as Lan *

Lawrence Lau Lawrence Lau Juen-yee, GBS, JP ( zh, t=劉遵義; born 12 December 1944) is a Hong Kong economist and the former Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He was a non-official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong from 2009 ...

as Fatty Hsing * Yuen Miu as Tallie *

Sai Gwa-pau Lim Gan (林根), better known in Hong Kong by his stagename Sai Gwa-Pau (西瓜刨) (7 October 1918 – 12 March 2001), was a Hong Kong film actor who played roles in over 600 movies from the 1950s onwards. His stagename "Watermelon Slice" refe ...

as Waiter * Wang Han-Chen as Uncle Jung * James Lai as Inspector Hua's son * Fung Yuen-chi as Loanshark in Su's dream * Yuen Tak as Hua's Henchman * Thomas Sin as Tien

Release

Fox released the DVD in the US on May 25, 2004.

Reception

J. Doyle Wallis of

DVD Talk DVD Talk is a home video news and review website launched in 1999 by Geoffrey Kleinman. History Kleinman founded the site in January 1999 in Beaverton, Oregon. Besides news and reviews, it features information on hidden DVD features known as ...

rated it 3/5 stars and wrote, "Extremely mediocre story is elevated by the action talent on hand, mainly Kim Won-jun, whose jaw dropping skills make the film worth owning for any martial fan." ''The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies'' rated it 3.5/4 stars and wrote of the climax, "Although slightly marred by wire special effects, the bulk of the battle is breathtaking martial arts – perhaps some of the best ever filmed, and certainly the best of the year."

Styles

Xieziquan ()- A Chinese kung fu martial art which focuses almost exclusively on kicks, Xieziquan was utilized by Sonny Wang and incorporated the Korean martial art known as Taekwondo into his own signature style to make it resemble a scorpion. Boxing- A basic sport that uses: 1. Jab 2. Cross 3. Hook 4. Uppercut This fighting style was used by Bull/Jean Paul in a fight against Sonny Wang following the attempted abduction of his father.

References

External links

* 1992 films 1992 martial arts films 1990s Cantonese-language films 1990s Hong Kong films 1990s martial arts comedy films 1990s police procedural films Films about education Films directed by David Lai Films shot in Hong Kong Golden Harvest films Hong Kong martial arts comedy films Police detective films {{martialart-film-stub