Political correctness is a touchy subject in today's world. It seems the only time you see anything politically incorrect nowadays is either deliberately offensive or an homage to the innocent days when the world just "didn't know any better". Sometimes when you are watching an older film, you have to take that into consideration. Other times though, a film will just be so inexcusably/unbelievably politically incorrect that you can't believe your eyes. This isn't always a bad thing either, as this film proves.
As the oh so politically incorrect title states, The Crippled Masters 2 (aka Two Crippled Heroes) centers around two martial arts experts who also happen to be handicapped. The first (Frankie Shum) has one (malformed) arm and the other (Jackie Conn) has diminutive legs that don't work. Our two crippled heroes stumble upon each other and after a fight become allies. They take in a temporarily blind woman whom they both fancy though they agree not to let her find out that they are crippled (which is not hard considering SHE'S BLIND!). They become embroiled in some local gangsters and a political leader and must unleash their special form of whoop ass to protect the blind heroine and one of the heroes' pet monkey. Did I mention one of the heroes has a pet monkey that he pulls around on a metal chain? PETA would have a field day with this one.
The Crippled Masters 2 is a fun martial arts film with some unbelievably awesome fight scenes. What these guys can do given their handicaps is nothing short of amazing. The story has some tender moments and though not wholly original, the fight scenes easily make up for it. Jackie Conn's skateboard contraption, complete with detachable hooks connected to ropes to throw at victims is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Not to mention that he inexplicably flies through the air a few times in the film as well. Frankie Shum's use of a bo, given his two fingered hand is also pretty incredible. Though not the only martial arts film involving handicapped heroes (the first and third Crippled Masters films, Five Deadly Venoms, Crippled Avengers, Master of the Flying Guillotine, Mr. No Legs, to name a few) this is definitely a must see for martial arts fans or those who just like odd movies.
Crippled Masters 2 and it's sequel Crippled Masters 3 are both available for pre-order now or with a release date of January 25th, 2011 from Apprehensive Films.
RATING: 8/10
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