Kung Fu (1972–1975) User Reviews

Beautiful

[ADStoney · 9/10 · 21 March 2006]

Martial arts movies are full of great action and well choreographed fights, from the days of Bruce Lee to the stunning visuals we have with todays wire work and cgi. But Kung Fu is not a martial arts movie/series.....

Kung Fu is about a shaolin monk; Kwai Chang Caine. He travels around the wild west, seeking to help others and avoiding bounty hunters. The amazing thing about kung fu is that the flashbacks show Caine's past, we see that he has been trained to use kung fu, but he is a monk and would not harm a fly if it wasn't necessary. Caine chooses not to fight but when he has no other choice he proves that he can take anyone. The character is really brought to life by David Carradine, it would have been great to use Bruce Lee (Another of my idols) but I don't think the energetic Bruce would have been able to pull of the calmness of Caine.

I was expecting to see a martial arts series in the wild west but kung fu is its own genre. The teachings of Masters Po and Khan are wonderful and make you think about life. Apparently after seeing the series people seeked more information because they wanted to raise their children under the same morals.

It doesn't matter if you don't like martial arts or westerns, you need to see this. It has changed my life and the way I think about life.

Original and Daring

[screenman · 9/10 · 30 March 2011]

My 9-star vote represents the series in context. As someone who had been interested in Karate for several years before, I found this programme to have been extremely thoroughly researched. It was quite a revelation.

It was also highly original, employing the flash-back denouement technique that Sergio Leone 'borrowed' in most of his spaghetti westerns. The programme was, in truth, as much a celebration of the philosophy of keeping peace as the practice and teaching of martial arts. Plots were simple, maybe predictable, but they unfolded with as slowly choreographed a ritual as the teachings themselves.

A shaven-headed David Carradine was ideally suited to the role of mixed race Kwai Chang Kane, graduate monk of the Shao-Lin priesthood and fugitive murderer exiled in the wild-west USA. He brought an entirely-believable persona to his character whilst, in turn, acting as ambassador to the art. Bruce Lee was the obnoxious opposite.

Kane's tranquil and undemonstrative resolution of problems, only employing force as a last resort, would make an interesting counterpoint if screened today, at a time when resolution by force is considered a moral imperative.

There's a great deal more to be learnt from this series than from a game of 'Grand Theft Auto'.

Recommended viewing, at least of the pilot movie.

Surprisingly Good

[tupungato · 8/10 · 24 May 2011]

When I first watched Kung Fu I expected action and violence, because of the title and the wild west setting, but I didn't anticipate much with respect to a plot. The quality acting, both on the part of David Carridine and just about every character he encountered as he wandered the United States western frontier, pleasantly surprised me. I especially enjoyed the performances of the rough-edged, uncultured types who inevitably lived to regret their decision to test Caine. Without behaving simply as stereotypical outlaws these actors did a great job of making the threats or insolent comments that ultimately resulted in their humiliation at the hands (and feet) of a man that did not seem physically or psychologically capable of harming anyone.

I think that many viewers saw in Caine a person they admired and would like to emulate. He required very little in terms of material possessions to carry on, didn't prejudge those he met (though they sometimes prejudged him), maintained a profound spiritual life yet confronted daunting situations realistically, and possessed superior survival skills in an often less than civilized world. At a time when some people in the U.S. were seeking greater spiritual fulfillment in Eastern philosophies and religions, Caine was serving as something of a role model.

If someone were to recreate the Kung Fu series, viewers would probably expect, if not demand, two changes: 1. A man of Southeast Asian ethnicity would have to play the part of Caine, not a Caucasian, even if, as was the case with David Carridine, his features suggest some Chinese ancestry. 2. The man playing Caine should also possess a more athletic physique. His unassuming and unimposing interpersonal style should continue, but if a threatening situation requires that he employ his expertise in martial arts, he ought to have a build that jibes a little more with his talent.

A miracle of television

[byght · 28 May 2004]

It's a shame that the martial arts craze that this show created (in conjunction with the ascendant popularity of Bruce Lee in the early 1970s), in conjunction with the somewhat cheesy '90s spinoff, has served to somewhat obscure what a gem it truly was.

It's heartbreaking to think that a lot of people who haven't seen the show lump it in as old, campy action television, like "The A-Team" or "Charlie's Angels" or something like that. The fact is, any given hour-long episode of "Kung Fu" probably contained about 45 to 60 seconds of actual action--if not less. The fact is, David Carradine was as good a leading man as any TV drama has ever had.

And the fact is, far from being a cheap exploitation of martial arts and Eastern philosophy, "Kung Fu" was created and written in true reverance to those concepts. Meticulous research was conducted, and the lessons that Masters Kan and Po (wonderfully rendered by Philip Ahn and Keye Luke, respectively) teach Caine, and that Caine in turn teaches those he encounters, are routed in authentic Shaolin philosophy.

Nor was the show cheesily made. It involved lush cinematography by televisual standards and innovative use of devices such as forced perspective and slow motion (this was the first show or movie to use different gradations of speed within a single take--the shot would move at normal speed until Caine made contact with an elbow or a fist, and then suddenly switch to delicate, poetic slow motion).

Caine was a true archetype of television--a complete reversal of basically every American screen hero that went before. Not just peaceful--but passive and serene. As Caine described it--"Kung Fu" was an "anti-revenge television show"--an amazing concept when you think about it.

Remember, the American public was not even acquainted with the phrase "kung fu" before this show. Zen Buddhism was gaining popularity in the late '60s and early '70s, but no one had ever heard of Shaolin monks. The creators of this show took a big risk on an untested concept and came up with TV gold.

I hope that the DVD release will serve to remind us all what a special show this was, and of the lessons it has to teach us.

Kung Fu; the First Seasons Sayings

[ajkbiotech · 10/10 · 8 April 2021]

From the Crane, we learn grace and self-control.

The Snake teaches us suppleness and rhythmic endurance.

The Praying Mantis teaches us speed and patience.

And from the Tiger, we learn tenacity and power.

And from the Dragon, we learn to ride the wind.

All creatures, the low and the high, are one with nature.

If we have the wisdom to learn, all may teach us their virtues.

Is it good to seek the past? If a man dwells on the past, then he robs the present; but if a man ignores the past, he may rob the future. The seeds of our destiny are nurtured by the roots of our past.

When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.

You must walk the rice paper without leaving any marks. This will signify that you can walk without making any sounds.

The outer strength, the strength of the body, withers with age. The inner strength, the Chi, remains and grows stronger with age.

The right of vengeance belongs to no man.

A Shaolin priest can walk through walls.

A man cannot live his whole life in fear. To hide such feelings is to increase them 1000 times.

If you tell a man he is less than a man often enough, he will come to believe it.

All life is sacred. I would not take pleasure in the death of any man.

Fear is the enemy. He who conquers himself is the greatest warrior.

To hate is like drinking salt water; it only makes the thirst worse.

I have seen the silkworm; it spins a thread that it may be seen. Hate is the thread and the tomb you weave; it will not save you from your suffering.

The mind and the body and the spirit are one. When the body expresses the desires of the mind and the spirit, the body is in tune with nature, the act is pure and there is no shame. Love is harmony.

Each journey begins and also ends. Life is such a journey, yet it is full of journeys within which begin and end.

Seek always peace. To endanger one, endangers all. In such times, the soul must be the warrior. The soul sees always. What the soul sees cannot be denied.

Discipline your body that you may find greater strength. Be one with all that is without one's self.

Where the tiger and the man are one, there is no fear, there is no danger.

I have three treasures which I hold and keep: the first is mercy, for from mercy comes courage; the second is frugality, from which comes generosity to others; the third is humility, for from it comes leadership.

How shall I hold these treasures, Master? In memory?

Not in memory, but in your deeds.

Peace lies not in the world but in the man who walks the peaceful path.

To reach perfection a man must develop equally compassion and wisdom.

Shall I treat every man the same? Yet the flower beneath the water knows not the sun. Other men, not knowing me, will find me hard to understand.

As far as possible, be on good terms with all. Accept the ways of others; respect first your own.

Look beneath the surface of the pool to see its depths.

Rock crushes scissors. Paper covers rock. Scissors cuts the paper. Each in turn conquers the other; there is no stronger or weaker. This is the harmony of nature.

Ten million living things have as many different worlds. Do not see yourself as the center of the universe, wise and good and beautiful. Seek, rather, wisdom and goodness and beauty, that you may honor them everywhere.

A man may tell himself many things, but is a man's universe made only of himself?

If a man hurts me and I punish him, perhaps he will not hurt another.

And if you do nothing?

He will believe he may do as he wishes.

Perhaps. Or perhaps he will learn that some men receive injury but return kindness.

If you sow rice, you will grow rice. If you sow fear, you will grow fear.

This show was the greatest Union of philosophy & action ever, until The Matrix.

Watch it, Grasshopper! Until you can snatch the pebble from my hand....

Indescribably great

[bletcherstonerson · 10/10 · 13 October 2015]

There are so many points that make this show so endearing. From the actors, to the research that went into it, and the writing. It was a perfect blend of all elements, add the aging sets that the studios had abandoned that give the program an ultra realistic appearance of the 19th century. The best part about these episodes , is that I was always pleased after viewing each episode. The shows are cathartic, and an exercise in mental meditation. The worst and most horrific part of this series is that it only ran 3 years. It's a shame that Carradine was never given a chance to reprise the role with a good platform. The modernized Canadian cop show sucked, and did the original series a disservice. Carradine is fantastic, and so are all the cast members that starred in the show. I break it out a couple of times a year and throw it on when I need a reboot. If you only can own one show, this should be it.

The True Iron Fist

[Tweetienator · 7/10 · 1 September 2022]

David Carradine in his most iconic role: Kung Fu is without any doubt one of my greatest pleasures on TV when I was very young (I was very into everything Western related) and awakened my interested for the martial arts and the cinematic wonders of the East: the age of the samurais, ninjas and so on (Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, Masaki Kobayashi and Hiroshi Inagaki etc.). David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine - this is the real deal. The new Kung Fu show on CW network has not much to do with the original series and whereas Carradine's journey was a real original show and story, the new one is just your typical Kung Fu story, entertaining but nothing original or unique.

Excellent Work from 1972-75

[spruance-1 · 10/10 · 7 May 2012]

I have not seen this series for well over 35 years. Remarkably, it has stood the harsh test of time.

While it cannot compare with university level studies of East Asian philosophy and religion, it deals with topics that have universal applicability, and it does so in an intelligent fashion.

Caine lives in a world of avarice, violence, and breath-taking stupidity. In spite of all this, he must persevere in his pursuit of familial connections and obligations, another eternal Eastern theme.

The dialog and psychological situations merit serious attention and certainly keep the viewer's interest.

Kung Fu: Hollywood choose David Carradine over Bruce Lee.

[stevehorvath59-515-490534 · 7/10 · 12 March 2015]

I am not sure how many viewers know or knew that Hollywood Producers picked David Carradine over Bruce Lee to play the lead role and to star in the series. What was their reasoning? Bruce Lee looked too Chinese! I am sure if Bruce Lee were chosen to play the role Caine, this series would have had a lot better action scenes than with Carradine, who really wasn't a Martial Artist. Bruce Lee took it hard when he was turned down. Lee traveled to Hong Kong and he made his first blockbuster martial arts movie that catapulted him to stardom overnight. Bruce Lee made 5 movies all together and they were the first superior martial art movies of the Era. As far as Kung Fu is concerned, the series is a Gem in itself. The Buddhist philosophy is well reflected by the actions or inactions Caine. Enjoy.

A Timeless Treasure

[rob-andrea · 10/10 · 28 January 2007]

If you gave this series less than a 9 or 10 one of the following has probably happened:

1) You didn't watch the prequel movie to see what this show is really about. 2) You haven't watched more than one episode. 3) You don't believe in the concept of brotherly love. 4) You have been totally brainwashed by American culture and the love of materialism and violence. 5) You can't appreciate the beauty and simplicity of Eastern teachings. 6) You feel the show moves too slow because you have been conditioned to believe that good entertainment must constantly keep you in hyperventilation mode. 7) You haven't reached the age of 7 yet, or maybe you don't understand English very well.

There is truly no other show that even comes close to combining simple thought provoking lessons of life and living in an entertaining video art form. I am constantly amazed at the profound lessons I come away with when watching another episode. The Jodi Foster episode alone is a priceless treasure, worth viewing over and over again. Go out and buy the 1st season, watch it with full attention and then tell me it isn't one of the true timeless classics of TV.

Who wrote the stories and the scripts.

[mihinduep · 10/10 · 23 April 2013]

I loved this television series when it was aired in Sri Lanka in the 1980s. Every story had Applied Buddhism in it. I wonder whether the writers of the series were Buddhists. Or if not how did they get the knowledge of Buddhism to write such great scripts with Buddhist morals. I went through all the reviews here but none says who wrote them. Can anybody tell me?

In the first episode itself it says students accepted to the Shaolin Temple must be Chinese. But I am a Sri Lankan. If there is any good I have done in this life, I have a wish, may by the force of that karma, I conceive the womb of a Chinese mother in my next life, and be eligible to enter the Shaolin Temple and become a Shaolin priest like the 'grasshopper.'

Where's the violence?

[evans-15475 · 6/10 · 13 September 2020]

Being 12 when this came out I didn't remember any of plots but do remember spending break time trying to kick each other in the head while shouting grasshopper and the school banning us from making metal stars in metal work,after just rewatching a couple of episodes it just amazed me that his whole attitude was avoid violence how it took off with children is just beyond me,large periods of not much happening much more talking than Kung fuing just goes to show you can pick what you want out of a show

Stolen From Bruce Lee

[Jack_C_ · 3/10 · 14 March 2019]

The idea of a wandering martial arts monk was pitched to Ed Spielman by Bruce Lee but was turned down. Spielman stole the idea and David Carradine was cast in Lee's place despite showing up to audition high on drugs.

The Lee family should sue for copyright infringement. Watch Warrior on HBO.

"What happens in a man's life is already written Men must move through life as his destiny wills "

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 19 September 2005]

The concept of the series is of a quiet humble man who avoids action at almost any cost… Caine (David Carradine) was taught a good soldier is not violent, a fighter is not angry, and a victor is not vengeful…

Caine runs a long way with a price on his head for murder… He comes to the American West where he travels the countryside facing many pillars of violence… He effectively inspires the character with infrequently found qualities for an action hero: grace and self-control, suppleness and rhythmic endurance, speed and patience, tenacity and power…

For several years in the Shaolin Temple, Caine learns to exercise and develop his inner strength… He learns to make powerful the force of his body… Yet he was taught to reverence all against whom he may use such force… He comes to know how weakness prevails over strength, how gentleness conquers, how he seeks victory in contention…

With an emphasis on Buddhist philosophy, "Kung Fu" is a morality play, a magic show, combining the Western genre with martial arts

Almost Fifty years have elapsed...

[omero-omero · 10/10 · 30 March 2021]

And it still stands out like an ageless masterpiece work of art.

In one word: Philosophical.

very well done and with a positive message

[disdressed12 · 8/10 · 2 September 2010]

rather than getting into the debate over the issue of Bruce Lee vs David Carradine,i will just try to add my thoughts on the merits of the show itself.firstly,i think it's quite well done for it's time(1972).i didn't find it slow.it moves along at a decent enough pace.the action scenes (and by that,i mean the martial arts scenes) aren't overdone,or hokey.the acting is actually very good.Carradine is convincing.his speech pattern fits very well for his character,and he has a calmness and charisma about him.plus the show has a positive message.Kaine only fight when he has to and all life is sacred.each episode contains flashbacks showing the younger Kaine learning other important life lessons,as well.for me,"Kung Fu"is an 8/10

Chop-Socky TV

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 3 April 2020]

Now, I would never say that TV's "Kung Fu" was a total "kick-ass" viewing experience - But, all the same - Its premise of having a Kung Fu-fighting Shaolin Monk active and righting wrongs (without the use of firearms) back in the days of the American "Old West" certainly did prove to be a fairly entertaining novelty (for the most part).

But, unfortunately - (As it became clearly evident in the episodes of "Kung Fu's" final season) - The overall freshness and appeal of mixing martial arts into a Western-themed television program quickly lost its initial wallop and dynamic sparkle before long.

Enlightenment in a world of savagery

[dlracer2 · 9/10 · 27 April 2021]

I watched Kung Fu with my dad growing up. My obsession only grew as I aged. Now as I approach midlife, that obsession has seen me cross paths with insiders the likes that few will ever consort - including Ed Spielman. I'm a huge Bruce Lee fan as well. Speculating what could have been with Bruce makes me wonder if he would have done Enter The Dragon or some of the others. David DID bring a soulful presence to the character. Some details seem to get quietly buried behind closed doors, and when two writers come up with very similar ideas independent of each other, it becomes a race to intellectual property legalities. The only one who wins, is the one that can prove their work was conceptionalized first. In the same vein, Kung Fu is a franchise that should always rise above the reign of the almighty dollar. I have a solution for that. If there's any hope left for the integrity of the entertainment industry, my team will be considered before a writer signs on for the motion picture. Support American Shaolin on Facebook.

Memorable series!

[mm-39 · 7/10 · 2 June 2019]

Memorable series! Take this pebble from my hand! LOL with such a task the student now becomes a master the cycle starts. As the series goes threw cycle so does the story of man trying find his mother in the Wild West who was taught by a great master in China and must head out West with a price on his head. There is many adventures, where Cane must use his training via flash back to over come fear, pain and endurance with each trial. The un expecting band guy is not ready for a man who can kick doors, break bricks, and use psychological edge from the training monk training. Well written and directed, giving the T V Western series a different feel for a formulated genre. 7 stars. Loved watching Kung Fu as a child. Okay to watch as an adult in reruns.

Yeah, but...

[huutheheckcares · 8/10 · 5 February 2020]

Okay everybody enjoyed this series and so did I - mainly for the great cinematography, scenery, characters, acting, fight scenes, etc. but what about the plot holes? For one how come Master Po didn't avoid the guard hitting him? Next, sorry but not even a shaolin monk could cross that desert on foot, in fine condition, and then only want a couple sips of water. Worse is when the other monk showed up to take him in, why wouldn't the other RR works have just shot him and his escorts dead to protect Caine - and then Caine could have stayed with them for further protection or at least a few could have gone with him on his journey! Oh well.

This was a great show, it makes me sad David Carradine is gone:(

[Loveunderlaw · 10/10 · 26 June 2019]

Even though I practice internal Kung Fu styles(Wu & Yang style Tai Chi, Bagua & Liu He Ba Fa )this is a great show IMO. It's probably one of the most realistic Kung Fu shows on TV. I like the fact there are no added sound effects in the fight scenes. Along with extensive philosophy embedded in this series, this show is a diamond in the rough.

If you're looking for more than *** kicking this show's for you. BRAVO & R.I.P. :(

Kung Fu series

[t-van-rossum7 · 4/10 · 17 December 2011]

That series was in a time when I hadn't seen Bruce Lee yet. Everybody could see how Carradine sucked at martial arts. He was a good actor but his moves were unprofessional and vague and showing it all in slow motion only made that worse. Furthermore the makers of the series obviously didn't care about anything being authentic. Shuriken (throwing stars) would never have been used in the Shaolin Temple as they were invented by a ninja clan. It would only have been fair if Bruce Lee would have gotten the part as he was entitled to it. He certainly would have improved the quality of it. Hollywood just changed the original story line to fit an American actor.

One of the best TV shows ever...

[MovieAlien · 16 January 2002]

I saw this series exactly 20 years after it was released, but its excellence made the viewing experience timeless.

Carradine plays the immigrant drifter Caine, who walks through the Wild West encountering different situations, people, etc, there was a different plot for each episode. This was more a "Drama" than a "Western" but the interesting sparring moves and Caine's relaxed personality made it a decent alternative to the more violent and rowdy martial arts movies that released around that time.

Whenever this series is brought back to your TV station or one episode happens to be on, it would be an excellent show to tape and watch again and again - if not already released, I'm sure they'll have the show reissued on an official DVD/VHS set.

Verily Defines The Title "Iconic"

[A_Different_Drummer · 10/10 · 11 July 2013]

Maybe you had to be there. And maybe the series speaks for itself. Hard to say. At a time when N.A. was just beginning to show interest in eastern martial arts -- mainly as a result of the spy films which invariably featured some sloppy form of judo or karate -- a story circulated in Hollywood about a husband and wife writing team. He was a black belt in Karate. She had been taught Kung Fu by her father. He was terrified of her. Ergo, let's do a series. They auditioned Bruce Lee for the pilot but found him too Asian. So they went with a westerner, Carradine. Bios of Lee make it clear that this event, more than any other, traumatized him and made him bitter. That was Hollywood. Some (not all) of the series' scripts were amazing. Some were junk. The movie/pilot remains one of the tightest pieces of writing of the era. And there is so much Bhuddist philosophy in the flashbacks that you wonder if they actually had monks on hand as consultants? Trivia fact: understanding that to the western eye, most Asians looked alike, they "recycled" the very same Asian character actors through all the Asian parts in the series and, sure enough, nobody noticed. The series ended not so much because of a lack of interest but because Carradine's image was badly tarnished by a series of public binges. Still, one of the most unique works to ever leave Tinseltown.

Best ever "eastern western"

[mjhoeber · 10/10 · 7 October 2018]

Despite being panned by people who were mainly ignorant, the important cultural/historical aspects and moral clarity of the TV series "Kung Fu" make it as excellent today as it was in the late 70s when it was a smash hit. First, the movie accurate presents Daoist philosophy with its overlay of Buddhism in a way that westerners (to wit, Americans) could grasp. Secondly, the plots were interesting and historically accurate. Thirdly, David Carradine has to be one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood history. He proved himself not only in "Kung Fu" but also in "Bound for Glory," playing American songwriter and social activist Woody Guthrie. I could never understand why he has not been more appreciated for his art and abilities. Forget the personal life-- some of Hollywood's greatest actors have been as much or more on the edge as David Carradine. Maybe it takes that kind of mind to be sensitive to the characters that the artist has to portray on screen. But over and above all, in "Kung Fu," Carradine successfully and beautifully plays an exiled Shaolin monk in America, where the Chinese and other ethnic minorities were hated and exploited. The moral clarity of the program is evident from the beginning; there is a high ideal to which the monastic order strives in China, and the character Kwai Chang Caine (who is half-American in the story) remains faithful to Daoist teaching throughout some extreme provocation. By the way, the Dao De Jing is the second best-selling book in the world, exceeded only by the Bible. It is therefore one of the world's greatest pieces of wisdom literature, and it's too bad that the people who made fun of this excellent TV series were too ignorant to understand what they were seeing. The focus was mainly on the fact that for the first time, martial arts suddenly became something more than an arcane skill known only to a few, and rapidly achieved the status of a national craze, just as women's gymnastics did after Nadia Comanice's Olympic performance. Now even small towns in America have martial arts studios and most people are aware that there are many different types of this difficult and demanding discipline, kung fu being one of many far eastern versions of self defense. However, the moral lessons of each program are as true and worthwhile today as they were 2000 years ago, and it is a shame that this aspect of the series is so universally overlooked.