Hong Kong's Worst Director? The films of Godfrey Ho

[@jwnj9716]

Ninja Terminator will always be a classic. That Garfield phone alone should be in the hall of fame.

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

I agree, that and the random robot that delivers messages

[@stephen2624]

The whole film-splicing shtick reminds of how Saban would film American footage and insert fight scenes scenes and robot-on-kaiju action from several Japanese shows and sell them as original work. And just like Godfrey Ho, Haim Saban made sure the actors got paid as little as possible pushing them to their breaking point and he sold it to Hasbro $500,000,000. P.S. I love Power Rangers but it's okay to acknowledge that the "creator" is a cheap bastard.

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

For sure! I find it really interesting how some businessmen found exploits like that, and I think the products they produced are really interesting as a result, hilarious as well. Thanks for watching my video also, hope you enjoyed it!

[@McFidget]

Gotta get me a Garfield phone so that I too can attempt to reform the ninja empire.

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

Let me know if you do, I would very much like to be a part of the Ninja Empire

[@misaeljoelvera6631]

Lethal Panther (1990) was shot in the Philippines, specifically, the scene you showed was shot at the University of the Philippines's Academic Oval. I recognize those distinctive trees, the Jeepney (a kind of public transport) passing, those lamp posts, and the ISSI (Institute of Small Scale Industries) building in some shots!

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

Oh that's super cool! I always love finding out where stuff was actually shot! Thanks for commenting

[@fransuke12]

He can make Ninja MORE recognized.

[@frankielau8848]

Thank you for this video! The Godfrey Ho's footages!!!!!

[@camiloribadeneira6973]

Your contributions to East Asian kino are always appreciated, king 👑.

[@dariosmagata8481]

I don't think he can possibly be the worst director in Hong Kong, he successfully created films that appealed to audiences around the world. These films played in African villages where the cinema operators had to bring their own screen into town because there was none there, that was the extent of the reach they had. They were shown in the Middle East, across Asia, South America, the Caribbean, the USA and beyond. And aside from that, consider that he was taking finished films in one language, shooting new scenes and re-editing them to create a new film with an entirely different plot in a different language. That's a lot harder than one would think, and the fact that his films are as watchable and understandable as they are, despite all their faults, is a testament to his skill. He definitely was cheap, shlocky, and probably quite immoral for the way he treated Richard Harrison and others, but not a bad director. He couldn't have pulled it off without knowing what he was doing.

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

I agree, The title is just hyperbole. He was a business man and he knew what to make to do to make a film sellable and that's a huge skill. As I state in the video.

[@GetBenched2010]

Godfrey rules.

[@spicyboi544]

you know what, im glad he has a "cult following" now, cause I feel bad for all the actors who wanted to start working in the film industry but were squandered by being attached to power rangers the ninja movie

[@roddmatsui3554]

Beautiful work on this video. Very funny way to start the day. 😆

[@jackthompson8873]

Very fun video on Godfrey ho I was wondering where did you manage to find the interview footage of him lol

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

It’s from a documentary about HK Cat 3 films, very bad documentary though and the interview with him is very short which was disappointing considering it was shot for the documentary.

[@nationalist818]

If Ive never seen any of his films where should I start?

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

I think Ninja Terminator is probably the best jumping-off point. Even if you decide he is not for you, you should have a lot of fun with it. If you want less of the so bad it's good stuff, Lethal Panther is more of a straightforward HK action film. Those two probably give you the best idea of his range.

[@rorygiddings1411]

Just found your channel and love to watch your video essays on HK cinema. I was just wondering, what films were those clips from near the start of the video, between 0:28 to 0:45? One of them I think was The Killer (1989), but what were the others? Great video btw mate

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

The first short montage is the trailer for The Killer, and then it goes to the trailer for City on Fire. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoy it!

[@LA-yv5us]

I need to add the song to my car rides, what's the name of this background music track sir?

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

Follow the link in my description to the White bat Audio page on KZbin, the specific track on this one is called Sentimental, but I use a lot of their chill Synthwave stuff so you will find a lot of tracks with that vibe.

[@LA-yv5us]

@@RobertEdwardsFilm Thanks 👍

[@benjaminsantiagosstuff]

How/where did you watch the Category III doc the interview clips are from? I remember trying to find it and being unable to find it

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

It was really hard to find for ages, it's only available as a special feature on a dvd, but I found a copy to stream online. I very much doubt it is there anymore. I would also not recommend it, it is not a good documentary. They have interviews with Anthony Wong, Godfrey Ho etc. but only show them for a small amount of time and instead focus on a bunch of bloggers and their opinions. Such a missed opportunity.

[@benjaminsantiagosstuff]

@@RobertEdwardsFilm good to know I am not missing much, will probably seek it out anyway (I am “researching” Godfrey Ho, clearly I suffer from some kind of masochism)

[@juniorjames7076]

This is a side of film history you don't hear about.

[@GrigoryGriko]

Watch the end scene of "the power of ninjitsu" it has a really cool fight🔥🔥🔥

[@dynaman7329]

Who are the directors you name at 0:36 to 0:39? I know John Woo, but who are the other two directors?

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

Tsui Hark and Ringo Lamb

[@dynaman7329]

Thank you.

[@mr.bootsmann4842]

Nice video. I love the godfrey ho movies. Funny exploitation movies.

[@sirdarklust]

Ho may be my favorite "bad" director of all time. Cheaper than Jesus Franco and half the morals.

[@neddyf00]

I'm a bit noob with G. Ho movies ^^ 2:21 anyone can identify this movie ?

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

I can't remember for sure, but I believe it is Lethal Panther (1991) one of his better films.

[@nikosksydas7131]

Can you recommend me some good hong kong action movies?

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

There is such a wide spectrum so it’s tricky to narrow it down, but working your way through the key players of the 80s and 90s is always a good place to start. A Better Tomorrow, City on Fire, Hard Boiled, the Police Story films, are all great entry points into that specific crime style of action cinema that most people really enjoy. Or you have the classic martial arts stuff, with films like the drunken master series, the five venoms, come drink with me, all the shaw brothers stuff basically. So depends what you’re into really, but I think directors like John Woo are still great gateways into HK action cinema.

[@jwnj9716]

Hard Boiled.

[@nikosksydas7131]

@@jwnj9716 its like the only one Ive watched

[@nikosksydas7131]

@@RobertEdwardsFilm thank you

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

@@nikosksydas7131 no problem man, I’m always around on twitter to chat films and stuff if you ever want any other recommendations etc.

[@dornravlin]

Your probly the only person in the history of ever who gave attention to Godfrey Ho

[@RobertEdwardsFilm]

Shame on everyone else I say

[@StreetFreak9000]

Lethal Panther is GOLD! & his actually directed films are at least all fun. Take his films over the Guardian reader aimed tedium of “Infernal Affairs”. Crap video.