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The Legend of Drunken Master
Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
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  1. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Andy Klein
    90
    A six-year-old masterpiece, never-before widely seen in the U.S., is still a masterpiece.
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    90
    Has enough going on to make it a classic. You'll want to own it.
  3. TNT RoughCut
    Reviewed by: Andy Klein
    90
    May well stand as his (Chan) final word on true martial arts cinema.
  4. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    Simply amazing.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    88
    A pleasure, chock full of creatively choreographed fight scenes.
  6. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Larry Terenzi
    86
    Massively entertaining.
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    83
    May be the most kick ass demonstration yet, for the majority of American moviegoers, of what the fuss is all about.
  8. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Shawn Levy
    83
    It's a film with a silly story, and it's been dubbed laughably into English. Yet it's a transporting bit of fluff, full of zest, miraculous physicality and cheeky humor.
  9. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Frank Lovece
    80
    If you've never seen a martial arts movie, this is a great place to start.
  10. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Gemma Files
    80
    Chan's glorious madness.
  11. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Sean Means
    80
    Undiluted Jackie Chan, not the watered-down stuff he's been doing stateside.
  12. Variety
    Reviewed by: Joe Leydon
    80
    Well positioned to slake the thirst of action fans for world-class, slam-bang rough stuff.
  13. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    80
    You have to see this to believe it.
  14. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Joey O'Bryan
    78
    The film delivers some of the most spectacular and intricately choreographed martial arts fighting ever seen on film.
  15. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Marc Caro
    75
    Enjoy this rare chance to catch Chan on the big screen at his near-peak mastery.
  16. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Curtis Morgan
    75
    A mix of slapstick, melodrama and jaw-dropping stunts.
  17. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    75
    Chan at his high-kicking best. Some sequences are simply amazing.
  18. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    75
    He (Lee) combines the daredeviltry of Buster Keaton with the devil-may-care of Errol Flynn.
  19. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    75
    Intoxicating fun.
  20. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    70
    Has a great deal of the unapologetically broad and silly comedy.
  21. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    70
    A fleet, enjoyable Jackie Chan romp.
  22. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Susan Wloszczyna
    63
    After so much frenetic kicking and grunting, you may feel like you're in a stupor, too.
  23. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan
    63
    Vintage Chan, with amazingly well-choreographed fight scenes.
  24. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    63
    Goes down easily enough.
  25. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Jessica Winter
    60
    The uncertain plot somehow concerns ginseng and stolen objets d'art; the main thrust is acrobatic slapstick with a decided antipatriarchal twist.
  26. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Peter Stack
    50
    Among Chan devotees, it achieved cult status.
  27. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Paul Malcolm
    50
    A half-baked classic.
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 2 out of 9
  1. HelpU
    7
    Wait.... I thought this was Drunken Master... Not the Drunken Master 2 released in America as The Legend of the Drunken Master. Well they certainly made everything less mysterious and more childish. Honestly, if you think this is the best kung fu movie ever made, your brain will explode if you watch Drunken Master the original and there are a lot better kung fu movies than that, that don't constantly resort to slapstick without a moment of seriousness.… Full Review »
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