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Mystery of Chess Boxing (international title "Ninja Checkmate") is an Ocean Shore film released in 1979 and directed by Joseph Kuo, starring Mark Long, Jack Long and Lee Yi Min.

Plot

Lee Yi Min stars as a young boy who wants to learn Kung Fu so that he can avenge his father's death at the hands of the Ghost Faced Killer (Mark Long). The Ghost Faced Killer meanwhile is hunting down a number of clan leaders who all conspired to have him killed. Before attacking the killer always throws down his "ghost face killing plate," a decorated metal plate with a red face. He then uses his distinctive five elements style.

Lee Yi Min attends a local Kung Fu school but is bullied by the seniors. The cook of the school (Yuen Siu Tien) takes the boy under his wing and teaches him some moves. These prove to be adequate for his day-to-day living, but cannot fulfill his deep desire for revenge. Unfortunately Lee Yi Min is thrown out of the school when he is found in possession of the Ghost Faced Killers' symbol. Still wishing to learn kung fu Lee Yi Min turns to an old Chess master Chi Sue Tin (Jack Long), recommended by the cook, for training. The Chess master is an old enemy of the Ghost Faced Killer who reveals himself to be a former Kung Fu chief who held sway over the area with his fellow fighters. Unfortunately he had been forced to go into hiding after being badly injured in a fight and also coming under scrutiny by the Ghost Face Killer. Chi Sue agrees to teach Lee his school of Bhess Boxing Kung Fu.

Lee finally learns the strategic link between Chess and Kung Fu. He and Chi Sue Tin team up using double horse style, a reference to Chinese Chess, and defeat the Ghost Faced Killer.

Cast

  • Li Yi Min – Ah Pao
  • Jack Long – Chi Sue Tin
  • Mark Long – Ghost Faced Killer
  • Yuen Siu Tien – Master Yuen (cook)
  • Jeanie Chang – Chi Sue Tin’s granddaughter

References in Culture

It is widely believed that this movie is the inspiration the Wu-Tang Clan song "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" on the album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah also takes his name from the film's distinctive villain.

External Links

Copyright

Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Mystery of Chess Boxing" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_of_Chess_Boxing, used under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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