Films like The Boxer from Shantung.

The Boxer from Shantung (1972) reads as Sombre, breathless, extreme martial-arts / action, grounded in texture. Ambivalent, mid-stakes, measured. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

The New One-Armed Swordsman (1971) poster
1. The New One-Armed Swordsman1971

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the grounded, familiar shape — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Police Force (1973) poster
2. Police Force1973

Keeps the grounded, familiar shape and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Four Riders (1972) poster
3. Four Riders1972

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the grounded, familiar shape — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Iron Bodyguard (1973) poster
4. The Iron Bodyguard1973

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the grounded, familiar shape — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Sympathy for the Underdog (1971) poster
5. Sympathy for the Underdog1971

Keeps the grounded, familiar shape and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Angry Guest (1972) poster
6. The Angry Guest1972

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the grounded, familiar shape — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Savage Five (1974) poster
7. The Savage Five1974

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the grounded, familiar shape — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Bastard (1973) poster
8. The Bastard1973

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the grounded, familiar shape — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Threat (1966) poster
9. The Threat1966

Keeps the grounded, familiar shape and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Japan Organized Crime Boss (1969) poster
10. Japan Organized Crime Boss1969

Keeps the grounded, familiar shape and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Blood Brothers (1973) poster
11. The Blood Brothers1973

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the grounded, familiar shape — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Street Law (1974) poster
12. Street Law1974

Keeps the grounded, familiar shape and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are The Boxer from Shantung’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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