I’ve watched quite a few Italian Westerns in the past year and my journey continues through this immensely entertaining genre. Like horror, there is generally a fair amount of violence in your average Western. There are even a few Western-horror flicks out there. While Shanghai Joe does not fall into that category, it does offer up some gore. It also offers up Kung-Fu! That is right my friends, Shanghai Joe is a Western Kung-Fu flick with gore!

Shanghai Joe’s story is a simple one. Shanghai Joe is living in a Chinese populated area of San Francisco and decides he wants to journey to Texas and become a cowboy. Every single white person he meets is a complete racist douche bag. Shanghai Joe is a mellow fellow with a no nonsense but efficient style of kung-Fu that he unleashes on copious characters throughout his travels. There are several comedic moments and a lot of the action is pretty slapstick. The comedy works well for the most part, but there were moments that could have used a more serious tone. The cinematography is rather nice and the music from Bruno Nicolai is not screamingly original but it works quite well. Shanghai Joe is a likable guy who is easy to root for; although not exactly a charismatic hero his laid back disposition suits the character’s vibe. Shanghai Joe is well paced and has loads of fight sequences that include everything from fist fights, Kung Fu and shootouts to eye gouging, scalping and impalement. The following is a photo review for Shanghai Joe. There were two particular fight scenes I decided not to mention because they are just too awesome to spoil. And speaking of spoilers, there are some minor ones below…

Shanghai Joe is on his way out of San Francisco heading for Texas.

Shanghai Joe eats at a tavern and is ridiculed and taunted with racial slurs by a trio of assholes.

These guys are looking for trouble.

See what happens when you mess with Shanghai Joe?

Shanghai Joe meets up with another group and tells them he is looking for work as a cowboy. They laugh at him and insult him than offer to give him a horse if he completes a couple of tests. Let’s just say, Shanghai Joe gets his horse.

Another group who are initially decent to Shanghai Joe turn out to be Rustler’s of the worst kind; the kind that herd and abuse human beings. Shanghai Joe is a little slow to react but he does free some of the Mexican slaves.

This man was a victim of the above Rustlers. Shanghai Joe gets him patched up and sends him on his way.

Dressed all in white is Stanley Spencer; a wealthy and powerful Rancher pictured here along with his cronies. They manage to get their filthy mitts on Shanghai Joe!

They throw Shanghai Joe into a bull ring for their amusement.

Shanghai Joe meets Cristina the beautiful daughter of the aforementioned Rustler victim. She has come to warn Shanghai Joe that four men have been hired to kill him.

Killer number one is a pretty furry guy!

Killer number two is an unusual looking cat with a cool getup, but he does not prove to be much of a challenge for Shanghai Joe. This guy needed to worry less about fashion and more about fighting.

Everyone wants to kill Shanghai Joe!

Cristina has come down with Pneumonia and a kindly but quirky doctor from town comes to help.

The good doc has the misfortune of running into Scalper Jack on his way back. Scalper Jack is of course gunning for Shanghai Joe.

Scalper Jack lovingly stroking a prized scalp as Cristina is tied to the bed. Scalper Jack manages to unleash some hurt on Shanghai Joe.

Spencer is running out of killers!

Shanghai Joe applying acupuncture before he does a little self surgery.

Cristina asks Shanghai Joe about his Fire Lotus tattoo.

Shanghai Joe tells Cristina about his intense training to earn the tattoo. Three years in a temple and only himself and one other endured the process to the end.

Spencer hires one more assassin to attempt to eliminate Shanghai Joe.

Shanghai Joe accompanies Cristina to her village.

I will use my skills only for good. Now I must bid you farewell.

Dungeon Rating: 3.5/5

Directed By: Mario Caiano

Starring: Chen Lee, Klaus Kinski, Gordon Mitchell, Claudio Undari, Katsutoshi Mikuriya, Carla Romanelli, Carla Mancini, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart, George Wang, Federico Boido, Piero Lulli

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