Saturday, October 18, 2008

5 Superfighters

5 Superfighters is a Shaw Brothers martial arts film about a kung fu expert who goes around to different schools correcting "bad kung fu".

Plot



Trouble arrives in town when a cloaked kung-fu expert sets about embarrassing local masters with his exceptional ability. After meeting a humble, unassuming master and his three eager students, the fighter continues his arrogant mission and leaves another few reputations in tatters. The defeated master stumbles away with his pupils, but is left shattered by his complete loss of face. It is this dejected state that persuades his three students to look for revenge against the mysterious wanderer. However, they are well aware of their limitations and decide to split up in the search for worthy masters.

The first avenger meets an eccentric Crane style master who easily beats him during a fight. After some persuasion, the master accepts the newcomer and decides to teach him the precise Crane movements. The second meets a bean curd seller and her blind father. An initial misunderstanding is turned into a teaching opportunity when the second student is taught legwork by the high-kicking woman. Finally, the third is given a chance to learn pole-fighting from a fisherman after a failed attempt to steal his fish. This opening animosity also turns into a fruitful teacher/student relationship. Meanwhile the original shamed master is also preparing his skills and, in between drinking bouts, sharpens up his swordplay skills. With each of the four now galvanized by this period of teaching, they are now ready to meet their tormentor.

Cast


Hau Chiu Sing – Master Wan
Tony Lung – Chang Tien
Austin Wai – Wang Fu Chung
Kuan Feng - Ma
Wu Yuan Chun – Chen Liu Chi

5 Fingers of Death

King Boxer aka Five Fingers of Death , is a martial arts film directed by Jeong Chang-hwa and starring Lo Lieh. Made in Hong Kong, it is one of many kung fu-themed movies with Lo Lieh in the lead. He appeared in many similar efforts from the 1960s, pre-dating the more internationally successful Bruce Lee.

Released in the USA in March of 1973, the film was responsible for beginning the North American kung fu film craze of the 1970s, though it is overshadowed by Enter the Dragon released later that same year. The film has a cult following in the U.S., and was referenced in Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill, which sampled the theme from the television series played during several of its fight scenes. The title of the movie was parodied in the "mockumentary" 18 Fingers of Death!, which pokes fun at martial arts movies.

Plot


The movie follows a promising young martial arts student named Chi-Hao. He has spent most of his life studying under a master and has fallen in love with the master's daughter Yin-Yin. After the master fails to properly fight off a group of thugs, he sends Chi-Hao to study under a superior master, Shen Chin-Pei. He instructs Chi-Hao to learn from Chin-Pei and defeat the local martial arts tyrant, Ming Dung-Shun, in an upcoming tournament in order to earn Yin-Yin's hand.

Chi-Hao meets a young female singer, Meng Tien-hsiun, on the road to the city and rescues her from Dung-Shun's thugs. She falls in love with him, but he resists her advances with difficulty. He reaches town and begins studying under Shen Chin-Pei. After an initial beating by Chin-Pei's star pupil, Han Lung, Chi-Hao improves rapidly. One day, another thug of Dung-Shun's, Chen Lang, breaks into the school and beats all of Chin-Pei's students. Chin-Pei finally arrives and fights him, but is struck by a dishonorable blow and severely wounded. Chi-Hao tracks Chen Lang down and defeats him. When Chin-Pei hears of this, he selects Chi-Hao to receive his most deadly secret, the Iron Fist.

Han Lung discovers that Chi-Hao has been chosen as Chin-Pei's successor and becomes intensely jealous. He conspires with Dung-Shun to have Chi-Hao crippled. He lures Chi-Hao into the forest, where Dung-Shun's three new Japanese thugs ambush him. They overpower him and break his hands. Later, they visit his old master's school and kill him as well. Meng Tien-hsiun helps Chi-Hao recuperate and again tries to woo him, but he resists her. Finally, Chi-Hao's fellow students locate him and encourage him to regain his fighting spirit. He begins training and soon overcomes his wounds. Yin-Yin arrives, but withholds the news of her father's death. A rejuvenated Chi-Hao successfully defeats all the other students to become Chin-Pei's representative for the upcoming tournament. Han Lung returns to Dung-Shun with the news, but Dung-Shun's son blinds him and casts him out.

On the day of the tournament, a conscience-stricken Chen Lang warns Chi-Hao of the three Japanese thugs lying in ambush on the road to the arena. Chi-Hao fights the thugs until Chen Lang arrives and holds them off so that Chi-Hao can get to the tournament on time. He arrives just in time and defeats Dung-Shun's son to win the tournament. Dung-Shun stabs Chin-Pei amongst the celebrations and departs. As Dung-Shun arrives back home, he discovers that all his lights are out. Han Lung appears in the darkened room and, guided by Meng Tien-hsiun's direction, fights Dung-Shun and his son. Wan Lang blinds the son, who is then stabbed by his father in the confusion. Dung-Shun bursts out of the dark room and summons his minions, who kill Han Lung and Meng Tien-hsiun.

Chi-Hao arrives at Dung Shun's house, but Dung-Shun flees and stabs himself before Chi-Hao can fight him. As he leaves, the chief Japanese thug arrives with Chen Lang's head. He and Chi-Lao face off. Chi-Hao uses his Iron Fist power, causing his hands to glow red, and delivers several powerful blows that send the thug smashing into a brick wall. The thug defeated, Chi-Hao collects Yin-Yin and departs.

2 Champions of Shaolin

2 Champions of Shaolin is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh. It is one of the Shaolin Temple themed martial arts films and feuds with the Wu Tang Clan starring the Venoms. Rumor mills suggest that a rift was occurring between Kuo Chui and Lu Feng over choreography credits in previous films thus they came to an agreement that Kuo Chui would sit out 2 Champions of Shaolin and Lu Feng will sit out a later film, thus giving the role usually filled by Kuo to Lo Mang.

The movie was digitally enhanced by Joseph Kahn for the Chemical Brothers' music video Get Yourself High.

Plot


"Two Champions Of Shaolin" follows the story of two young warriors from the rebel Shaolin Clan who are engaged in a deadly secret mission that could bring down the empire. Tung Chien-Chen is the “Shaolin Hercules”, who is sent from Shaolin to take revenge on the local Wu Tang experts. Yu Tai-Ping and Wang Li are the Wu Tang chiefs who attempt to kill Tung using Yu Tai’s throwing knives technique after meeting him in a restaurant. Tung barely escapes and meets up with Sun Chien and his sister who teach him a special kung fu to counter knives, he eventually meets up with Hu Wei-Chen who is another Shaolin student. Wei Sing-Hung is the son of a Ming general who was adopted by the Wu Tang, in his heart he supports Shaolin and he frequently questions why the Wu Tang support the Qing but is usually hushed quickly by his masters, his love interest is Wang Li's daughter played by Wen Hsueh-Erh.

Wang Li sends Yu to kill Tung but Tung, Sun Chien and Hu Wei-Chen end up killing him forcing the Wu Tang to take revenge. Tung plans to marry Sun Chien’s sister but after getting drunk and the wedding raided by the Wu Tang, Sun and his sister are killed, Tung is kidnapped and Hu Wei-Chen is too inebriated to help defend. Wei Sing secretly meets up with Hu Wei-Chen, then frees Tung and allows him to escape but is caught by Wen Hsueh Erh when he leaves his knife behind forcing a rift between them. Tung, realizing his wife is dead is down in the dumps and seems to have lost his will to fight until his brothers bring him back to reality. Tung and the other Shaolin men visit his wife’s grave and meet up with a “wandering scholar” and his 3 servants “who look like monkeys”, they immediately befriend Tung and Hu Wei-Chen occasionally bringing them food, gifts and wanting to discuss kung fu. Lu Feng is secretly a government official for the Qing who uses the monkey sword style and his servants use the monkey poles, they are planning to ambush the Shaolin men.

Wei Sing finds out about the Wu Tang and Lu Fengs plan and sides with Tung and Hu Wei-Chen, all the men up in a battle at a local tea house, Tung and Hu Wei-Chen kill Lu Feng and his servants and Wei Sing kills Wang Li. Hsueh Erh arrives just when Wei kills her father forcing Wei to kill himself.

Cast


Lu Feng – Wandering Scholar
Lo Mang – Tung Chien-Chen
Chiang Sheng – Hu Wei-Chen
Chin Siu-Hou – Wei Sing-Hung
Wang Li – Wu Tang boss
Yu Tai-Ping – Wu Tang knife expert
Sun Chien
Ching Li
Wen Hsueh Erh

The Empress Dowager

The Empress Dowager is a in the genre, directed by Li Han Hsiang.

Synopsis



Although the Empress Dowager, , of the Qing Dynasty had promised her nephew, Emperor that he had complete autonomy, he found that this was not the case as he attempted to exert his authority over corrupt eunuchs and officials who undermined him with the backing of the Empress Dowager. Young, inexperienced and without a strong cadre of loyal officials to support him, he tried to juggle affairs both public and private. His loveless marriage and dislike of the Empress further left him all the more bereft of any power lever. His only bright spark in a cold gloomy palace was his love for a new concubine and a young eunuch who wholeheartedly supported him.

Cast and roles



Empress Dowager Cixi - Lisa Lu
Empress - Ivy Ling Po
Emperor Guangxu - Ti Lung
Eunuch - David Chiang

Golden Horse Award



Best Actress : Lisa Lu
Best Supporting Actress : Ivy Ling Po

The Devil's Mirror

The Devil's Mirror is a Hong Kong film by the Shaw Brothers studio and the debut film of Sun Chung.. A kung fu film with some elements of horror, the film is based around a "Devil Girl", a witch who is intent on playing one clan off against another to get her hands on two mirrors which have supernatural powers. Only a noble swordsman played by Liu Tan and beautiful swordswoman played by The Thundering Sword star Shu Pei-pei can prevent her from achieving her evil goals.

Cast



Shu Pei Pei
Lau Dan
Lee Ga Sai
Wong Hap
Cheng Miu
Tung Lam
Chan Shen
Chai No
Lee Ho
Tong Tin Hei

The Crimson Palm

The Crimson Palm is a film directed by Chan Yau-San for Shaw Brothers.


The father of Lin Shao-teh, a high court official, has betrothed him to the daughter of millionaire Wang Chun. Lin's father dies and the Lin family is impoverished. Lin Shao-teh Ivy Ling Po has to work as a water carrier to support his mother. Wang Chun calls Shao-teh to his house, forces him to annul the betrothal in exchange for some silver. Shao-teh is deeply hurt, agrees to the annulment, but refuses the money.

Wang Chun's daughter, Chien-king , is a virtuous girl. When she hears about what her father has done, she refuses to obey him and vows to not marry anyone else. Chien-king sends her maid, Shuet Chun , to Shao-teh's house to console him. She also sends a parcel of clothes and some money. Shuet Chun tells Shao-teh to return to the Wang mansion that night to receive 100 taels of silver, as Chien-king wants to help Shao-teh with money enough to travel to take the Imperial exams. Shuet Chun also gives him a gold hairpin as a token for the messenger delivering the gold.

Cast


Ivy Ling Po
Chen Yan-Yan
Cheng Mui
Chin Ping

The Black Tavern

The Black Tavern is a Hong Kong Shaw Brothers sword action film directed by Teddy Yip. Taiwanese actress Shih Szu stars.

Cast


Shih Szu
Ku Feng
Dean Shek Tien
Tung Li
Wong Hap

The Anonymous Heroes

The Anonymous Heroes or Wu ming ying xiong is a Hong Kong Shaw Brothers action film comedy directed by Chang Cheh.








Cast


Chan Chuen
Kang-Yeh Cheng
Lei Cheng
Sing Chen
David Chiang
Li Ching
Miao Ching
Yun Kin Chow
Hak On Fung
Kwok Choi Hon
Pak-Kwong Ho
Hsia Hsu
Pei Chi Huang
Phillip Ko
Feng Ku as Brother Wan
Chiu Lee
Sau Kei Lee
Chia Yung Liu
Yunzhong Li

Ten Tigers from Kwangtung

Ten Tigers of Kwangtung is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh and produced by Mona Fong. It is one of Chang Cheh’s tales of Shaolin’s historic rivalries with the Qing Dynasty and the Canton Tigers. Along with the Brave Archer series, Ten Tigers had an all-star cast of Shaw martial artists.

Plot


The movie involves two stories concerning the and their future disciples. The film opens with Tung Chi and his nephew pursuing the disciples to take revenge for General Lang, who was Wang Li’s brother. After killing one of the disciples, Wang Chow Ming and Lin Fu Sheng tells the story of the original Ten Tigers.

Anti-Ch'ing revolutionary leader Chai Min Yu is being hunted down by Manchu General Liang . He is almost caught when a masked man rescues him from death and escapes with him. The masked man is Li Jen Chiao a loyal ex-Shaolin man and the owner of a pawn shop in town. Li Jen Chiao hides Chai Min Yu in the back of his pawn shop, and sends his younger brother Tan Ming to seek the help of two other ex-Shaolin men who reside in the town, Wan Yi Ling and Su He Hu . Tan Ming is temperamental and is always getting into fights, and he starts fighting with Wan Yi Ling and Su He Hu before he explains the reason for his visit. Luckily, Li Jen Chiao is able to explain the situation in time, and the two man gladly swear their allegiance. They are also joined by loyal Shaolin brothers Wong Yin Lin and Wong Kee Ying. Beggar Su , Iron-finger Chung , Chu Yu Sheng also join in the fray to assist the revolutionary in escaping and killing General Liang

In the present, Lung Tung Sheng and Chin Siu-Ho plan a counter attack to kill Tung Chi and his nephew before they can kill the remaining Ten Tigers.

Cast


Ti Lung – Li Jen Chiao
Lu Feng – Su He Hu
Tang Ming
Kuo Chui – Beggar Su
Wang Lung Wei – General Liang
Sun Chien - Wan Yi Ling
Ku Feng – Chai Min Yu
Lung Tung Sheng – Wang Chow Ming
Chin Siu Ho - Lin Fu Sheng
Wang Li – Tung Chi
Lo Mang – Iron finger Chung

Shaw Organisation

The Shaw Organisation is a film distribution company and movie theater chain founded by Runme Shaw and Run Run Shaw in 1924 in Singapore.

Movie theatres


The company managed single-screen cinemas until the late 1980s, when it decided to build cineplexes to give more flexibility in offering different types of films. The first cineplexes built were the Prince and Jade cineplexes in Shaw Towers, opened in February 1988. Soon after, the management undertook their biggest single project to date, the 22-storey .

By August 2000, a computerised ticketing system developed jointly with Singapore Technologies was launched. This system linked all Shaw theatres into a single network for automated telephone credit card purchases.

At its height, the company owned movie theaters and amusement parks throughout Singapore, Malaysia and Borneo, and spawned the Shaw Brothers Studio in Hong Kong to feed its then-burgeoning operation.

Today, it manages and runs 39 screens in 7 locations in Singapore, namely Orchard , Balestier, Century Square, Choa Chu Kang, Bugis, Jurong East, and Beach Road.

Shaw Brothers Studio

The Shaw Brothers Studio , owned by Shaw Brothers Ltd. , is the foremost and the largest movie production company of .

From their distribution base in Singapore where they founded parent company Shaw Organization in 1924, and as a strategic development of their movie distribution business in Southeast Asia, Sir Run Run Shaw and his third brother Runme Shaw founded South Sea Film in 1930. It was later renamed Shaw Brothers Studio. The studio released Hong Kong's first movie with sound《白金龍》 in 1934.

Legacy



Directors


The Shaw Brothers studio is noted for directors King Hu, Lau Kar-leung and Chang Cheh. King Hu was an early director who is best remembered for his film Come Drink with Me, a martial arts film which differed from those of Chang Cheh in that it featured a capable female protagonist and revolved around romance in the martial arts world, rather than fast paced action and the tales of brotherhood which Chang Cheh would later popularize. Chang Cheh, who was more fond of the latter components, would go on to be Shaw Studios' best known director, with such films as Five Deadly Venoms, Brave Archer , The One Armed Swordsman, and other classics of Wuxia and film. Almost equally as famous was fight choreographer turned director Lau Kar-leung, who would produce such highly regarded kung fu films as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter.

Actors


Shaw Brothers was a studio which was modeled after the classic Hollywood system with hundreds of actors signed to exclusive contracts. While other studios rotated a good number of cast members, the Shaw Brothers assigned certain groups of actors to work exclusively with certain directors. The group from the 1978 release Five Deadly Venoms—who would become known by that namesake—were among the most memorable. These five were Lo Mang, Lu Feng, Sun Chien, Chiang Sheng and Kuo Chui, who had been stars in the Shaw studio for years, but did not become memorable faces until the Five Deadly Venoms. The "sixth Venom", Wei Pai, who played the Snake in Five Deadly Venoms was also part of the Venom Mob which numbered over 15 actors which appeared in almost all of the Venom movies.

In the first half of the 1970's two other stars were particularly well known and favoured by Chang Cheh in his movies: Ti Lung and David Chiang. Ti Lung is considered one of the most, if not the most handsome martial arts actor to grace Shaw Studios, but is also accredited as a capable actor who reinforced his muscular glamour with strong characterisation over his many films. Chiang on the other hand was slight and wiry and often played sarcastic anti-hero to Lung's standard archetype. In the middle of that decade the duo were overshadowed by the rise of Alexander Fu Sheng who had played supporting roles opposite them on many occasions. Fu was eventually killed in 1983 in a car accident, ending a brief but spectacular career.

Members of the Seven Little Fortunes, including Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, played extras and bit parts in several Shaw Brothers films in the 1970s, although they were obviously unknowns at the time.

Shaw Studios was not well known for female actors however, largely due to Chang Cheh's preference for brotherhood tales, and producer Mona Fong's alleged hatred for beautiful actresses. Nonetheless, actresses like Betty Loh Ti, Cheng Pei Pei, and Tien Niu appeared in Shaw films. Cheng Pei Pei in particular is relatively well known for her starring role in King Hu's Come Drink With Me, and more recently in Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as Jade Fox.

Celestial Pictures acquisition and distribution


Many of their classic films have become subject to bootlegging over the years due to popularity of particularly the kung fu/martial arts titles, Celestial Pictures acquired rights to the studio's legacy, and is releasing on DVD 760 out of the nearly 1,000 films, with restored digitized picture and sound quality.

Many landmarks in Hong Kong and Singapore are named especially after Sir Run Run Shaw for his generous contributions to charity and medicare. The Shaw Organisation remains a major distribution network in Singapore today.

Shatter

Shatter is an assassination and action film staring Stuart Whitman, Lung Ti, Lily Li, Peter Cushing and Anton Diffring. It was a join venture between Hammer Studios of England and Shaw Brothers Studio of Hong Kong. The film was shot entirely on location in Hong Kong and was first released in 1974 in .

Plot outline


Shatter is a hitman contracted to kill a dictator in a certain African country. He completes his assignment and returns to Hong Kong to collect his fee, only to learn that he himself is the next target of the assassination because he was intended to be used as a scapegoat by his client for a larger political agenda. Being pursued by various government agencies and gangsters, Shatter seeks help from a martial artist Tai Pah and promise to share half of his fee in exchange for Tai Pah’s protection and assistance to recovering his fee.

Shaolin and Wu Tang

Shaolin and Wu Tang is a Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lau Kar Leung. The film is about the rivalry between the martial arts schools and Wudangquan. It is also called Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang in the Master Killer Collection.

The film inspired the name of the rap group Wu-Tang Clan, who used several audio samples from the film in their 1993 debut album Enter the Wu-Tang .

Plot Summary



Master Liu and Master Law are rival masters of Shaolin style kung fu, and Wudang style sword fighting, running schools in the same city. Their top students, Chao Fung-wu , and Hung Jun-kit , are actually close friends, with Jun-kit's sister, Yan-ling, having a crush on Fung-wu. After observing the two students fighting at a brothel, two of the local Qing Lord's soldiers report the power of the styles to him. The Lord determines that the two styles are dangerous, and he must master both.

After poisoning Master Law, and having Yan-ling killed, the Qing Lord is able to learn both Wudang 8 Divine Sword style and Shaolin Chin kang fist from a spy. Fung-wu and Jun-kit both return to their respective temples for training, as a priest and monk, respectively. Jun-kit hopes to revenge his sister's death, and Fung-wu also wants to avenge his master's death.

The Qing Lord has since learned both the styles, but because he did not learn either from a master, his grasp on both styles is not perfect. To overcome this deficiency, he decides to have the Wudang and Shaolin destroy each other, so he may be the only master of both styles. To do this, he stages a martial arts contest between the two temples, hoping to appeal to the traditional rivalry between the Shaolin and the Wudang. Jun-kit , and Fung-wu , are selected by their respective temples as the representatives.

The Qing Lord, in his impatience to see both Wudang and Shaolin destroyed, admits his true motives, and his role in Yan-ling and Master Law's deaths, Tat-chi and Ming-kai must then combine Shaolin Chin kang fist and Wudang 8 Divine Sword style to defeat him.

Shaolin Temple (1976 film)

Shaolin Temple aka Death Chamber is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh. It is one of the Shoalin Temple themed martial arts films and their rebellion against the Qing's, with an all-star cast featuring the second generation of Shaw stars David Chiang, Ti Lung, and Fu Sheng and the introduction of the Venoms. The film is a prequel to 5 Masters Of Death.

Plot



The film opens with the chief Shaolin Monks realizing that time is not on their side and they must train more fighters to fight the Qing’s, the monk Hai Hsien opposes this as he is secretly working for the court. Outside many men are sitting in front of the temple waiting to be accepted in, Fang Shih Yu , Ma Chao-hsing and others, as the temple tests the will of potential students by making them wait outside for hours , eventually the two are accepted in a begin “training”. Fang Shih Yu becomes frustrated immediately as Shaolins method of teaching martial arts is rather obscure, except for Ma Chao-hsing who begins learning the 5 animal styles from day 1.

Elsewhere, escaped Ming soldiers Tsai Te-cheng , Hu Te-ti , Yen Yung-chun , and
Ma Fu Yi arrive close to Shaolin looking for a place to hide from the Qing. Hu Te-ti suggests they go to Shaolin and they are instantly accepted, which frustrates 3 more students trying to get acceptance into the temple, Lin Kwong Yao , Huang Sung Han , and Hu Hui Chien . The 3 are eventually accepted and begin their obscure training. Tsai Te-cheng learns the wing chun style from a strange female monk and Hu Te-ti learns the iron whip. This forces Hai Hsein to secretly go to the court and report to Prince Hoo that Shaolin has been training new fighters, the Qing want to destroy Shaolin. Hai Hsein returns to Shaolin looking to recruit more traitors to set up the temple for a raid. All the accepted students start to become close friends and proficient in their kung fu, except for Fang Shih Yu keeps getting into fights with Ma Fu Yi, who is disgruntled with being at Shaolin. A mysterious figure at night begins teaching Fang Shih Yu the tiger-crane style and he defeats Ma Fu Yi in a friendly spar. This sparks the curiosity of Hai Hsein as he takes Ma Fu Yi under his wing and recruits him as a traitor. Things begin to go sour at the temple due to the treachery of Hai Hsein and Ma Fu Yi and it is eventually attacked by 1000’s of Qing soldiers, an all out battle occurs at Shaolin Temple with only 5 men escaping…

Cast


David Chiang – Hu Te-ti
Ti Lung – Tsai Te-cheng
– Fang Shih Yu
Wang Lung Wei – Ma Fu Yi
Shan Mao – Hai Hsein
Lu Feng – Prince Hoo
Kuo Chui – Lin Kwong-yao
Kuan Chun Chi – Hu Hui Chien
Tony Lui – Ma Chao-sing
Szu Shih – Yen Yung-chun
Lee I Min – Huang Sung Han
Lo Mang – Junior monk
Chiang Sheng – Junior monk

Shaolin Rescuers

Shaolin Rescuers aka “Avenging Warriors of Shaolin” is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh. It is one of the Shoalin Temple themed martial arts films and the adventures of the Shaolin hero Hung Si-Kuan starring the Venoms and Jason Pai Piao

Plot



The film opens with Hung Si-Kuan in a fight with and barely escaping Priest Pai Mei and Kua Ching . Chun Ah-Chin is a local bean curd maker who uses the mantis style and likes to spar with his friend Ying Cha-Po , a waiter who can use anything as a weapon, particularly a bowl and a pair of hashi. Chu Tsai is a light skill student at a local school who is constantly abused by his master and a fellow student , he ends up befriending Ah-Chun and Cha-Po after they save him from getting beat on by his fellow students. Pai Mei, Kua Ching and his fighting men arrive at a temple looking for the injured Hung Si-Kuan and end up in a fight with the monks and Han Chi . Han Chi escapes but the monks are killed, Chi goes looking for Hung Si-Kuan who arrives at the school as Chu Tsai master is an old comrade. The teacher rejects Hung’s offer for help and immediately reports to Pai Mei. Chu, Ah-Chun and Cha-Po spar with each other until the injured Hung Si-Kuan ends up crossing paths with them and they conjure up schemes to get him medicine which sparks the curiosity of Chu’s teacher, Pai Mei and Kua Ching. The now healed Hung Si-Kuan thanks the 3 by teaching them special techniques to perfect their skills, Han Chi meets also meets up with the 4 after helping them in a fight at Ying Cha-Po’s restaurant. Kua Ching finds out about Hung Si-Kuan’s hiding place and raids it but Hung and company escape and hide in an old temple. Kua and his fighters along with Ku Kuan Chung attempt to apprehend Hung Si-Kuan et. al but Kuan Chung is killed after he attempts to jump over the wall to get them forcing Kua to wait till the morning before attacking as its dark and they don’t have the advantage. Morning arrives and Kua Ching attacks, and all out venom style battle occurs until Ku and his fighters are killed and Hung Si-Kuan and Han Chi escape.


Cast


Jason Pai Piao – Hung Si-Kuan
Lu Feng – Kua Ching
Lo Mang – Chun Ah-Chin
Chiang Sheng – Han Chi
Kuo Chui - Ying Cha-Po
Sun Chien - Chu Tsai
Ku Kuan Chung – student
Wang Li – Pai Mei
Yang Hsuing – Brass hammer fighter
Lau Shi Kwong – Tiger kid
Yu Tai Ping – Leopard kid

Shaolin Prince

Shaolin Prince aka Iron Fingers of Death is a Hong Kong - released by Shaw Brothers and directed by Chia Tang. It is one of the themed martial arts films and featured Ti Lung, Derek Yee, and Jason Pai Piao. Also there is a new character by the name of Jason Wong aka Flying Wokk.

Plot


The 9th Prince aka "Iron Fingers" wants the royal seal to become emperor. To get it he must kill the current emperor and his two new born sons elder brother Tao Hung and younger Wong Szu Tai , and their bodyguard Li Chin . Li Chin escapes with the boys and they end up separated, Tao Hung goes under the care of the "3 Holy Fools" at Shaolin temple and Szu Tai under the care of the Prime Minister and are unaware of each others whereabouts or existence. Tao Hung is raised by the 3 Holy Fools who are forbidden to come out of their dwelling due to corruption in Shaolin Temple and learns the secret e-ching style, however he is na?ve and knows nothing of his lineage though he carries the royal seal. He constantly gets into fights with a traitorous monk who secretly works for the 9th Prince but bests him in every scuffle. Wong Szu Tai however being raised by the Prime Minister and Li Chin is well aware of the existence of his brother , the evils of the 9th Prince, and getting revenge. Li Chin tells him the only way to beat the 9th Prince is to go to Shaolin and get the e-ching manual. The 9th Prince hears of the existence of Wong Szu Tai in visits the Prime Minister. He attempts to test if Wong knows kung fu but Wong holds back as he realizes he can’t beat the 9th Prince.

After an arranged exorcism by Lam Fai Wong goes haywire and leaves Tao Hung to fend for himself , a passing Wong Szu Tai rescues and befriends Tao Hung. Tao Hung offers to escort him to Shaolin which angers Lam Fai Wong as they arrive. Szu Tai fights his way into Shaolin to get the e-ching manual but is defeated and held captive by the renegade monks. Lam Fai Wong goes to apprehend Tao Hung but he is defeated again by Tao Hung and the 3 Fools. Tao Hung goes to rescue Wong Szu Tai and finds out about the corrupt Shaolin monks and offers to help Szu Thai get the e-ching manual. They are almost successful but lose to the "18 Buddhas" until rescued by the 3 Holy Fools whose house arrest just expired. Tao Hung goes with Wong Szu Tai to kill a local prince but after meeting with him, Tao Hung realizes the prince is a good man. This cause a rift between he and Wong Szu Tai after Wong tries to kill the Prince and Tao is forced to used the e-ching style on Wong. An angered Wong departs until intercepted by "Fire Man" and "Water Man", however Tao Hung arrives, helps him defeat them and they make amends. They return to the Prime Ministers house but everyone is dead but the Prime Minister and Li Chin, Tao Hung kneels to help the Prime Minister and accidentally drops the royal seal which sparks the curiosity of Li Chin thus prompting him to say "we found him!". Tao Hung and Wong Szu Tai realize they are brothers and go to Shaolin to defeat an awaiting 9th Prince. After the Prince is killed, Wong Szu Tai returns to the throne and Tao Hung becomes and elder monk at Shaolin with the 3 Holy Fools.

Cast


Jason Pai Piao – 9th Prince
Ti Lung – Tao Hung
Derek Yee – Wong Szu Tai
Alan Chan
Yue Tau Wan
Yuen Bun – 3 Holy Fools
Lam Fai Wong – Renegade monk

Friday, October 17, 2008

Shaolin Mantis

Shaolin Mantis is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Lau Kar-leung. Starring David Chiang and Lui Chia-hui. Shaolin Mantis tells the story of a a man who learns martial arts by observing a praying mantis.

Shaolin Handlock

Shaolin Handlock is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chu Yuan, starring Lo Lieh and David Chiang.

Plot



Li Bai is the creator and master of the 'Shi Zi So Hou Shou' who passes down the skill to his children 'Ching Yang' and Meng Ping . However, an old friend 'Fang Yun Biao' visits Li Bai and manages to kill him by attacking the skills only weakness and unknowingly, also kills his two other students to whom he believed were Li Bai's children. After his children find out of the murder, Ching Yang sets out to avenge his father. Travelling to Thailand to kill Fang and before that, gives him information of who hired him - the rich benevolent 'Lin Hao' . In the process, he attracts Lin Hao into accepting him as a bodyguard by stealing and retaining in custody gold that belonged to Lin Hao. While suspected by other guards, Lin Hao remains in a difficult situation to find out if Li Bai's siblings are still alive and what Ching Yang is really there for...

Cast


Lo Lieh – Ling Hao
David Chiang – Li Cheng Ying
Chan Mei Wan – Kuh Shih
Dick Wei
Kara Hui

Shaolin Daredevils

Shaolin Daredevils aka Magnificent Acrobats aka. The Kings of Kung Fu is a 1979 Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh, starring .

It is known internationally by its original English title The Daredevils. It has no connection whatsover to the Shaolin Temple, Shaolin martial arts and there is no mention of "Shaolin" throughout the entire film. It is only known as Shaolin Daredevils in the USA.

Plot



The Venoms , a group of broke street performers take on a corrupt general who has assumed power by assassinating his superior. The son of the murdered general , now homeless, turns to his friends to help him get revenge. The smartest of the bunch initially thinks it’s a bad idea as the army, led by Wang Li has guns and rifles. Kuo eventually comes up with a successful plan to steal some guns to get revenge but guards arrive before they can get bullets . After Lo Mang decides to go solo, he is killed by Wang Li’s kung fu. Kuo, and the other five venoms decide to use brains instead of brawn to take revenge for Lo Mang. Lu Feng poses as a visiting government official with the other venoms as his assistants, and as a peace token offers Wang Li the stolen guns . Wang Li thinks Lu Feng will promote him so he agrees to a fake plan by Lu Feng to go get more guns from a warehouse and send his soldiers to a non-existent battle. Wang Li and his three of his best fighters go to the warehouse but are ambushed by the Venoms as they get revenge for Lo Mang and his father.

Cast


Philip Kwok - Liang Kuo-jen
Kuo Chui - Leung
Lu Feng - Fu Chuan-yi
Lo Mang – Yang Tau-Ying
Chiang Sheng – Chin Feng
Wang Li - General Han Pei-tsang
– Mr. Hsin
Yu Tai Ping
Chan Shen - Chief of Staff
Cho Tat-wah - Leung's Father
Wang Han Chen
Yang Hsiung

Rebel Intruders

Rebel Intruders aka “Killer Army” is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh.

Plot



China is ripped apart by a civil war, and thousands of displaced refugees swarm into towns not yet ravaged by war. Three such refugees arrive in one town. They join forces with local rebel leaders to escape to the south before getting into trouble with Lu Feng who is out to exterminate all rebels.

Cast


Kuo Chui
Lu Feng
Chiang Sheng
Yang Hsuing
Sun Chien
Wang Li
Lo Mang