Shaw Brothers Studio left an indelible mark on the landscape of Kung Fu cinema. Founded in 1925 by the Shaw brothers, Runje, Runme, and Run Run, the studio became synonymous with high-quality martial arts films during the 1960s and 1970s. Their meticulous attention to choreography, intricate fight scenes, and dramatic storytelling revolutionized the genre, setting new standards for action-packed entertainment. Through iconic films like “The One-Armed Swordsman” and “Come Drink with Me,” Shaw Brothers Studio not only popularized Kung Fu cinema globally but also shaped the artistic direction of future martial arts films. Their legacy continues to inspire filmmakers and enthusiasts, underscoring their enduring impact on the world of cinema. In this list, we present 50 of the most iconic titles the company produced, in alphabetical order.
1. Bloody Parrot (1981) by Hua Shan
One of the better elements found here is the fact that the film manages to work in plenty of fun from its two main components.
1. Bloody Parrot (1981) by Hua Shan
One of the better elements found here is the fact that the film manages to work in plenty of fun from its two main components.
- 4/7/2024
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Merian C. Cooper and Ernest Schoedsack's classic monster movie "King Kong" was released in 1933, so the monster turns 91 years old in 2024. That means he's definitely too old for this sh*t.
In Adam Wingard's 2021 film "Godzilla vs. Kong," the 70-year-old nuclear gorilla-whale and the 91-year-old mega-ape, both drawn by an ineffable, in-born monstrous instinct, had to fight. Over the course of many decades, Godzilla movies have taught us that if two kaiju ever appear in the same film, they instantly hate one another and have to start wailing on each other. It won't be until a tertiary monster appears — usually an "evil" one — that the primary and secondary monsters put aside their differences and team up to hang a beatin' on the new guy. This is what happened in "Godzilla vs. Kong." At first, the title monsters were enemies. When Mechagodzilla appeared, however, Kong and Godzilla pounded the interloper into the dirt.
In Adam Wingard's 2021 film "Godzilla vs. Kong," the 70-year-old nuclear gorilla-whale and the 91-year-old mega-ape, both drawn by an ineffable, in-born monstrous instinct, had to fight. Over the course of many decades, Godzilla movies have taught us that if two kaiju ever appear in the same film, they instantly hate one another and have to start wailing on each other. It won't be until a tertiary monster appears — usually an "evil" one — that the primary and secondary monsters put aside their differences and team up to hang a beatin' on the new guy. This is what happened in "Godzilla vs. Kong." At first, the title monsters were enemies. When Mechagodzilla appeared, however, Kong and Godzilla pounded the interloper into the dirt.
- 2/12/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Mubi has unveiled their December 2023 lineup, featuring notable new releases such as Rodrigo Moreno’s The Delinquents, Argentina’s Oscar this year; the Lily Gladstone-led drama The Unknown Country; Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beasts; and the José González documentary A Tiger in Paradise. Additional highlights include films from Olivier Assayas, Takeshi Kitano, Jean-Luc Godard, Kelly Reichardt, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, the Shaw Browers, Lars von Trier, Arnaud Desplechin, and more.
Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.
December 1st
The House that Jack Built, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier
Breaking the Waves, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier
The Element of Crime, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier
Europa, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier
Epidemic, directed...
Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.
December 1st
The House that Jack Built, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier
Breaking the Waves, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier
The Element of Crime, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier
Europa, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier
Epidemic, directed...
- 11/29/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
There are Kung Fu movies. Then there are Hong Kong Kung Fu movies. Starting in the ’70s, Hong Kong filmmakers dominated the martial arts genre with a unique brand of Hong Kong ballistic action, white-knuckle stunts, and exquisite fight choreography. Towering Hong Kong studios like Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest were the prolific grindhouses that brought us Bruce Lee and so many other action movie stars at an astonishingly bounteous rate.
If you’re already familiar with Bruce Lee’s work in Hong Kong cinema and aren’t sure where to go next on your martial arts movie journey, or which stars’ filmographies you should be checking out, here are five pivotal Hong Kong martial arts films worthy of your attention. Each of these movie either launched or are part of venerated Hong Kong franchises, so you’ll have plenty to watch once you dive in!
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin a.
If you’re already familiar with Bruce Lee’s work in Hong Kong cinema and aren’t sure where to go next on your martial arts movie journey, or which stars’ filmographies you should be checking out, here are five pivotal Hong Kong martial arts films worthy of your attention. Each of these movie either launched or are part of venerated Hong Kong franchises, so you’ll have plenty to watch once you dive in!
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin a.
- 8/9/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Hopping for a better life, Tan Tung, a country pumpkin who is also an expert in martial arts, swims from mainland China to Hong Kong to live with his grandpa. He soon learns that finding a job there is a struggle since he doesn’t own a local ID card. Being rather resourceful, he sets up a makeshift illegal stall selling freshly hand squeezed orange juice on the streets. Eventually, he gets involved with a local gang boss Tsui Hao (Wang Lung Wei) who later sets him up by planting heroin on him. With the police also after him he has no choice but to flee Hong Kong. A relative helps him relocate to San Francisco’s Chinatown where he finds a job in a restaurant. Being naïve and longing to get rich quickly he ends up working for a local gang and before long he is indeed living the...
- 2/24/2022
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
Coming from 88 Films USA Label in partnership with Mvd on February 8th is another cult classic from the Shaw Brothers Studio. The Flag of Iron is a quintessential Hong Kong tale of rivals, betrayal and family feuds. When the master of the Iron Flag clan is killed by a mysterious assassin known only as Spearman, it sets off an explosive chain of events which pits two brothers against each other in an action-packed adventure of fist flying fury.
Directed by Chan Cheh, this kinetic and highly influential Kung Fu picture, mixes traditional storytelling with more modern presentation techniques, layering acrobatics, the use exotic weaponry and quick as lightening fight sequences to produce a sure fire entertaining hit, which no serious collector of martial arts movies can be without.Included in the package are a Limited Edition Slipcase with brand-new artwork from R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien, Double-Sided A3 Foldout Poster,...
Directed by Chan Cheh, this kinetic and highly influential Kung Fu picture, mixes traditional storytelling with more modern presentation techniques, layering acrobatics, the use exotic weaponry and quick as lightening fight sequences to produce a sure fire entertaining hit, which no serious collector of martial arts movies can be without.Included in the package are a Limited Edition Slipcase with brand-new artwork from R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien, Double-Sided A3 Foldout Poster,...
- 1/18/2022
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
During the 1970s the Shaw Brothers Studio in Hong Kong produced some of the most iconic action films ever made, revolutionising the genre through the backbreaking work of top-shelf talent. The new Limited Edition Blu-ray box set from Arrow Video presents twelve jewels from the Shaw crown, all released within the 1970s – here’s a look at all the titles included in the lavish release, featuring kickass kung fu killers, crazy kaiju knockoffs and culture clash comedies.
King Boxer (1973)
This is the legendary actioner that set the kung-fu film craze on fire in the UK. With a strong cast led by Shaw Brothers stalwart Lo Lieh, this iconographic martial arts movie has fantastic fight choreography, and beautiful sets which look absolutely stunning on Blu-ray.
Lo plays a kung-fu student eager to please his master and defend the honour of the martial arts school. There are a plethora of wonderful fight sequences,...
King Boxer (1973)
This is the legendary actioner that set the kung-fu film craze on fire in the UK. With a strong cast led by Shaw Brothers stalwart Lo Lieh, this iconographic martial arts movie has fantastic fight choreography, and beautiful sets which look absolutely stunning on Blu-ray.
Lo plays a kung-fu student eager to please his master and defend the honour of the martial arts school. There are a plethora of wonderful fight sequences,...
- 12/15/2021
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Maximiliano Contenti's giallo love letter The Last Matinee leads Arrow's December SVOD lineup and we have an exclusive clip just for Daily Dead readers! Debuting on Arrow on December 1st to subscribers in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland, The Last Matinee will kick off Arrow's December releases, which is packed with an eclectic mix of titles that will please any genre fan:
December 1 will see the arrival of The Last Matinee (UK/US/CA/Ire), Santa Sangre (US/CA), All the Colors of the Giallo (UK/US/CA/Ire), King Boxer (UK/US/CA/Ire), The Boxer from Shantung (UK/US/CA/Ire), Five Shaolin Masters (UK/US/CA/Ire), Shaolin Temple (UK/US/CA/Ire), Mighty Peking Man (UK/US/CA/Ire), Challenge of the Masters (UK/US/CA/Ire), Executioners of Shaolin (UK/US/CA/Ire), Dirty Ho (UK/US/CA/Ire), Heroes of...
December 1 will see the arrival of The Last Matinee (UK/US/CA/Ire), Santa Sangre (US/CA), All the Colors of the Giallo (UK/US/CA/Ire), King Boxer (UK/US/CA/Ire), The Boxer from Shantung (UK/US/CA/Ire), Five Shaolin Masters (UK/US/CA/Ire), Shaolin Temple (UK/US/CA/Ire), Mighty Peking Man (UK/US/CA/Ire), Challenge of the Masters (UK/US/CA/Ire), Executioners of Shaolin (UK/US/CA/Ire), Dirty Ho (UK/US/CA/Ire), Heroes of...
- 11/29/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
“Hey listen! Some great news! Chi-Hao’s beat up Chen Lang down at Chen Sun House.”
Shawscope Volume One , a 10-Disc Mega-Box Set with Twelve Movies featuring Hong Kong’s biggest stars will be available December 28th from Arrow Video
After an undisputed reign at the peak of Hong Kong’s film industry in the 1960s, Shaw Brothers (the studio founded by real-life brothers Run Run and Runme Shaw) found their dominance challenged by up-and-coming rivals in the early 1970s. They swiftly responded by producing hundreds of the most iconic action films ever made, revolutionizing the genre through the hard work of top-shelf talent on both sides of the camera as well as unbeatable widescreen production value, much of it shot at ‘Movietown’, their huge, privately-owned studio on the outskirts of Hong Kong.
This inaugural collection by Arrow Video presents twelve jewels from the Shaw crown, all released within the 1970s,...
Shawscope Volume One , a 10-Disc Mega-Box Set with Twelve Movies featuring Hong Kong’s biggest stars will be available December 28th from Arrow Video
After an undisputed reign at the peak of Hong Kong’s film industry in the 1960s, Shaw Brothers (the studio founded by real-life brothers Run Run and Runme Shaw) found their dominance challenged by up-and-coming rivals in the early 1970s. They swiftly responded by producing hundreds of the most iconic action films ever made, revolutionizing the genre through the hard work of top-shelf talent on both sides of the camera as well as unbeatable widescreen production value, much of it shot at ‘Movietown’, their huge, privately-owned studio on the outskirts of Hong Kong.
This inaugural collection by Arrow Video presents twelve jewels from the Shaw crown, all released within the 1970s,...
- 11/23/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
After finishing “Challenge of the Masters” and “Executioners from Shaolin”, Chen Kuan Tai left Shaw Brothers, but upon his return in 1978, he starred in “Crippled Avengers”. Better known as “The Return of the Five Venoms” in America, this action packed revenge tale also features four actors from “The Five Deadly Venoms”. However, the Chinese title which loosely translates as “Incomplete” is probably more appropriate.
Du Tien Tao (Chen Kuan Tai) is a master of the Black Tiger style of kung fu. While he’s away; his enemies, the Tian Nan Three Tigers, storm his mansion and because they don’t believe in killing women and children, they chop off his wife’s legs but she dies anyway. Seconds after they cut off his son’s arms, Master Du returns and kills all three intruders with his deadly three Black Tiger styles, one for each enemy nonetheless. However,...
Du Tien Tao (Chen Kuan Tai) is a master of the Black Tiger style of kung fu. While he’s away; his enemies, the Tian Nan Three Tigers, storm his mansion and because they don’t believe in killing women and children, they chop off his wife’s legs but she dies anyway. Seconds after they cut off his son’s arms, Master Du returns and kills all three intruders with his deadly three Black Tiger styles, one for each enemy nonetheless. However,...
- 5/19/2021
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
Shaw Brothers is a company that needs little introduction to fans of kung fu, responsible as it was for genre-defining films such as “Five Deadly Venoms” (1978), “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” (1978) and the subject of this review, “Eight Diagram Pole Fighter” (1984). The movie was produced by Mona Fong and the Shaw Brothers. It was directed by Lau Kar-leung, who was also the martial arts choreographer for the film and co-wrote the script with Kuang Ni.
Kar-leung was a long-time collaborator of Gordon Liu, who starred in several notable titles which he directed, including “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”, “Legendary Weapons of China” (1982) and “Eight Diagram Pole Fighter”. Liu’s co-star in the movie, Alexander Fu Sheng, another prolific Shaw Brothers actor, was sadly killed in a road-accident during filming, which meant his role was partly re-written and consequently Liu is the main protagonist. The film was nominated...
Kar-leung was a long-time collaborator of Gordon Liu, who starred in several notable titles which he directed, including “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”, “Legendary Weapons of China” (1982) and “Eight Diagram Pole Fighter”. Liu’s co-star in the movie, Alexander Fu Sheng, another prolific Shaw Brothers actor, was sadly killed in a road-accident during filming, which meant his role was partly re-written and consequently Liu is the main protagonist. The film was nominated...
- 3/8/2021
- by Adam Webb
- AsianMoviePulse
Robert P. O’Brien is an American self-taught artist/illustrator that works in various mediums, creates shirt designs for 36styles.com and helps run the Kung Fu Fandom Forum hosted by that site. Nicknamed “Kung Fu Bob” because of his love of that cinema genre, in recent years he has created a lot of new, original artwork for DVD and Blu-ray film releases, in addition to book and CD cover art. In 2020 he recorded his first audio commentary for 88 Films’ release of Jet Li’s The Master and also joined Hong Kong cinema expert Brandon Bentley for a commentary on 88’s Blu-ray for New Fist Of Fury.
We speak with him about how he begun martial arts, drawing how he combines the two, the procedure he follows every time he deals with an artwork, his work with 88 Films, Midori Implus and Arrow, and many other topics.
How did...
We speak with him about how he begun martial arts, drawing how he combines the two, the procedure he follows every time he deals with an artwork, his work with 88 Films, Midori Implus and Arrow, and many other topics.
How did...
- 1/28/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
RZA was a kung fu film buff long before he became the hip-hop mastermind behind the Wu-Tang Clan. The fistic fury and sage wisdom of Shaw Brothers classics like “The 36 Chambers of Shaolin” and “Death Duel” held the blueprint to his career as a rapper, director and hip-hop mogul. In May, with the help of Mustafa Shaikh, co-founder of multi-faceted company 36 Chambers, RZA launched movie streaming platform 36 Cinema as a shrine to all the karate movie mastery he holds dear.
The pair designed the platform for fans of kung fu flicks to gather virtually amid the pandemic with a mix of classic and obscure films. They took this a step further by pairing rare 35mm versions of movies like “Five Deadly Venoms” with expert commentary from RZA and special guests along with real-time chat capability for viewers. Five months later, 36 Cinema is now attracting thousands of users around the country...
The pair designed the platform for fans of kung fu flicks to gather virtually amid the pandemic with a mix of classic and obscure films. They took this a step further by pairing rare 35mm versions of movies like “Five Deadly Venoms” with expert commentary from RZA and special guests along with real-time chat capability for viewers. Five months later, 36 Cinema is now attracting thousands of users around the country...
- 9/24/2020
- by Nate Jackson
- The Wrap
One of the most venerated titles in their filmography, the Shaw Brothers studios hit a pop-culture high with this engaging kung-fu masterpiece. Featuring director Chang Cheh at the top of his game and introducing several soon-to-be stars from their lauded cache of talent, ‘Five Deadly Venoms’ emerged as one of the most important works in the genre even though it’s a case of the later impact superseding the final product.
About to finally die, the master instructs his final student Yang Tieh to check on the activities of his former pupils, each of whom knows a unique and specific style of kung-fu. Finding each student, the Scorpion-style master Kao Chin, Lizard-style master Meng Tien-hsia, Toad-style master Liang Shen, the Snake-style master Chi Tung and the Centipede-style master Chang Hsiao-tien each living in complete isolation from everyone else, he goes about trying to follow his mission when...
About to finally die, the master instructs his final student Yang Tieh to check on the activities of his former pupils, each of whom knows a unique and specific style of kung-fu. Finding each student, the Scorpion-style master Kao Chin, Lizard-style master Meng Tien-hsia, Toad-style master Liang Shen, the Snake-style master Chi Tung and the Centipede-style master Chang Hsiao-tien each living in complete isolation from everyone else, he goes about trying to follow his mission when...
- 6/13/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Chang Cheh’s Golden Swallow (aka The Girl With The Thunderbolt Kick- (1968) screens in 35mm at
Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood) Thursday May 23rd, The screening begin at 7:30. Facebook invite can be found Here
Initially released in America under the (more fun) title The Girl with the Thunderbolt Kick, Cheng Pei-Pei here reprises her role as Golden Swallow for director Chang Cheh (Five Deadly Venoms) after first appearing as such in Come Drink with Me (also playing the Wfs in May). Working with cinematographer Lau Kar-leung (36th Chamber of Shaolin), Chang cited Golden Swallow as his personal favorite of his films in his memoirs.
Screening from a 35mm print courtesy of the American Genre Film Archive.
Admission is:
$7 for the general public
$6 for seniors, Webster alumni and students from other schools
$5 for Webster University staff and faculty
Free for Webster students with proper I.D.
The post...
Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood) Thursday May 23rd, The screening begin at 7:30. Facebook invite can be found Here
Initially released in America under the (more fun) title The Girl with the Thunderbolt Kick, Cheng Pei-Pei here reprises her role as Golden Swallow for director Chang Cheh (Five Deadly Venoms) after first appearing as such in Come Drink with Me (also playing the Wfs in May). Working with cinematographer Lau Kar-leung (36th Chamber of Shaolin), Chang cited Golden Swallow as his personal favorite of his films in his memoirs.
Screening from a 35mm print courtesy of the American Genre Film Archive.
Admission is:
$7 for the general public
$6 for seniors, Webster alumni and students from other schools
$5 for Webster University staff and faculty
Free for Webster students with proper I.D.
The post...
- 5/28/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Eureka Entertainment to release Last Hurrah For Chivalry & Hand Of Death: Two Films By John Woo, an essential pair of early films from one of the greatest action directors of all time, presented for the first time ever on Blu-ray in the UK in a 2-disc set taken from brand new 2K restorations. Released as part of the Eureka Classics range from 24 June 2019, the first 2000 copies will feature a Limited Edition Collector’s booklet.
A decade before he would change action filmmaking forever with “A Better Tomorrow” and “The Killer”, director John Woo was directing martial-arts films for the two biggest studios in Hong Kong, Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. Under the mentorship of the great Chang Cheh (“Five Deadly Venoms”), Woo began to develop his signature style, films that featured slick, stylish and often violent choreography, with dramatic plots that revolved around brotherhood, honour and redemption.
A decade before he would change action filmmaking forever with “A Better Tomorrow” and “The Killer”, director John Woo was directing martial-arts films for the two biggest studios in Hong Kong, Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. Under the mentorship of the great Chang Cheh (“Five Deadly Venoms”), Woo began to develop his signature style, films that featured slick, stylish and often violent choreography, with dramatic plots that revolved around brotherhood, honour and redemption.
- 5/15/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Synopsis
A decade before he would change action filmmaking forever with A Better Tomorrow and The Killer, director John Woo was directing martial-arts films for the two biggest studios in Hong Kong, Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. Under the mentorship of the great Chang Cheh (Five Deadly Venoms), Woo began to develop his signature style, films that featured slick, stylish and often violent choreography, with dramatic plots that revolved around brotherhood, honour and redemption. Presented here are two of his early works from this period.
In Last Hurrah for Chivalry, two killers (Wei Pai and Damian Lau) agree to help a man exact revenge upon a kung fu master. Woo’s first cinematic masterpiece, Last Hurrah for Chivalry is a dark and violent revenge film, featuring lightning fast swordplay and stylish cinematography.
In Hand of Death, a young Shaolin monk must train to defeat a dangerous Manchu...
A decade before he would change action filmmaking forever with A Better Tomorrow and The Killer, director John Woo was directing martial-arts films for the two biggest studios in Hong Kong, Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. Under the mentorship of the great Chang Cheh (Five Deadly Venoms), Woo began to develop his signature style, films that featured slick, stylish and often violent choreography, with dramatic plots that revolved around brotherhood, honour and redemption. Presented here are two of his early works from this period.
In Last Hurrah for Chivalry, two killers (Wei Pai and Damian Lau) agree to help a man exact revenge upon a kung fu master. Woo’s first cinematic masterpiece, Last Hurrah for Chivalry is a dark and violent revenge film, featuring lightning fast swordplay and stylish cinematography.
In Hand of Death, a young Shaolin monk must train to defeat a dangerous Manchu...
- 4/12/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
GammaRay and Celestial pictures today announced they will stream a Shaw Brothers movie marathon on Twitch from February 4 to February 8, 2019. The marathon will include 44 full-length features from the Shaw Brothers’ extensive library of kung fu titles, including iconic films such as King Boxer, Crippled Avengers, and Five Deadly Venoms. This viewing event will be streamed globally and exclusively on Twitch, the leading service and community for multiplayer entertainment, and marks the first time Twitch has featured kung fu films.
After the marathon airs from February 4-8, there will be double feature movie nights on Thursdays and Fridays at 5:00 pm Pt for four weeks. The marathon is also the first time GammaRay has hosted full-length features on Twitch.
“We’re excited to introduce cult classic movies from the 70s and 80s to our fans on Twitch for the first time,” said GammaRay COO Do Duong. “Kung fu has influenced filmmaking,...
After the marathon airs from February 4-8, there will be double feature movie nights on Thursdays and Fridays at 5:00 pm Pt for four weeks. The marathon is also the first time GammaRay has hosted full-length features on Twitch.
“We’re excited to introduce cult classic movies from the 70s and 80s to our fans on Twitch for the first time,” said GammaRay COO Do Duong. “Kung fu has influenced filmmaking,...
- 1/25/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
DragonFest is a two-day martial arts expo held every August at the Pickwick Convention Center in Burbank, California. I was fortunate to attend both days of the expo and I met many fabulous vendors and some big name martial arts stars. The one I traveled 3,000 miles to see was my favorite Shaw Brothers Living Legend and Icon, Master Lu Feng!
On Sunday, August 26, 2018, I had the pleasure of watching Master Lu Feng give a seminar on making films in the 1970s and showing his fans his magnificent skills with weaponry. He also answered questions and gave his fans a few pointers before he led them in a skill set.
After this wonderful display of skill, Master Lu Feng was generous with his time and sat with me to do a quick interview. Thank you to Christopher Sin for translating!
Lu Feng, me, Lily Sun(Lu’s wife)
Dionne Hawkins: What...
On Sunday, August 26, 2018, I had the pleasure of watching Master Lu Feng give a seminar on making films in the 1970s and showing his fans his magnificent skills with weaponry. He also answered questions and gave his fans a few pointers before he led them in a skill set.
After this wonderful display of skill, Master Lu Feng was generous with his time and sat with me to do a quick interview. Thank you to Christopher Sin for translating!
Lu Feng, me, Lily Sun(Lu’s wife)
Dionne Hawkins: What...
- 9/10/2018
- by Dionne Hawkins
- AsianMoviePulse
By the early ‘70s, Hammer films was wheezing and sputtering just to stay alive. Their attempts to stay current with the changing tides of horror were often misbegotten and misdirected (Dracula A.D. 1972, anyone?) as the plots continued to recycle shopworn ideas when audiences were ready for more modern concerns, such as hulking maniacs with chainsaws. In essence, time was passing Hammer by, and they were willing to try anything. Hence we arrive at The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974), a delightful elixir of Dracula and…Kung Fu. This was the last gasp for Hammer’s beloved franchise, and it’s a very worthy burial.
Aka 7 Brothers Versus Dracula, 7 Brothers and a Sister Meet Dracula, 7 Golden Vampires, and Enter The Dracula (no, but who screwed up that marketing?), Legend was a co-production between Hammer and Shaw Brothers, the immortal Chinese martial arts film studio that would crank out 10, sometimes 15 films a year of kinetic,...
Aka 7 Brothers Versus Dracula, 7 Brothers and a Sister Meet Dracula, 7 Golden Vampires, and Enter The Dracula (no, but who screwed up that marketing?), Legend was a co-production between Hammer and Shaw Brothers, the immortal Chinese martial arts film studio that would crank out 10, sometimes 15 films a year of kinetic,...
- 6/10/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Craig Lines Dec 14, 2016
The legendary Venom Mob never became kung fu cinema stars as individuals. But as a group? Let us tell their story...
A film critic, an accountant, an orphan and three opera students take on the martial arts world. It sounds like a plot from a crazy kung fu film in itself but, incredibly, forms the basis for the real life story of the legendary Venom Mob...
In 1970s Hong Kong, the film industry was driven by star power. Most of the big names were at some point contracted to Shaw Brothers and actors like Alexander Fu Sheng, Jimmy Wang Yu, Gordon Liu or Ti Lung could always guarantee a crowd. As daring as certain elements of classic Hong Kong cinema still feel, the studios were rarely willing to take risks when it came to the stars, believing that audiences just wouldn't show up if they didn't recognise the name on the marquee.
The legendary Venom Mob never became kung fu cinema stars as individuals. But as a group? Let us tell their story...
A film critic, an accountant, an orphan and three opera students take on the martial arts world. It sounds like a plot from a crazy kung fu film in itself but, incredibly, forms the basis for the real life story of the legendary Venom Mob...
In 1970s Hong Kong, the film industry was driven by star power. Most of the big names were at some point contracted to Shaw Brothers and actors like Alexander Fu Sheng, Jimmy Wang Yu, Gordon Liu or Ti Lung could always guarantee a crowd. As daring as certain elements of classic Hong Kong cinema still feel, the studios were rarely willing to take risks when it came to the stars, believing that audiences just wouldn't show up if they didn't recognise the name on the marquee.
- 12/10/2016
- Den of Geek
Before Hugh Jackman's Wolverine takes one last "hurrah" on the big screen next year, check out his collection of Funko Pop! figures, Dorbz, and keychains. Also: cover art and details on the new graphic novel edition of Officer Downe, a look at Jeaux Janovsky's Inktober cartoons, details on the Stern Pinball digital arcade, info on El Rey's "Way of the Turkey" marathon, and two clips from Maker Studios' revamped Polaris YouTube Channel.
Images and Release Details for Funko's Logan Collectibles: From Collector Corps via Funko: “He’s the best at what he does, but what he does isn’t very nice!
The adamantium-filled, self-healing superhero Wolverine is getting an all-new Funko treatment!
Collect Wolverine and his retractable claws as Pop!s, Dorbz, and a Pocket Pop! Keychain!
Be sure to look for exclusive figures! Collect the Logan tank top.
Pop! and Dorbz only at Hot Topic, and Weapon X Wolverine Pop!
Images and Release Details for Funko's Logan Collectibles: From Collector Corps via Funko: “He’s the best at what he does, but what he does isn’t very nice!
The adamantium-filled, self-healing superhero Wolverine is getting an all-new Funko treatment!
Collect Wolverine and his retractable claws as Pop!s, Dorbz, and a Pocket Pop! Keychain!
Be sure to look for exclusive figures! Collect the Logan tank top.
Pop! and Dorbz only at Hot Topic, and Weapon X Wolverine Pop!
- 11/16/2016
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
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The Five Deadly Venoms is a martial arts classic, that comes with one of the best opening sequences we've seen...
You don't need to do much more than whisper "I had five pupils..." to send shivers up the spines of most martial arts fans. It's a line that kicks off one of the most dazzling opening sequences in the history of cinema, as the dying Master of the Poison Clan explains to his sixth and final pupil that there were five more before him, each trained in a unique fighting style.
The Five Deadly Venoms wear masks that hide their identity and represent their particular style. There's the Centipede, the Snake, the Scorpion, the Lizard and the Toad, and the ways in which they fight draw from each animal's characteristics. As the Master explains, Centipede and Snake know one another's identity, as do Lizard and Toad. None of the others know Scorpion.
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The Five Deadly Venoms is a martial arts classic, that comes with one of the best opening sequences we've seen...
You don't need to do much more than whisper "I had five pupils..." to send shivers up the spines of most martial arts fans. It's a line that kicks off one of the most dazzling opening sequences in the history of cinema, as the dying Master of the Poison Clan explains to his sixth and final pupil that there were five more before him, each trained in a unique fighting style.
The Five Deadly Venoms wear masks that hide their identity and represent their particular style. There's the Centipede, the Snake, the Scorpion, the Lizard and the Toad, and the ways in which they fight draw from each animal's characteristics. As the Master explains, Centipede and Snake know one another's identity, as do Lizard and Toad. None of the others know Scorpion.
- 2/5/2016
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
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The Five Deadly Venoms is a martial arts classic, that comes with one of the best opening sequences we've seen...
You don't need to do much more than whisper "I had five pupils..." to send shivers up the spines of most martial arts fans. It's a line that kicks off one of the most dazzling opening sequences in the history of cinema, as the dying Master of the Poison Clan explains to his sixth and final pupil that there were five more before him, each trained in a unique fighting style.
The Five Deadly Venoms wear masks that hide their identity and represent their particular style. There's the Centipede, the Snake, the Scorpion, the Lizard and the Toad, and the ways in which they fight draw from each animal's characteristics. As the Master explains, Centipede and Snake know one another's identity, as do Lizard and Toad. None of the others know Scorpion.
google+
The Five Deadly Venoms is a martial arts classic, that comes with one of the best opening sequences we've seen...
You don't need to do much more than whisper "I had five pupils..." to send shivers up the spines of most martial arts fans. It's a line that kicks off one of the most dazzling opening sequences in the history of cinema, as the dying Master of the Poison Clan explains to his sixth and final pupil that there were five more before him, each trained in a unique fighting style.
The Five Deadly Venoms wear masks that hide their identity and represent their particular style. There's the Centipede, the Snake, the Scorpion, the Lizard and the Toad, and the ways in which they fight draw from each animal's characteristics. As the Master explains, Centipede and Snake know one another's identity, as do Lizard and Toad. None of the others know Scorpion.
- 2/5/2016
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
The date to set the record button is January 15th, 2016 as Film 4 bring us some classic movies from Shaw Brothers, from the world of Kung Fu and Wu Xia.
It starts with a Classic
The season will kick off with a Gordon Liu classic “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”, then will continue for a further 3 Friday nights which will include Shaw Brothers classics such as King Boxer (Lo Lieh), Come Drink With Me (Cheng Pei-Pei) and The One Armed Swordsman (Wang Yu).
I have to say, they have chosen some great movies and anyone who is a fan of Kung Fu and Wu Xia cinema need to watch these and record then watch again. The second season (Which stars in April) will include The Five Deadly Venoms and The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, so far.
Also every movie will play with original language and English Subtitles.
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin...
It starts with a Classic
The season will kick off with a Gordon Liu classic “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”, then will continue for a further 3 Friday nights which will include Shaw Brothers classics such as King Boxer (Lo Lieh), Come Drink With Me (Cheng Pei-Pei) and The One Armed Swordsman (Wang Yu).
I have to say, they have chosen some great movies and anyone who is a fan of Kung Fu and Wu Xia cinema need to watch these and record then watch again. The second season (Which stars in April) will include The Five Deadly Venoms and The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, so far.
Also every movie will play with original language and English Subtitles.
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin...
- 1/8/2016
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
In today's roundup on events and screenings from coast to coast: Sundance's Next Fest in Los Angeles, Tadanobu Asano in San Francisco, samurai movies in Austin and, in New York, James Szalapski's Heartworn Highways, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's The Red Shoes, Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris, Chang Cheh's Five Deadly Venoms and Bruce Weber's Let’s Get Lost. Back in San Francisco: Robert Montgomery's Ride the Pink Horse, Joseph H. Lewis's So Dark the Night, Seymour Friedman's Chinatown at Midnight, Leigh Jason's Dangerous Blondes and William Castle's Mysterious Intruder. » - David Hudson...
- 8/6/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
In today's roundup on events and screenings from coast to coast: Sundance's Next Fest in Los Angeles, Tadanobu Asano in San Francisco, samurai movies in Austin and, in New York, James Szalapski's Heartworn Highways, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's The Red Shoes, Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris, Chang Cheh's Five Deadly Venoms and Bruce Weber's Let’s Get Lost. Back in San Francisco: Robert Montgomery's Ride the Pink Horse, Joseph H. Lewis's So Dark the Night, Seymour Friedman's Chinatown at Midnight, Leigh Jason's Dangerous Blondes and William Castle's Mysterious Intruder. » - David Hudson...
- 8/6/2015
- Keyframe
When it comes to making features like this one, i love the idea of coming up with my own personal “100 Great Kung Fu Movies” of all time. It is tough choosing just 100 because you know there are many more great Kung Fu movies that are not on the list.
I have decided that to make the list, a movie must have a few hand to hand moments during fight scenes in the movies chosen. If for example its mainly sword play with one fight scene hand to hand it won’t make the list. Its old school “style” Kung Fu movies, not modern day settings.
I understand everyone will have their own personal favorites and some may not agree with my list and that’s fine because it’s nice to have different opinions on this genre which keeps it fresh and alive when having good debates.
Anyway, thank you...
I have decided that to make the list, a movie must have a few hand to hand moments during fight scenes in the movies chosen. If for example its mainly sword play with one fight scene hand to hand it won’t make the list. Its old school “style” Kung Fu movies, not modern day settings.
I understand everyone will have their own personal favorites and some may not agree with my list and that’s fine because it’s nice to have different opinions on this genre which keeps it fresh and alive when having good debates.
Anyway, thank you...
- 6/25/2015
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
El Rey Network will celebrate Father’s Day with a Kung Fu marathon dedicated to the most prolific director Shaw Brothers’ history and the Father of Kung Fu Cinema, Chang Cheh. Starting Saturday, June 20th at 6am Et, El Rey Network will be playing 10 of his most action packed fan favorites including: The Five Deadly Venoms, Disciples of Shaolin, and One-Armed Swordsman. Join El Rey Network in celebrating the unique action-packed style of this master of Kung Fu cinema. Saturday, June 20th (all times Et) “The Assassin” 6:00am and 6:00pm “The Boxer from Shantung” 8:30am and 8:30pm “The Heroic Ones” 11:15am and 11:15pm “Disciples of Shaolin” 1:45pm and 1:45am “The Kid with the Golden Arm” 4:00pm Sunday, June 21th (all times Et) “Masked Avengers” 4:00am and 5:15 “The Kid with the Golden Arm...
- 6/20/2015
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
Stars: RZA, Dustin Nguyen, Eugenia Yuan, Carl Ng, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Schnitrnunt Busarakamwong, Grace Huang, Pim Bubear, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Andrew Lin, Kowit Wattanakul, Charlie Ruedpokanon, Nophand Boonyai, Simon Yin | Written by John Jarrell, RZA | Directed by Roel Reine
I was a huge fan of the first film in what now looks to be a burgeoning new martial arts film franchise. The Man With the Iron Fists was everything I love about martial arts movie and was obviously a labour of love for its star and Wu_Tang Clan member RZA. Sadly, despite the out-pouring of love from wuxia fans and internet geeks like myself, the film did not perform as well as I’m sure the studio would’ve liked. But that doesn’t stop the franchise from continuing as a direct-to-market series – and so we have The Man With the Iron Fists 2.
This time round Thaddeus (RZA) washes ashore...
I was a huge fan of the first film in what now looks to be a burgeoning new martial arts film franchise. The Man With the Iron Fists was everything I love about martial arts movie and was obviously a labour of love for its star and Wu_Tang Clan member RZA. Sadly, despite the out-pouring of love from wuxia fans and internet geeks like myself, the film did not perform as well as I’m sure the studio would’ve liked. But that doesn’t stop the franchise from continuing as a direct-to-market series – and so we have The Man With the Iron Fists 2.
This time round Thaddeus (RZA) washes ashore...
- 5/14/2015
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Terracotta Distribution is bringing Chang Cheh's 1985 kung fu flick Shanghai 13 to DVD on February 9th to the UK. Chang Cheh was arguably one of the greatest martial arts film directors of his time (all time). He directed classics like The Five Deadly Venoms and One Armed Swordsman was backed by a serious cast of talent this time around as well. Joining a young Andy Lau were kung fu legends like Jimmy Wang Yu, Chen Kuan Tai, and Ti Lung! Throw in Danny Lee (John Woo's The Killer) and you had a potent mix of talent all around that camera during those days of shooting the film. Thirteen deadly warriors versus an entire army.During the Sino-Japanese war, a Chinese patriot steals damning evidence that exposes traitorous intentions within...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 1/15/2015
- Screen Anarchy
The USC School of Cinematic Arts will partner with Celestial Pictures in December 2014 and January 2015 to present 7 feature films from the Shaw Brothers catalog. They have films available on DigiBeta and DVD, and are interested in finding other venues across the U.S. that might be interested in booking their titles across the next year, and to help them out, I wanted to share some information with everyone:
Celestial Pictures owns the Shaw Brothers film library, the world's largest Chinese film collection, with over 760 feature films originally released over half a century's time frame. The library has inspired countless filmmakers with its vast pool of classics including "Five Deadly Venoms," "Hex," "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin," " One-Armed Swordsman," "King Boxer" and "The Flying Guillotine." These award-winning Shaw Brothers films have been digitally restored frame-by-frame, and distributed in cinemas and on home video, television, and new media markets worldwide.
Celestial Pictures is eagerly looking for the right partners to arrange Shaw Brothers Film Festivals so as to introduce our classic collection to more Us audiences especial to youth markets. In the past few years, we have been partnered up with numerous institutions and organizations including University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Cinefamily and New York Asian Film Festival, and we hope to extend our path further by collaborating with new partners around the States.
To contact Celestial Pictures directly about their library and possible collaborations, please be in touch with Josephine Ng:
josephine.ng[At]celestialpictures.com...
Celestial Pictures owns the Shaw Brothers film library, the world's largest Chinese film collection, with over 760 feature films originally released over half a century's time frame. The library has inspired countless filmmakers with its vast pool of classics including "Five Deadly Venoms," "Hex," "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin," " One-Armed Swordsman," "King Boxer" and "The Flying Guillotine." These award-winning Shaw Brothers films have been digitally restored frame-by-frame, and distributed in cinemas and on home video, television, and new media markets worldwide.
Celestial Pictures is eagerly looking for the right partners to arrange Shaw Brothers Film Festivals so as to introduce our classic collection to more Us audiences especial to youth markets. In the past few years, we have been partnered up with numerous institutions and organizations including University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Cinefamily and New York Asian Film Festival, and we hope to extend our path further by collaborating with new partners around the States.
To contact Celestial Pictures directly about their library and possible collaborations, please be in touch with Josephine Ng:
josephine.ng[At]celestialpictures.com...
- 10/29/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Like millions of you around the world, i love Kung Fu movies. It is the only real genre that keeps me going back for more and that is why i will always love Kung Fu movies.
I know many of you have probably seen many of the movies i will post about, but this is also for anyone new to the genre of Kung Fu and even Swordplay and looking for other movies to enjoy. I hope you enjoy the movies i have listed and please feel free to comment about any of the movies.
1.Kickboxer 黃飛鴻之鬼腳七 (1993)
Director: Wu Ma
Cast: Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Yen Shi Kwan, Wu Ma, Shirley Lui, Tai Bo
Fight Choreographer(s): Yuen Biao, Yuen Mao
Studio: Regal Films Co. Ltd.
2.The Rebellious Reign 雍正与年羹尧 (1980)
Director: Fong Cheung
Cast: Norman Chu, Jimmy Lee Fong, Kwan Yung Moon, Chan Wai Lau, Alan Chui
Fight Choreographer...
I know many of you have probably seen many of the movies i will post about, but this is also for anyone new to the genre of Kung Fu and even Swordplay and looking for other movies to enjoy. I hope you enjoy the movies i have listed and please feel free to comment about any of the movies.
1.Kickboxer 黃飛鴻之鬼腳七 (1993)
Director: Wu Ma
Cast: Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Yen Shi Kwan, Wu Ma, Shirley Lui, Tai Bo
Fight Choreographer(s): Yuen Biao, Yuen Mao
Studio: Regal Films Co. Ltd.
2.The Rebellious Reign 雍正与年羹尧 (1980)
Director: Fong Cheung
Cast: Norman Chu, Jimmy Lee Fong, Kwan Yung Moon, Chan Wai Lau, Alan Chui
Fight Choreographer...
- 10/27/2014
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
In 1994, director Quentin Tarantino premiered a instant-classic film, Pulp Fiction. The crime movie did several unexpected things that year: it revitalized the careers of John Travolta, Bruce Willis, and Samuel L Jackson, launched long-standing accolades for Tarantino, and helped cultivate an extended Easter Egg of pop culture references that would appear in not only Tarantino films but also in TV, music and other films alike. As the film celebrates the 20th anniversary of the film’s debut at the Cannes Film Festival, VH1 digs up all the fun facts that fans may have not known about the landmark Tarantino film.
1. Steve Buscemi has an un-credited cameo as the waiter in the diner of the dance scene. He shares a scene with Mia Wallace—played by Uma Thurman—who orders a milkshake.
2. Ellen DeGeneres read for the role of Jody, the wife of Lance (Eric Stoltz), which ultimately went to Rosanna Arquette.
1. Steve Buscemi has an un-credited cameo as the waiter in the diner of the dance scene. He shares a scene with Mia Wallace—played by Uma Thurman—who orders a milkshake.
2. Ellen DeGeneres read for the role of Jody, the wife of Lance (Eric Stoltz), which ultimately went to Rosanna Arquette.
- 5/16/2014
- by Stacy Lambe
- TheFabLife - Movies
There was indeed a movie planned for this week’s Shaw Brothers column, but in light of the recent sad news regarding Sir Run Run Shaw’s passing, a more tasteful move here is to dedicate this space to the man with a few words about what he meant to fans, kung fu, and film.
There is a plethora of sources to read about Run Run Shaw’s life (his Chinese name is actually Shao Renleng), especially in recent days as most cultural media journalists provided the requisite plot points to the man’s life story (and his rarely mentioned contribution to 1982′s Blade Runner) in the wake of his death. Today’s column shall therefore sidestep the obvious route, preferring to consider his legacy, what it means and how he went about building it sky high.
Like the great Hollywood studio producers such as Jack Warner, Run Run Shaw...
There is a plethora of sources to read about Run Run Shaw’s life (his Chinese name is actually Shao Renleng), especially in recent days as most cultural media journalists provided the requisite plot points to the man’s life story (and his rarely mentioned contribution to 1982′s Blade Runner) in the wake of his death. Today’s column shall therefore sidestep the obvious route, preferring to consider his legacy, what it means and how he went about building it sky high.
Like the great Hollywood studio producers such as Jack Warner, Run Run Shaw...
- 1/11/2014
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Updated: Sir Run Run Shaw, founder of Shaw Brothers Studios and a pioneer of early Chinese cinema and television, has died aged 106.
Born in 1907, Shaw started his career working with his brothers at their jointly-owned Tianyi Film Company, later moving to Singapore to launch distribution and theatre networks across South-East Asia. He established Shaw Brothers Studios in Hong Kong in 1957.
The studio, which attracted top talent and was renowned for the high technical standards at its Movietown filmmaking base, produced more than 1,000 films, including classics such as The One Armed Swordsman, The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin, Come Drink With Me, The Kingdom And The Beauty and Five Deadly Venoms. Shaw was also a producer on Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner.
The bulk of the Shaw Brothers library was acquired by Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures in 2000, which digitally remastered and re-released many of the titles. The library continues to be mined by both Western and Asian companies for remake...
Born in 1907, Shaw started his career working with his brothers at their jointly-owned Tianyi Film Company, later moving to Singapore to launch distribution and theatre networks across South-East Asia. He established Shaw Brothers Studios in Hong Kong in 1957.
The studio, which attracted top talent and was renowned for the high technical standards at its Movietown filmmaking base, produced more than 1,000 films, including classics such as The One Armed Swordsman, The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin, Come Drink With Me, The Kingdom And The Beauty and Five Deadly Venoms. Shaw was also a producer on Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner.
The bulk of the Shaw Brothers library was acquired by Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures in 2000, which digitally remastered and re-released many of the titles. The library continues to be mined by both Western and Asian companies for remake...
- 1/7/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
The Invincible Fist
Written by Ni Kuang
Directed by Chang Cheh
Hong Kong, 1969
The Invincible Fist (Lo Lieh) is a government-assigned bounty hunter whose latest mission is to track down a quartet of thieves and murderers who collectively have gotten a hold of over 800 golden taels. Not one to venture into danger without help, the Fist, Tieh Wu-Ching being his real name, is aided by his trusty companions, chief among them his brother Tieh Er-Long (David Chiang). The villains Southern Geese (Ku Feng), Golden Abacus (Cheung Pooi-Saan), Iron Bat (Chang Sing) and the leader Ma Wai-Jia (Fang Mian) are traveling the region under the guise of simple merchants. So begins a treacherous pursuit in the typically quaint countryside.
After a stint when it seemed as though the column reviewed movies exclusively from the oft-described master of Shaw Brothers, Chang Cheh, his oeuvre was set aside to award other filmmakers an...
Written by Ni Kuang
Directed by Chang Cheh
Hong Kong, 1969
The Invincible Fist (Lo Lieh) is a government-assigned bounty hunter whose latest mission is to track down a quartet of thieves and murderers who collectively have gotten a hold of over 800 golden taels. Not one to venture into danger without help, the Fist, Tieh Wu-Ching being his real name, is aided by his trusty companions, chief among them his brother Tieh Er-Long (David Chiang). The villains Southern Geese (Ku Feng), Golden Abacus (Cheung Pooi-Saan), Iron Bat (Chang Sing) and the leader Ma Wai-Jia (Fang Mian) are traveling the region under the guise of simple merchants. So begins a treacherous pursuit in the typically quaint countryside.
After a stint when it seemed as though the column reviewed movies exclusively from the oft-described master of Shaw Brothers, Chang Cheh, his oeuvre was set aside to award other filmmakers an...
- 12/21/2013
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
The Crippled Avengers (a.k.a. Return of the Five Deadly Venoms)
Written by Chang Cheh and Ni Kuang
Directed by Chang Cheh
Hong Kong, 1978
By taking a moment to look at Chang Cheh’s career as a director at the Shaw Brothers studio, one might come to notice that several of the stories he shared employed unorthodox protagonists, namely for their physical attributes. In the late 1960s, there was The One Armed Swordsman, which told the exploits of a talented young student whose misfortune in love led to his arm being chopped off. Determination, practice, and spirit proved doubters wrong as he became a great hero, bringing justice back to the land. Then came the many films starring David Chiang. While true that his characters were never hampered by any physical deficiency resulting from an accident or the malfeasance of others, he was by nature short and lean. Upon first glance,...
Written by Chang Cheh and Ni Kuang
Directed by Chang Cheh
Hong Kong, 1978
By taking a moment to look at Chang Cheh’s career as a director at the Shaw Brothers studio, one might come to notice that several of the stories he shared employed unorthodox protagonists, namely for their physical attributes. In the late 1960s, there was The One Armed Swordsman, which told the exploits of a talented young student whose misfortune in love led to his arm being chopped off. Determination, practice, and spirit proved doubters wrong as he became a great hero, bringing justice back to the land. Then came the many films starring David Chiang. While true that his characters were never hampered by any physical deficiency resulting from an accident or the malfeasance of others, he was by nature short and lean. Upon first glance,...
- 11/30/2013
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Shaw Brothers films are not exactly at the top of many film buffs’ watching list. For one, there has not been a traditional Shaw film, opening fanfare and all, in close to 30 years and a hefty portion of the public do not give catalogue films the time of day. Even for those who do, there is a vast selection of genres, directors, actors and studios that, often for good reason, will strike someone’s fancy more so than a 1960s, 70s or early 80s Shaw production.
It is widely known that said movies were produced at the speed of light, like cheap toys on a factory production line. Even so, their legacy lives on, with the bountiful number of martial arts films made and released in countries around the world, in addition to their critical role in making Kung Fu films popular in North America. For the decidedly smaller band...
It is widely known that said movies were produced at the speed of light, like cheap toys on a factory production line. Even so, their legacy lives on, with the bountiful number of martial arts films made and released in countries around the world, in addition to their critical role in making Kung Fu films popular in North America. For the decidedly smaller band...
- 9/7/2013
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Five Deadly Venoms
Written by Chang Cheh
Directed by Chang Cheh
Hong Kong, 1978
Despite what great films have been reviewed in the column, few have, thus far, been privileged with a gift that may be only measured with time: contemporary cultural relevancy. By contemporary cultural relevancy it is meant that a given film continues to permeate the cultural landscape of the times, regardless of decade, whether it be to the timelessness of the story, its unforgettable nature, and its influence on various media in the following years. Chang Che’s most famous film, often deemed a ‘cult classic’, is Five Deadly Venoms, a picture that has been referenced countless times in other movies, television and music. Anybody remotely familiar with rap’s Wu Tang Clan knows the group has a particular fixation with said film. In fact, it would be a safe bet to say that among any Wu Tang Clan fans,...
Written by Chang Cheh
Directed by Chang Cheh
Hong Kong, 1978
Despite what great films have been reviewed in the column, few have, thus far, been privileged with a gift that may be only measured with time: contemporary cultural relevancy. By contemporary cultural relevancy it is meant that a given film continues to permeate the cultural landscape of the times, regardless of decade, whether it be to the timelessness of the story, its unforgettable nature, and its influence on various media in the following years. Chang Che’s most famous film, often deemed a ‘cult classic’, is Five Deadly Venoms, a picture that has been referenced countless times in other movies, television and music. Anybody remotely familiar with rap’s Wu Tang Clan knows the group has a particular fixation with said film. In fact, it would be a safe bet to say that among any Wu Tang Clan fans,...
- 2/24/2013
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
The Man with the Iron Fists
Directed by RZA
Written by RZA and Eli Roth
U.S.A., 2012
The RZA’s directorial debut, The Man with the Iron Fists, is not a Shaw Brothers picture. It was released by Universal Studios, although its inclusion in the column feels right for reasons that shall be discussed in the review below, reasons which should also appear as evident for anyone who has seen the film. The RZA is certainly not a name one would immediately associate with potential first time directors, regardless of genre. However, his association with the classic martial arts films from the 60, 70s and 80s, most notably those which the Shaw Brothers studio churned out like hot cakes, goes back to his childhood, when he would venture to the nearest cinema on the 47th street in New York that would frequently give them some play. It was love at...
Directed by RZA
Written by RZA and Eli Roth
U.S.A., 2012
The RZA’s directorial debut, The Man with the Iron Fists, is not a Shaw Brothers picture. It was released by Universal Studios, although its inclusion in the column feels right for reasons that shall be discussed in the review below, reasons which should also appear as evident for anyone who has seen the film. The RZA is certainly not a name one would immediately associate with potential first time directors, regardless of genre. However, his association with the classic martial arts films from the 60, 70s and 80s, most notably those which the Shaw Brothers studio churned out like hot cakes, goes back to his childhood, when he would venture to the nearest cinema on the 47th street in New York that would frequently give them some play. It was love at...
- 12/1/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Chang Chen is one of the best directors in Kung Fu cinema, known as the main man behind many Shaw Brothers classics, Chang Chen always brings blood and guts as well as having a great story line and great characters in his movies.
Some of my favorite movies of he’s are, Vengeance, Boxer From Shantung, Five Venom’s, Shaolin Martial Arts plus many more. He always brought great depth within most of his characters unless he just went all out and wanted a very bloody movie filled with fights. John Woo was also a big fan of Chang’s and also learnt a lot from him working on certain movies. He gave us raw power in terms of the leading males in his movies and with Lau Kar Leung choreographing many of the fight scenes, you know your in for a real treat.
Born:February 10, 1923,Shanghai, China
Died:June 22, 2002 (aged 79), Hong...
Some of my favorite movies of he’s are, Vengeance, Boxer From Shantung, Five Venom’s, Shaolin Martial Arts plus many more. He always brought great depth within most of his characters unless he just went all out and wanted a very bloody movie filled with fights. John Woo was also a big fan of Chang’s and also learnt a lot from him working on certain movies. He gave us raw power in terms of the leading males in his movies and with Lau Kar Leung choreographing many of the fight scenes, you know your in for a real treat.
Born:February 10, 1923,Shanghai, China
Died:June 22, 2002 (aged 79), Hong...
- 11/4/2012
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
As writer, director and star of “The Man with the Iron Fists,“ rapper RZA finally brings his vision, and his career inspirations, to the big screen. The multi-hyphenate, who plays the Blacksmith in this twisty martial arts tale, was thrilled to be at the helm of a $20 million Universal film, but he knew that this project would immediately need to be distinguished from other similar movies. “They make hundreds of these films in China every year,“ RZA said, when he and the cast of the film recently sat down with press. “The idea was to pay homage to the greats that pioneered this genre. But those were made in Asia with an Asian sensibility, so I had to make it with an American sensibility.” Though he didn’t have to reach far for inspiration, leaning on one of the classics of the genre. “In ’Five Deadly Venoms,‘ there’s a character called the Toad,...
- 11/2/2012
- by Gabe Toro
- The Playlist
RZA and Eli Roth break down the five essential elements for making their first Kung Fu movie The Man With The Iron Fists.
Best known for horror movies, Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel) co-wrote The Man With The Iron Fists along with director and former Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA. The musical mastermind and the horror film director approached their first foray into the action genre very carefully, referencing classic Hong Kong martial arts film. RZA tells CineMovie two 1978 cult films influenced him the most; Five Deadly Venoms and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is considered one of the greatest kung-fu movies around. A long-time fan of Asian action films, RZA grew up on Kung Fu movies for escapism.
The Man With The Iron Fists, presented by Quentin
Read more...
Best known for horror movies, Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel) co-wrote The Man With The Iron Fists along with director and former Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA. The musical mastermind and the horror film director approached their first foray into the action genre very carefully, referencing classic Hong Kong martial arts film. RZA tells CineMovie two 1978 cult films influenced him the most; Five Deadly Venoms and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is considered one of the greatest kung-fu movies around. A long-time fan of Asian action films, RZA grew up on Kung Fu movies for escapism.
The Man With The Iron Fists, presented by Quentin
Read more...
- 11/1/2012
- CineMovie
This is a run down of my Top 40 kung fu movies of the 1970′s. There were so many great films in this era, that i just hope i do this list some justice. The movies chosen are just my personal choice, i understand others might have different views.
Any of the movies that make the Top 40 list must have something special to make it in the first place. So i hope you enjoy my Top 40 Kung Fu movies.
20.Invincible Armour (1977)
Starring: Hwang Jang Lee, John Liu, Philip Ko, Lee Hoi San, Yuen Biao
The Emperor’s Minister of State Cheng, an authoritarian ruler, arranges for Hu Lung, one of his old students to distract General Chow while he assassinates the leader of the Ming rebels. Chow hunts for Hu Lung, but must avoid the authorities since he is a suspect in the murder. He eventually finds Chow, but is thwarted by Hu Lung’s master,...
Any of the movies that make the Top 40 list must have something special to make it in the first place. So i hope you enjoy my Top 40 Kung Fu movies.
20.Invincible Armour (1977)
Starring: Hwang Jang Lee, John Liu, Philip Ko, Lee Hoi San, Yuen Biao
The Emperor’s Minister of State Cheng, an authoritarian ruler, arranges for Hu Lung, one of his old students to distract General Chow while he assassinates the leader of the Ming rebels. Chow hunts for Hu Lung, but must avoid the authorities since he is a suspect in the murder. He eventually finds Chow, but is thwarted by Hu Lung’s master,...
- 8/7/2012
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
Other names: 钟发
Choy Fat
Chung Faat
Tsui Fat
Zhong Fa
Nationality: Hong Kong
Workplace: Hong Kong
Selected Filmography
1979:Odd Couple
1979:His Name Is Nobody
1980:The Magnificent Butcher
1980:Encounters Of The Spooky Kind
1981:The Prodigal Son
Born 2nd December 1953, Chung studied along with a number of other Hk film stuntmen/actors – in Madame Fan Fok Fa’s Peking Opera School. He started off his movie career as an extra on the movie “Enter The Dragon”, being seen as one of the fighters who takes on Bolo Yeung, when Bolo breaks his neck.
Throughout the early 70′s, Chung would appear in minor roles or most of the time as a stuntman, in movies such as Chinese Hercules, The Tournament, Iron Fisted Monk and Broken Oath. Although these were brief appearances and mostly uncredited, it wasn’t long until Chung was spotted once again by legend Sammo Hung and brought into his team.
Choy Fat
Chung Faat
Tsui Fat
Zhong Fa
Nationality: Hong Kong
Workplace: Hong Kong
Selected Filmography
1979:Odd Couple
1979:His Name Is Nobody
1980:The Magnificent Butcher
1980:Encounters Of The Spooky Kind
1981:The Prodigal Son
Born 2nd December 1953, Chung studied along with a number of other Hk film stuntmen/actors – in Madame Fan Fok Fa’s Peking Opera School. He started off his movie career as an extra on the movie “Enter The Dragon”, being seen as one of the fighters who takes on Bolo Yeung, when Bolo breaks his neck.
Throughout the early 70′s, Chung would appear in minor roles or most of the time as a stuntman, in movies such as Chinese Hercules, The Tournament, Iron Fisted Monk and Broken Oath. Although these were brief appearances and mostly uncredited, it wasn’t long until Chung was spotted once again by legend Sammo Hung and brought into his team.
- 6/26/2012
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
The Web of Death
Directed by Chor Yuen
Written by Ni Kuang
Hong Kong, 1976
Is there value in creating a remake? The safe answer is a resounding no given how, unfortunately, too many of them fail to live up to expectations. In fact, the frequency with which remakes disappoint is high enough that said expectations have been lowered to the deepest depths of the earth. Whenever the word ‘remake’ is uttered by a studio executive, it is the cue for general film lovers and film bloggers to collectively groan in perfect synchronicity. However, the original question still stands: is there value in creating a remake? The true answer, one not enough film buffs consider entertaining, is yes, provided the filmmakers have something to add to the original material in a way that will improve upon it. In 1976, not quite a decade after Chiang Hung Hsu’s The Thundering Sword, Chor Yuen...
Directed by Chor Yuen
Written by Ni Kuang
Hong Kong, 1976
Is there value in creating a remake? The safe answer is a resounding no given how, unfortunately, too many of them fail to live up to expectations. In fact, the frequency with which remakes disappoint is high enough that said expectations have been lowered to the deepest depths of the earth. Whenever the word ‘remake’ is uttered by a studio executive, it is the cue for general film lovers and film bloggers to collectively groan in perfect synchronicity. However, the original question still stands: is there value in creating a remake? The true answer, one not enough film buffs consider entertaining, is yes, provided the filmmakers have something to add to the original material in a way that will improve upon it. In 1976, not quite a decade after Chiang Hung Hsu’s The Thundering Sword, Chor Yuen...
- 4/1/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
The Twin Swords
Directed by Hsu Tseng-Hung
Script by San Kong
Hong Kong, 1965
Few would debate that the single defining decade in the all too short history of the Shaw Brothers studio was the 1970s. The staggering amount influential films produced and released in that decade alone, films which made uncompromising impact upon release and gained sometimes feverish cult status since, is almost too much to count. King Boxer, Five Deadly Venoms and 36th Chamber of the Shaolin, all three from the 70s, arguably consist of the Shaw crown jewels. It therefore makes the discovery of films from the two decades which sandwich the 70s, the 1960s and 1980s, all the more exciting and revealing. Where did the quality of the of the all-time classics emerge from and which direction did it take afterwards? This week calls for a flashback to the previous decade, with the 1965 Hsu Tseng-Hung directed The Twin Swords,...
Directed by Hsu Tseng-Hung
Script by San Kong
Hong Kong, 1965
Few would debate that the single defining decade in the all too short history of the Shaw Brothers studio was the 1970s. The staggering amount influential films produced and released in that decade alone, films which made uncompromising impact upon release and gained sometimes feverish cult status since, is almost too much to count. King Boxer, Five Deadly Venoms and 36th Chamber of the Shaolin, all three from the 70s, arguably consist of the Shaw crown jewels. It therefore makes the discovery of films from the two decades which sandwich the 70s, the 1960s and 1980s, all the more exciting and revealing. Where did the quality of the of the all-time classics emerge from and which direction did it take afterwards? This week calls for a flashback to the previous decade, with the 1965 Hsu Tseng-Hung directed The Twin Swords,...
- 2/12/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
We all are now fully aware of RZA of Wu-Tang Clan’s love of kung-fu cinema. Besides throwing numerous nods to Asian cinema in his lyrics, he also worked on the soundtrack for Tarantino’s Kill Bill. Rumors were revealed years ago that RZA was going to venture into directing by delivering a film that would be a love-letter to the films he grew up with that starred Bruce Lee, Gordon Liu, and Sammo Hung. With a script co-written by horror vet Eli Roth, The Man With the Iron Fists is close to finally being released. So close in fact, that actress Jamie Chung seems to think they finally have a more precise time than just sometime in 2012. She reveals these details about the film with Collider:
The original cut was four hours long and RZA was like, ‘Let’s turn it into two movies!’ and Eli [Roth] was like, ‘…No…...
The original cut was four hours long and RZA was like, ‘Let’s turn it into two movies!’ and Eli [Roth] was like, ‘…No…...
- 11/28/2011
- by Michael Haffner
- Destroy the Brain
The Film:
Has there been an ass Yuen Woo-ping hasn’t kicked? The legendary action choreographer has been orchestrating some of the best martial arts action since his breakout in 1978′s Drunken Master, to his more popular Chinese films Iron Monkey and Tai Chi Master. But it’s Woo-ping’s American films that have gotten him the most attention. From those Matrix sequels, to Tarantino’s Kill Bill, and Unleashed, which is arguably Jet Li’s best American film, and yet, let me ask this again…who hasn’t gotten their ass kicked by Yuen Woo-ping?
If you were to say, “well, he hasn’t kicked God’s ass” then I would kindly retort “wrong!” Enter True Legend, which on paper seemed like the be-all-end-all in Woo-ping’s filmography, actually turns out to be pretty close to that notion, but yes, Woo-ping orchestrates a God getting his ass kicked. True...
Has there been an ass Yuen Woo-ping hasn’t kicked? The legendary action choreographer has been orchestrating some of the best martial arts action since his breakout in 1978′s Drunken Master, to his more popular Chinese films Iron Monkey and Tai Chi Master. But it’s Woo-ping’s American films that have gotten him the most attention. From those Matrix sequels, to Tarantino’s Kill Bill, and Unleashed, which is arguably Jet Li’s best American film, and yet, let me ask this again…who hasn’t gotten their ass kicked by Yuen Woo-ping?
If you were to say, “well, he hasn’t kicked God’s ass” then I would kindly retort “wrong!” Enter True Legend, which on paper seemed like the be-all-end-all in Woo-ping’s filmography, actually turns out to be pretty close to that notion, but yes, Woo-ping orchestrates a God getting his ass kicked. True...
- 9/20/2011
- by Jon Peters
- Killer Films
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