Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!
Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
poe426 The so-called "venoms" were a charismatic crowd, singularly or all together, and Chang Cheh, for my money, was one of the very best martial arts movie directors. Both Cheh and Lo Meng are in fine form, here. Meng, as Shaolin strongman Tong, could've almost stepped right out of (or into) one of the Italian sword and sandal epics (he's even referred to as "the Chinese Hercules" and lifts (and throws) stone pillars and uproots trees to prove it). (And, like the Hercules of ancient mythology, he's not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer, if you know what I mean...) He teams up with one Hu Huigan, whose followers carry around lanterns adorned with his name and a list of his accomplishments (almost makes Muhammad Ali's bragadoccio seem tame). He even castrates an opponent during a duel... Along with the younger Wei Xinghong, a Ming loyalist (of the Wu Dang clan, but aligned with the Manchus when we first meet him), Tong and Hu face the mysterious Mr. Gao and his cadre of monkey kung fu practitioners, the infamous Yuan brothers (who actually wear monkey masks when we first see them in action). The stage is set for a spectacular finale, and Cheh and his stars don't disappoint.
jag_hatar_grodor This is a fine example of the fast-paced, extravagant martial arts choreography that is the trademark of the venom mob. There is a enough fight scenes and brutal deaths throughout the entire movie to keep even the most demanding Chang Cheh-fan satisfied. The story is, as expected, just a mess of righteous, pure-blooded shaolin ming rebels spewing hatred upon the evil Manchurian Qing-government joined by the treacherous Wu Tang-clan. Some noble qing/wu tang-members (who were of course more or less forced to join this heinous bunch) realize that the ming-dynasty is the only true dictatorship for the Han-race and switch sides in secret. Who's who and what is really accomplished, I'm not sure of even after repeated viewing. What I am sure of though, is that the action is plenty and of very high standard. It's not the best venom movie out there, but it's pretty close. The last fight is reasonably long and the final death scene (ok everyone dies in this movie, I'm not kidding) is awesome. Highly recommended and well worth a place in your Kung Fu-movie collection if you stumble upon it.
Masta_Ruthless Two Champions of Shaolin, what can I say that hasn't been said already from the previous comments.Once the Venoms get together to star in or even make a movie, good things turn out. I love the fact of them calling Lo Meng the Chinese Hercules, it added flare to his characters' persona. Again death and mayhem ends the movie as usual, but not before some all out goodness. The last time I saw this movie I was about 7 years old. And the best thing about this movie is everything.If you are a Venom fan, and a kung fu movie buff like myself, then this is a movie that is a must see and definite must have. You will not be disappointed.
IronHand-2 I had some problems with how dumb they made Lo Meng in this one, :facing a un-known enemy and performing feats of strength as his introduction, again doing the strong-man act later almost to his death. the thing that saved it for me was a lot of good fight scenes, my favorite being the one where Sheng Chiang faces a fighter who over extends his kicks so instead of wasting time or energy he just reaches out and removes his testicles. I do enjoy the Venom gangs movies alot, the best being the ones with Sheng Chiang & Philip Kwok working together in their fights - that is the only thing missing in this film I think.
