will91XingYu
11-01-2007, 06:48 PM
I recently went to hong kong, where i bought so many kung fu films, and i've been of college this week so i though i would have a week of non stop kung fu movies! Any way, i picked up the ivl vcd release of the venoms film called Daredevils (Za Ji Wang Ming Dui), it stars Chang Chehs third group of martial arts actors called the venoms.
The venoms consisted of three opera guys called Philip Kwok, Chiang Sheng and Lu Feng, also there was mantis fist expert Lo Meng and superkicker Sun Chien, also there was hung gar practitioner called Wei Pak, who only appeared in the original venoms film (five deadly venoms) and two other films (Invincible Shaolin and Ten Tigers of Kwangtung). Anyways, this film is set in the 1900s, and follows the story of a milltary generals son (Lo Meng), who seeks revenge after his father is mudered by an evil officer (Wang Li) and also kills not only the general but his other son (baby venom Sai Yuk).
Lo Meng (ill call him that because i can't remember his charecters name) goes to his friends for help, his friends are fellow venoms Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng and Philip Kwok who are street performers and his childhood friend played by Sun Chien. Lo Meng goes to get revenge against the officer who is now head of the region, but what Lo Meng dosn't count on is the officer although very good at kung fu himself but his three bodyguards! Which are played by baby venoms Chui Tai Ping, Tam Jun Tao and Yeung Hung.
Lo Meng sorry to say dies very early on, and it's up to the other venoms who disguise themselves as officails to finally get theyre revenge for theyre dead friend. What unfolds is in my opinion one of the best venom smackdowns ever! This was in In my opinion the closest they got to a modern day fight and man is it cool, it also features heroic sacrafice and loads of acrobatics!
I'd heard a lot of negative reviews, saying this was boring and so on, i didn;t think that at all, true there are only 2 real fights, but loads of training scnes, and when the three opera venoms are doing theyre street show it really is spellbining, these guys are on a another level (i have to admit Hsiao Ho just nicks best ever acrobat).
The venoms formed in 1978 and went on until 1982, theyre last film was House of Traps, this is a great film, mainly becuase it's not just Lu Feng, Philip Kwok and Chiang Sheng that get all the spotlight, for Lo Meng fans this may not be on the top of their lists. Although he does get a great fight against superkicker Tam Jun Tao, who was famous for kicking the crap out of people offscreen. Sun Chien gets a lot of screentime and his kicks look great here. For me my faviroute venom is Philip Kwok, this guy reminds me of Tony Jaa, he can do ANYTHING, he can run up walls, flip kick you name it. Normally Lu Feng is the bad guy but he isn't here! It's the 7th venom Wang Lik who went to the same opera school as Lu Feng and Chiang Sheng. He wasn't as good an acrobat but he is still very talented.
Wang Lik was like head baby venom, the baby venoms were like the supporting actors, they include people like Chui Tai Ping (who fights with a whip in this),Chin Sui Ho who would later take the place of Lo Meng, check out Chin in Fist of Legend with Jet Li and Masked Avengers a great venoms film. Other baby venoms include Ricky Cheng (who found Chiang Sheng's dead body) and Chu Ko (masked avengers), this film really showcases everyone's talent. The end fight as i said is really cool, and it has the ultimate tag team moves (yes, better than Five Superfighters!), they don't use spears and swords here, they use crowbars and hovels, this is a masterpiece of fight coreography!
This is a great venom entry and really shows how vital they were to hong kong cinema and martioal arts cinema. People always remember films like Crippled Avengers and Kid with the Golden Arm, but seriousley check this one out and you won't be dissapointed!I give it a good 4 out of 5. Thanks for reading.
Take care, will
The venoms consisted of three opera guys called Philip Kwok, Chiang Sheng and Lu Feng, also there was mantis fist expert Lo Meng and superkicker Sun Chien, also there was hung gar practitioner called Wei Pak, who only appeared in the original venoms film (five deadly venoms) and two other films (Invincible Shaolin and Ten Tigers of Kwangtung). Anyways, this film is set in the 1900s, and follows the story of a milltary generals son (Lo Meng), who seeks revenge after his father is mudered by an evil officer (Wang Li) and also kills not only the general but his other son (baby venom Sai Yuk).
Lo Meng (ill call him that because i can't remember his charecters name) goes to his friends for help, his friends are fellow venoms Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng and Philip Kwok who are street performers and his childhood friend played by Sun Chien. Lo Meng goes to get revenge against the officer who is now head of the region, but what Lo Meng dosn't count on is the officer although very good at kung fu himself but his three bodyguards! Which are played by baby venoms Chui Tai Ping, Tam Jun Tao and Yeung Hung.
Lo Meng sorry to say dies very early on, and it's up to the other venoms who disguise themselves as officails to finally get theyre revenge for theyre dead friend. What unfolds is in my opinion one of the best venom smackdowns ever! This was in In my opinion the closest they got to a modern day fight and man is it cool, it also features heroic sacrafice and loads of acrobatics!
I'd heard a lot of negative reviews, saying this was boring and so on, i didn;t think that at all, true there are only 2 real fights, but loads of training scnes, and when the three opera venoms are doing theyre street show it really is spellbining, these guys are on a another level (i have to admit Hsiao Ho just nicks best ever acrobat).
The venoms formed in 1978 and went on until 1982, theyre last film was House of Traps, this is a great film, mainly becuase it's not just Lu Feng, Philip Kwok and Chiang Sheng that get all the spotlight, for Lo Meng fans this may not be on the top of their lists. Although he does get a great fight against superkicker Tam Jun Tao, who was famous for kicking the crap out of people offscreen. Sun Chien gets a lot of screentime and his kicks look great here. For me my faviroute venom is Philip Kwok, this guy reminds me of Tony Jaa, he can do ANYTHING, he can run up walls, flip kick you name it. Normally Lu Feng is the bad guy but he isn't here! It's the 7th venom Wang Lik who went to the same opera school as Lu Feng and Chiang Sheng. He wasn't as good an acrobat but he is still very talented.
Wang Lik was like head baby venom, the baby venoms were like the supporting actors, they include people like Chui Tai Ping (who fights with a whip in this),Chin Sui Ho who would later take the place of Lo Meng, check out Chin in Fist of Legend with Jet Li and Masked Avengers a great venoms film. Other baby venoms include Ricky Cheng (who found Chiang Sheng's dead body) and Chu Ko (masked avengers), this film really showcases everyone's talent. The end fight as i said is really cool, and it has the ultimate tag team moves (yes, better than Five Superfighters!), they don't use spears and swords here, they use crowbars and hovels, this is a masterpiece of fight coreography!
This is a great venom entry and really shows how vital they were to hong kong cinema and martioal arts cinema. People always remember films like Crippled Avengers and Kid with the Golden Arm, but seriousley check this one out and you won't be dissapointed!I give it a good 4 out of 5. Thanks for reading.
Take care, will