Your Favorite Venom

[WhiteTiger1]

1.lizard
2.centipede
3.scorpion
4.toad
5.snake

[Endsang]

As for character and kung fu, I think centipede (Lu Feng) was my favourite. I really liked scorpion (Sun Chien) at the end. It was so cool when he just stood there smiling while the rest were fighting, and you never really knew which side he was on or what he was going to do.

[Killer Meteor]

Character rather than actor

1. Toad
2. Scorpion
3. Centerpede
4. Lizard
5. Snake

[Morgoth]

The toad of course! Centipede is 2nd for me.

[Markgway]

Yeah, I remember liking Lo Meng in The Five Venoms.

SPOILER







Shame he got killed off before the finale

[Cesare]

1 - Snake
2 - Toad
3/4 - Lizard/Scorpion
5(/6) - Centipede(/the 6th student)

Or maybe it would be 2/3 for Toad and Scorpion and 4 for Lizard, but I am quite constant about Snake...

[clfnole]

1. Toad
2. Lizard
3. Centipede
4. Scorpion
5. Snake

[Chinatown Kid]

Being a TKD guy, I'm a fan of kickers so have to say my favorite is Sun Chien the Scorpion, also liked the quickness of the Centipede and the power of the Toad. This is how I would rank them in order of favorite to least favorite:

1. Scorpion
2. Centipede
3. Toad
4. Snake
5. Lizard

Kuo Chui is usually the best all around Venom but for some reason he just looked rather dull in the fight scenes of 5 Venoms, to me his fights looked much better in Kid with the Golden Arm......

[sammofan]

A Venom poll where you can't vote for Chiang Sheng just seems weird.

[Endsang]

In my opinion, Chiang Sheng was the most overrated one in the bunch.
His kung fu fighting skills just didn't look credible to me, and he was flipping around way too much.
He had some nice moves in Two Champions of Shaolin, but other than that he just didn't do it for me.

Sorry to say, but that's just my opinion. May he rest in peace.

[Winfred]

Wei Pai the snake.

[Iron_Jinon]

toad of course..too bad he does not make it to the end(ok I know it is taiwan opera stuff,lu feng,kuo chui and chiang shengs timing and skills suit better)

[sammofan]

Kwok Choy (Sorry I can't remember who he played as I'm not a fan of this film)

[Morgoth]

Kwok Choy (Sorry I can't remember who he played as I'm not a fan of this film)


He plays the alligator.

[Cesare]

Kwok Choy (Sorry I can't remember who he played as I'm not a fan of this film)

Well, I suppose this poll is just about this film - otherwise I'd expect Chiang Sheng among the nominees.
Anyway - if you feel like giving a vote to your fave guy, cast a vote for Lizard...;-)

[Tosh]

It's a crying shame Lo Mang's Toad doesn't make it to the end, it was weird how they killed him to, sufficating him like that, I remember thinking he wasn't dead, maybe he was just hibernating like a toad, coming back at the end, there's my alternative ending for you:rolleyes:

[Cesare]

That totally unheroic death really made some emotional impact didn't it...;-)
Sure - it prevented Lo Meng from engaging in more fights and generally being on-screen, which of course is a pity - but story-wise, it was purr-fect.
Sure I'm not the only one who loves to watch their heroes die...;-)
And Lo Meng made such a great victim.
Making it to the final fight is fine, but there's more to a movie than a final fight, right...? :-)

[Iron_Jinon]

That totally unheroic death really made some emotional impact didn't it...;-)
Sure - it prevented Lo Meng from engaging in more fights and generally being on-screen, which of course is a pity - but story-wise, it was purr-fect.
Sure I'm not the only one who loves to watch their heroes die...;-)
And Lo Meng made such a great victim.
Making it to the final fight is fine, but there's more to a movie than a final fight, right...? :-)
sure...injustice made to toad so extreme and thing wang lung wei(only nonfight role I have seen are there others?) got away gives it kinda down to earth feel though.maybe that is one reasons why 5 deadly venoms is such classic.snake and scorpio turns against others in the end good also.

[5 Element Boxer]

Lo Meng was awesome as the Toad.

[Iron_Jinon]

Lo Meng was awesome as the Toad.
absolutely...only Bolo or Kam Kong could have replaced his role convincingly as almost invulnerable master of iron skin.but lo meng is better screen character:)

[thekfc]

The Toad...with the Centipede a close 2nd.

[The Dragon]

Lo Mang was very convincing as an unarmed fighter. His Mantis Fists and Golden Arm techniques are worth multiple viewings.
One thing, why was his character always one who died early on?
I never understood that. Chang Cheh must have thought of him as all
brawn and no brain. I think I do remember something about him being clumsy... :D

[Cesare]

Poor Snake, never gets any love...
Nevermind...

As for Lo Meng - I think Chang Cheh must have seen something in him that made him an ideal victim. Some guys make better victims than others. Partly it was that "all brawn no brain" thing, I guess.
But I think that Lo Meng's sort of "good-natured" charm may be partly responsible. Even when he played Golden Arm, he looked like the kind of guy you'd like to drink a few beers with. And then there's this badass impression of a larger-than-life figure he gives on screen... All that usually makes his passing wonderfully dramatic.
If there was a Venom who could be killed off early on and still make a profound and lasting emotional and dramatic impact, it was definitely Lo Meng.
Or maybe it just worked so well in 5DV, that CC simply stuck to the formula...:D

[Endsang]

In my opinion, the snake doesn't deserve all the bad rep, although it is in a way understandable. Wei Pak is by no means a bad performer or martial artist, but he never really fit in with the Venoms and looked a bit displaced. I think he could have had alot more success and fans if he did more movies like Last Hurrah For Chivalry, instead of trying to roll with the venoms mob. And although he had small parts, I enjoyed his presence in Young Master and Magnificent Butcher. He fit alot better in at those kind of movies instead of the Shaw epics.

[The Dragon]

What ever became of Wei Pai? He was young enough to be around a while.
Anyone have any background on this performer????

[Endsang]

There's not alot of info about him out there.. All I've read is that he was trained in hung kuen, and was discovered by Chang Cheh for his work as a stuntman in a couple of Shaw movies at the same time as the other venoms. He left Shaw (after KWTGA I think) for Golden Harvest, but apparently his career didn't take off there either. After that I think he only did a cameo in Hard boiled, and that's about it.

[Cesare]

What Endsang wrote.
BTW - was that late 1980s movie, The Devil and the Ghostbuster, a Golden Harvest production or not?

Oh. And he was in some ATV series... No idea how many or how few.
He did at least this one (4 Constables Return):
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_cf00XMzEwODc2OA==.html
(Got the link at Wuxiasociety forum.)

This, plus the movies at Golden Harvest and that very brief appearance in Hard Boiled... That's about it, I think. Pity. I've seen worse actors having longer careers...:-]

he never really fit in with the Venoms and looked a bit displaced
Does make some sense, though I got to wonder to what extent the retrospective view of Wai Pak as the "guy who left after KWTGA" influenced the fans' opinion. It's a pure speculation, though...
My first Venom movie was 5DV (and I watched it totally unaware of this fandom thing and fannish discourse...;)) - and in that one he seemed to fit in just right. :D

[Morgoth]

To me Wei Pei's snake style looked a bit weak when compared to a movie like Snake Deadly Act. And look at his fight with Fung Hak-on in Last Hurrah for Chivalry. I thought it looked like Wei Pei had a hard time keeping up. He is good, just not one of my favorites.

[Cesare]

Yeah, Fung Hak-On definitely looked like better sword fighter (most probably because he is ;)) - but Wai was very ellegant (and pretty good) with that sabre.
As for Snake - the style itself doesn't impress me that much either, after having seen a few more movies. (Though it does look really cool - well, as far as I'm concerned... Show me anything even distantly reminiscent of eagle claw and you get my vote...;-))
And I simply fell for that "character development" trick. And the flashy garb. :cool:

[kungfood]

Actually, Lo Meng had an appearance in a terrible movie, Anna in Kung Fu Land. That came out a few years ago and was a total waste of his talent.

My favorite venom was the scorpion, Sun Chien. Plus, I always liked the way he could play his characters but in an understated way. He could be the evil, underhanded villain who plays everyone off against each other, then works to pick off whoever's left (5 Venoms, Kid with the Golden Arm, etc.). He could also play the studious bookworm (Chinatown Kid), the quiet hero (Crippled Avengers, Invincible Shaolin, etc.). Unfortunately, he was often an early victim (Magnificent Ruffians, 2 Champions of Shaolin, etc.).

Oddly enough, there was one minor Chang Cheh performer who seemed made to order for Sun, and was his kick victim in at least 3 movies, in Invincible Shaolin, Crippled Avengers, and Killer Army. I don't know his name, but he's the large muscular guy who usually portrayed a strongman. He also later appeared in Shaolin vs. Lama and other Taiwanese films.

[The Dragon]

Lo Mang also had the fighter's physique going for him... One look at those guns and you know he's the real deal. Bruce was an advocate of that: a fighter should LOOK like a fighter, not with the gut and tubby with the Black belt, "to hold his pants up!" :)

[Iron_Jinon]

Bruce was an advocate of that: a fighter should LOOK like a fighter, not with the gut and tubby with the Black belt, "to hold his pants up!" :)sounds like Japanese with glasses in Fist Of Fury who gets sword through him.

[Cesare]

kungfood: Yep, Sun Chien was great. And you're right about his understated portrayal of characters... It looked great - and worked particularly well with bad guys.

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

First off I've read something a bit ridiculous earlier in this thread. Chiang Sheng is not convincing as a heavy weight martial artist, but as a light skills specialist, he fits his roles perfectly. Chiang Sheng in reality choregraphed/and assisted a great deal in the fight sequences of many of the Venom's films. The man deserves credit for the extent in which he's contributed to the success of the Venom's films.

Secondly, Centipede/Lu Feng deserves special mention. Without this guy you'd be missing out on THE foremost villian in the Venom's films. They all are equally important in my opinion, but Lu Feng had the build, the charisma, and the ability to convince veiwers that he was a villian that might be unstoppable or at least a force to be reckoned with by the other Venom's, which in some cases took all of their abilities combined to overcome him as a villian, which was convincing especially in films like Magnificent Ruffian's, etc.

Don't mean to vere off track from the topic of the thread, but in 5 deadly Venom's, Lu Feng's character, the Centipede.

[Bravery]

The Lo Meng wasn't my favorite of the five, but in Five Venoms his Toad was so damn cool.

[tarim69]

Snake.

I think it fit him perfectly. He looked weaker than the other guys, so a sneakier style that punctures fits him well IMHO.

"The Lo Meng wasn't my favorite of the five, but in Five Venoms his Toad was so damn cool."

You know I was never the biggest fan of his from the "Venoms films" but Ive REALLY liked him in some of his other appearances,especially in Human Lanterns and Clan Feuds.

I would have liked to have seen him do a few leads.

[Cesare]

Snake.

I think it fit him perfectly. He looked weaker than the other guys, so a sneakier style that punctures fits him well IMHO.


My thoughts exactly. And it fit quite well with the "rich spoilt boy wanting to learn some kickass kung-fu" thing. He really gave an impression of a man who learned the art for the sake of the art itself (or to be more specific - simply to possess the skill - like adding a new valuable piece to a collection - similar reasons for which I'd like to learn Cantonese, for example...;-)) and is not really very fond of direct confrontation.
I think that the fact that Snake was originally supposed to be a woman does in many respects show in the "final version".
Anyway - character-wise, Snake and Scorpion rule, IMHO (though I like Toad better than Scorpion). They're the ones with most "background", so to speak.

[tarim69]

I agree with your comments about Snake Casare. His wealth add a dimension to him missing from the others.

IMHO he was the most interesting character.

You really could have done multiple movies of these characters.

It would have been really cool to see a prequel film or 2 of some of them - leading up to 5 Venoms. Sort of the way we see Wu Song put on the Water Margin gear at the end Delightful Forrest.I love seeing stuff like that. I was suprised when they acknowledged Lady Hermit and Cui Ping and in Black Tavern.A nice suprise.

They really were great characters.

[Drunken Monk]

The beginning of the movie where Philip Kwok first displays his lizard technique had me in awe. It looked so smooth and mysterious as he walked up that wall. While Kwok was never a favorurite Venom actor of mine, The Lizard was definitely my biggest pleasure in this movie.

[Endsang]

The beginning of the movie where Philip Kwok first displays his lizard technique had me in awe. It looked so smooth and mysterious as he walked up that wall. While Kwok was never a favorurite Venom actor of mine, The Lizard was definitely my biggest pleasure in this movie.

Perfect use of the slow motion as he starts to walk up the wall there. Same with when Snake goes into matrix mode against Toad, and Lo Meng raises both hands to strike. That gave me goosebumps.

[peringaten]

Apparently Wei Pei trained at the same Peking opera school as Jackie, Samo, Biao, etc. under Yu Jim Yuen.

3rd page of Chinese article listing all the school's students - Wei Pei listed number 15. (http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_46e14d3201000943.html)

[Endsang]

Wow, nice find. Would have expected more acrobatics from him.. maybe he did more as a stuntman before 5DV.

[The Dragon]

Perfect use of the slow motion as he starts to walk up the wall there. Same with when Snake goes into matrix mode against Toad, and Lo Meng raises both hands to strike. That gave me goosebumps.

Yeah man, it's nothing like seeing an effect done right to enhance the action onscreen. The Venoms sure knew what they were doing... :)

[Virtual Scott]

I've gotta go with Lu Feng - Scorpion. His initial battle with the Toad was one of the best (and yes, it's a film with minimal fights which doesn't minimalize it's impact whatsoever) in the film. But his brash, arrogant persona and defiant, aggressive and intimidating demeanor was great.

[tai_shin_mun]

Snake had most depth in his character.
All movies considered Lu Feng.Not only he is coolest(rarely grins around like kwok or chiang)he has best butterfly kick I have seen.And master of weapons.

[Righteous Master]

The Toad all the way!

[Yu_Xihong]

I liked the Scorpion because he was the smartest. He really could have gotten away with it if he was a bit smarter.

[IronFist]

Toad
kX6EHqcvqyo

Thick skinned Like me :21_003:

[Fang Shih-yu]

For me, the Lizard just edges out over the Toad, which is a flip-flop of the top two in the poll! On a FaceBook quiz, "Which Venom are you?" (to paraphrase), I came up as the Lizard! As it is, I've been partial To Kuo Chui since I saw him as "the Pope's brother" in The Brave Archer", so my thinking is a TOUCH biased!:nerd:

[Soda Drink]

Toad and Scorpion also the most underutilized Venoms and I always hated that.

[kungfusamurai]

Yeah, I remember liking Lo Meng in The Five Venoms.

SPOILER







Shame he got killed off before the finale

It's not much of a spoiler. How many Venoms flicks did Lo Mang make it to the end? Ten Tigers doesn't count, since he didn't actually fight to the death in his last scene before they cut to the newer footage.

KFS

[kungfusamurai]

Wow, nice find. Would have expected more acrobatics from him.. maybe he did more as a stuntman before 5DV.

John Lone went to the same Peking Opera school as Lam Ching-Ying, Tai Po, Chiang Wing-Fat (aka Mars), Chung Fat and Chan Lung, but he never did any acrobatics as far as I know. I think there were different components to the school, not just physical acrobatics.

KFS

[blue_skies]

A Venom poll where you can't vote for Chiang Sheng just seems weird.

my thoughts exactly!

In my opinion, Chiang Sheng was the most overrated one in the bunch.
His kung fu fighting skills just didn't look credible to me, and he was flipping around way too much.
He had some nice moves in Two Champions of Shaolin, but other than that he just didn't do it for me.

Sorry to say, but that's just my opinion. May he rest in peace.

I'm always surprised that Chiang Sheng isn't rated higher and haven't read him being overrated before this post. Alongside Kuo Chui(the first venom that caught my eye, impressing me during Rebel intruders) Chiang Sheng is probably my favourite venom not just in this movie but overall. I have to say though that Lo Meng was very good in this movie too.

[Fist Of Boss]

It's not much of a spoiler. How many Venoms flicks did Lo Mang make it to the end?
KFS

Tough question without checking dvd-collection..I would say now he survives in two and attends to end fight in about 5???

[Fist Of Boss]

I'm always surprised that Chiang Sheng isn't rated higher and haven't read him being overrated before this post. Alongside Kuo Chui(the first venom that caught my eye, impressing me during Rebel intruders) Chiang Sheng is probably my favourite venom not just in this movie but overall. I have to say though that Lo Meng was very good in this movie too.

He is best in leaps and nice one with weapons but not so convincing without them. And as actor I would say he is weakest of 5...When comes to acting Kuo Chui and Lo Meng makes always very good team, I bet they are very good real life buddies also.

I voted scorpion for fact sun chien does not get enough to do at CC movies. Same is of course with LM..Yeah, I know thing they are not acrobats but still some more visible roles would have been OK instead of mostly being slaughtered before end;)

[blue_skies]

He is best in leaps and nice one with weapons but not so convincing without them. And as actor I would say he is weakest of 5...When comes to acting Kuo Chui and Lo Meng makes always very good team, I bet they are very good real life buddies also.

I voted scorpion for fact sun chien does not get enough to do at CC movies. Same is of course with LM..Yeah, I know thing they are not acrobats but still some more visible roles would have been OK instead of mostly being slaughtered before end;)

To be fair I'm still new to Shaw Bros and the venoms, so perhaps instead of noticing weaknesses I'm just enjoying their strengths.:xd:

well if they were being made today none of them would get slaughtered before the end so that they could make sequels.

[Fist Of Boss]

To be fair I'm still new to Shaw Bros and the venoms, so perhaps instead of noticing weaknesses I'm just enjoying their strengths.:xd:

well if they were being made today none of them would get slaughtered before the end so that they could make sequels.

They have none weaknesses...some are just better in other area than others...Chiang Sheng not as good actor as Lo Meng but in acrobat fights do his stuff so nicely, Sun Chien kicks better than rest etc...they are strong as TEAM:bigsmile:

[66 Mantis]

Toad all the way, baby! When I first saw 5 Deadly Venoms on T.V. back in '82 or '83, he was my immediate favorite. So naturally, he is betrayed, drugged, had his ears puntured rendering him helpless, placed in an Iron Maiden, suffered the Iron Coat, smothered to death and then hung.... I was severly bummed. :cry:

[popsjnr]

Has to be Lizard-Kwok Choy-always superb in every Venoms classic (including my favourite Sword Stained) and a really cool guy to meet (multiple times in 1997) too!! He was so happy when I produced a bunch of Venoms posters for him to sign, he hadnt seen them for years!!

[stills]

Kwok Choy that 5oclock shadow. he's the coolest.
he doesn't play at all in 5 deadly venoms.


lizard
scorpion
toad
snake
centipede

[skillz masta5]

has to be kwok choy he's da man just his cool demeanor by itself and then lo meng i love his hand to hand combat....

[DarthKato]

1-Snake: I have always been a fan of Snake styles.
2- Toad: Really cool character, shame he had to die the way he did.:frown:
3- Lizard: Sticking to walls looks cool.:cool:
4- Centipede: His style is kind of cool.
5- Scorpion: He is pretty much a back stabbing jerk.

[QueMuchita]

I am deeply offended that the best venom is not first of the list.... the CENTIPEDE!!!!

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/3330/centipede1.jpg

[stills]

what is it about the centipede you like?
i haven't seen many of the venom films.

in 5 deadly venoms he may have the smallest part.

[nectarsis]

Tied with Philip Kwok (Lizard), and Lo Mang (Toad)...my two fave Venoms.

[Xample]

What about second lizard? Why didn't he make the list? :o)

He would be my favorite then the Toad. He was the smartest and he also knew all the styles (even if he hadn't completely mastered them).

In Crippled Defenders (aka Five Deadly Venoms 2), he was the good one that came to everybody's rescue at great harm to himself.

If I had to make a list it would be in this order:

1. Second Lizard
2.) The Toad
3.) Lizard
4.) Snake (because he had remorse from what he had done).
5.) Scorpion (the baddest dude ever lol)
6.) Centipede (last only because his character was reduced to cliche bad guy with hysterial laugh - his fight looked the most dangerous and was the fast out of all of them).