venoms5
01-08-2008, 03:30 PM
THE CONDEMNED 1976 Act. ***1/2 Blood ***/ Movie ****1/2
Tsai Hung (Feng Dagang), David Chiang (Yang Lin), Ku Feng (Sheng Meng) Pai Ying (Lung Wen Shuan), Chan Shen (Liang), Wang Ching, Lily Li (Bao Ying), Lee Hai Sheng, Lu Feng, Sun Shu Pei (Kai), Robert Tai, Wei Pai, Yuen Chueng Yan, Tino Wong
Directed by David Chiang
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
A gang of ruthless bandits terrorize villages taking what they want and killing the inhabitants. Feng Dagang, an Iron Palm student, is sent by his teacher to help quell the violence by joining up with another martial arts school to fight the marauding killers. The gang shows up shortly after Feng arrives wiping out all the students leaving Feng unconscious and framed for the massacre. The police arrive and take him away. Realizing who he is, the police captain sends one of his officers to find out if Feng is in fact a student of Chu Tien Le of the Iron Palm school. Chu's respectability will prove Feng's innocence. Meanwhile, a young thief named Yang Lin robs from rich men giving the money to the poor people. Having been caught a number of times, he steals from one of the bandit leaders who are all wealthy businessmen. Yang is incarcerated and placed in the same cell as Feng. The two soon become friends and ultimately break out of the prison. In an effort to take his girlfriend with him, Yang is captured by the bandit leaders. Feng goes back to save his friend and settle things with the vicious Sheng Meng.
One of a number of films directed by David Chiang (now known as John Chiang). A very curious and interesting martial arts thriller about an honorable warrior and an honorable thief joining forces to eliminate an evil group of thugs who, through rampant pillaging and murder, have risen to a state of some repute. Chiang is very successful in building his two main characters as well as creating some nasty villains. Chiang proved himself a capable director having previously directed A MAD WORLD OF FOOLS and THE DRUG ADDICT both 1974. His mentor, Chang Cheh monitored both of these but for THE CONDEMNED (1976), Chiang was on his own.
The opening 15 minutes are similar to any other kung fu film and the violence shows that Chang Cheh's influence is in evidence. Chang's grim style of action is most noticeable during the last twenty minutes which is one long kung fu battle after another and the level of violence reaches its peak. There's one especially squirm inducing scene in which Chiang utilizes a technique which was first seen in Sonny Chiba's THE STREET FIGHTER (1974). These scenes have a stronger punch not just because of the just desserts meted out to the villains, but because Director Chiang allows you to get to know the protagonists and antagonists and this finale is one of the most satisfying I've seen in a long time. The opening 15 and final 20 minutes are dominated by action while everything in between is given to the actors to strut their dramatic chops.
One of the most unusual aspects of the movie is the casting of Tsai Hung as the main hero. It's an odd choice but astonishingly, he does a fine job playing the hero. Tsai Hung shines in the acting department and his action scenes are equally impressive. His villainous roles in both SHAOLIN AVENGERS (1976) and FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS (1975) were memorable but here, he gets to display a better range and I suppose having a good chunk of the running time helps, too. His long and brutal battle against Ku Feng in his mansion is noteworthy.
Director Chiang plays the mischievous but good natured pickpocket, Yang Lin. In a unique twist, Chiang's character is no fighter but uses cunning to get himself out of jams. After his girlfriend is raped followed by her suicide, Yang finally fights back out of anger to avenge the defilement of his lover perpetrated by one of the bandits. While the final moments lack a typical Chang Cheh finish, the ending itself is dispiriting. Considering the police have their suspicions about Sheng and his colleagues, Feng and Yang have wiped out the entire gang and are summarily carted back to prison with the inmates overjoyed that Yang, a regular in prison, has returned once again. Feng and Yang look at each other despondently as they traverse the long corridor back to their cell.
Ku Feng delivers another sinister performance as Sheng Meng; a man who has a high position in the city in which he resides. After his arrest, Feng is the only man who can identify Sheng and the others after decimating Teacher Shu and his students at the beginning. Sheng goes to the prison and craftily gets a meeting with Yang. He pays Yang a great sum to murder his cellmate by poisoning him. Realizing at this point Feng must be a wrongfully accused man, he decides against poisoning him and instead frees him. Sheng is the first bad guy Feng confronts. I thought he'd be the final villain, but not so. That honor is reserved for Pai Ying. Pai was also in Chang Cheh's SEVEN MAN ARMY (1976) and a memorable villain in ROYAL WARRIORS (1986). Chan Shen plays a slimy rapist and Wang Ching completes the main four heavies. Lee Hai Sheng plays one of the main guards who tussles with Tsai Hung towards the end.
One of the most fun things about watching THE CONDEMNED (1976), is picking out all the familiar faces seen throughout the film's 104 minute running time. Lee Hai Sheng, Yuen Chueng Yan (the crazy drunken monk from 1983's SHAOLIN DRUNKARD) and Tino Wong play lackey's working for Ku Feng's character, Robert Tai and Chiang Sheng play students of the kung fu school that's attacked near the opening, Wei Pai is a policeman and Lu Feng and Sun Shu Pei feature in the films first 15 minutes as top students of the school Tsai Hung's character has been sent to help. They both get a handful of lines before exiting the movie.
A very entertaining Shaw Brothers movie and one that apparently didn't get much (if any) attention outside of Asia. It's a shame as it's a good action thriller with some good fight scenes, some innovative shots such as blood pouring down the camera lens and seeing bones being obliterated to simulate bodily destruction. A recommended movie for fans wanting to see something a slight bit different.
Tsai Hung (Feng Dagang), David Chiang (Yang Lin), Ku Feng (Sheng Meng) Pai Ying (Lung Wen Shuan), Chan Shen (Liang), Wang Ching, Lily Li (Bao Ying), Lee Hai Sheng, Lu Feng, Sun Shu Pei (Kai), Robert Tai, Wei Pai, Yuen Chueng Yan, Tino Wong
Directed by David Chiang
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
A gang of ruthless bandits terrorize villages taking what they want and killing the inhabitants. Feng Dagang, an Iron Palm student, is sent by his teacher to help quell the violence by joining up with another martial arts school to fight the marauding killers. The gang shows up shortly after Feng arrives wiping out all the students leaving Feng unconscious and framed for the massacre. The police arrive and take him away. Realizing who he is, the police captain sends one of his officers to find out if Feng is in fact a student of Chu Tien Le of the Iron Palm school. Chu's respectability will prove Feng's innocence. Meanwhile, a young thief named Yang Lin robs from rich men giving the money to the poor people. Having been caught a number of times, he steals from one of the bandit leaders who are all wealthy businessmen. Yang is incarcerated and placed in the same cell as Feng. The two soon become friends and ultimately break out of the prison. In an effort to take his girlfriend with him, Yang is captured by the bandit leaders. Feng goes back to save his friend and settle things with the vicious Sheng Meng.
One of a number of films directed by David Chiang (now known as John Chiang). A very curious and interesting martial arts thriller about an honorable warrior and an honorable thief joining forces to eliminate an evil group of thugs who, through rampant pillaging and murder, have risen to a state of some repute. Chiang is very successful in building his two main characters as well as creating some nasty villains. Chiang proved himself a capable director having previously directed A MAD WORLD OF FOOLS and THE DRUG ADDICT both 1974. His mentor, Chang Cheh monitored both of these but for THE CONDEMNED (1976), Chiang was on his own.
The opening 15 minutes are similar to any other kung fu film and the violence shows that Chang Cheh's influence is in evidence. Chang's grim style of action is most noticeable during the last twenty minutes which is one long kung fu battle after another and the level of violence reaches its peak. There's one especially squirm inducing scene in which Chiang utilizes a technique which was first seen in Sonny Chiba's THE STREET FIGHTER (1974). These scenes have a stronger punch not just because of the just desserts meted out to the villains, but because Director Chiang allows you to get to know the protagonists and antagonists and this finale is one of the most satisfying I've seen in a long time. The opening 15 and final 20 minutes are dominated by action while everything in between is given to the actors to strut their dramatic chops.
One of the most unusual aspects of the movie is the casting of Tsai Hung as the main hero. It's an odd choice but astonishingly, he does a fine job playing the hero. Tsai Hung shines in the acting department and his action scenes are equally impressive. His villainous roles in both SHAOLIN AVENGERS (1976) and FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS (1975) were memorable but here, he gets to display a better range and I suppose having a good chunk of the running time helps, too. His long and brutal battle against Ku Feng in his mansion is noteworthy.
Director Chiang plays the mischievous but good natured pickpocket, Yang Lin. In a unique twist, Chiang's character is no fighter but uses cunning to get himself out of jams. After his girlfriend is raped followed by her suicide, Yang finally fights back out of anger to avenge the defilement of his lover perpetrated by one of the bandits. While the final moments lack a typical Chang Cheh finish, the ending itself is dispiriting. Considering the police have their suspicions about Sheng and his colleagues, Feng and Yang have wiped out the entire gang and are summarily carted back to prison with the inmates overjoyed that Yang, a regular in prison, has returned once again. Feng and Yang look at each other despondently as they traverse the long corridor back to their cell.
Ku Feng delivers another sinister performance as Sheng Meng; a man who has a high position in the city in which he resides. After his arrest, Feng is the only man who can identify Sheng and the others after decimating Teacher Shu and his students at the beginning. Sheng goes to the prison and craftily gets a meeting with Yang. He pays Yang a great sum to murder his cellmate by poisoning him. Realizing at this point Feng must be a wrongfully accused man, he decides against poisoning him and instead frees him. Sheng is the first bad guy Feng confronts. I thought he'd be the final villain, but not so. That honor is reserved for Pai Ying. Pai was also in Chang Cheh's SEVEN MAN ARMY (1976) and a memorable villain in ROYAL WARRIORS (1986). Chan Shen plays a slimy rapist and Wang Ching completes the main four heavies. Lee Hai Sheng plays one of the main guards who tussles with Tsai Hung towards the end.
One of the most fun things about watching THE CONDEMNED (1976), is picking out all the familiar faces seen throughout the film's 104 minute running time. Lee Hai Sheng, Yuen Chueng Yan (the crazy drunken monk from 1983's SHAOLIN DRUNKARD) and Tino Wong play lackey's working for Ku Feng's character, Robert Tai and Chiang Sheng play students of the kung fu school that's attacked near the opening, Wei Pai is a policeman and Lu Feng and Sun Shu Pei feature in the films first 15 minutes as top students of the school Tsai Hung's character has been sent to help. They both get a handful of lines before exiting the movie.
A very entertaining Shaw Brothers movie and one that apparently didn't get much (if any) attention outside of Asia. It's a shame as it's a good action thriller with some good fight scenes, some innovative shots such as blood pouring down the camera lens and seeing bones being obliterated to simulate bodily destruction. A recommended movie for fans wanting to see something a slight bit different.