1978 ‘五毒’ Directed by Chang Cheh
A kung-fu student is instructed by his dying teacher to track down five of the teacher's ex-students. Each of the five is equipped with a lethal martial arts skill, and the teacher fears this might be used for evil purposes. However, not only does the teacher not know the identity of the students (who all wore masks under his training), but some of the students also don't know each other!
I was hoping some time and kung fu training (ie binge watching) would give me a greater appreciation for this since last I saw it about a decade ago, but if anything it was even more disappointing given the talent involved. It's a bit mystifying to me how much of a pillar this is for some considering that about 75-85% of it is really dry, kind of dull Edgar Wallace/Agatha Christie style whodunnit surrounding a bunch of murders and an inheritance. In theory I should be into that, but it's shot pretty flat and contains scene after scene of characters vomiting exposition and making shifty eyes at each other as they try and suss out who the venoms even are…
Some of the Shaw Brother best fake beards showcased in this one. A Hitchcockian mystery masquerading as a trashy Kung Fu flick. When it comes to Kung Fu styles I understand Snake, Scorpion, Centipede, and MAYBE Toad style.
But tell me how Lizard style is going to do anything? You can stand on a wall? Great.
November 2016 - Scavenger Hunt 20 - #2
Task 30 - Any movie ever sampled in a Wu-Tang Clan song
Kung Fu + Ponytail = Badass. Who would have thunked it?
The Five Venoms is like one of those logic puzzles I used to do when I was a kid. A grey bearded old man in a steamy hot tub provides us with the following clues at the beginning of the film as he relays them to his final protege, Student No. 6.
Clue 1: Located within an ancient Chinese village is a super wealthy old dude who happens to be an ex-Kung Fu teacher.
Clue 2: The village is also occupied by five ex-Kung Fu students named The Five…
The packed screening with an enthusiastic audience, a perfect 35mm print and a Q&A with RZA afterward was probably the most ideal way to see my first Shaw Brothers movie, so perhaps I'm overrating it a little. But I was sufficiently drawn in by the characters and the fighting to forgive some of the slower or drier bits. It helps that all the characters delightful cartoons with fighting styles to match (Toad acts like he's invincible because, well, he is literally invincible) and the fights, while taking up less of the running time than I expected, are meaty and extremely fun. The most surprising element was the running theme of political corruption, but mostly I just enjoyed the colorful fights and fun, often shirtless characters.
A bit of a chore, to be honest. The film has the structure and form of a mystery, but makes the crucial mistake of not having a clear protagonist for a good chunk of the running time. I thought the student character was going to be the focal character, but the film kept sidelining him to cut between two factions: the Centipede guy and the Snake guy; and then Lizard guy and Toad guy. Neither faction were particularly compelling or heroic, especially Lizard guy, so it was kind of galling to see him magically emerge as the primary protagonist in the final 25 minutes.
Plus, the mystery of who the Scorpion guy was insulting to my intelligence, especially when he…
"His nickname is 'Thousand Hands'. He is well known for his quick moves. It's like he has a thousand hands."
One of the Shaw Bros' darker visions of loyalty as expedience.
My personal favorite of the classic Shaw Brothers movies!
Great costumes (GREAT COSTUMES), great fights, and a mystery to go along with it! Just a blast all around.
Always thought Phillip Kwok was a little underutilized in this one, but I’m always down for a movie where Meng Lo gets to shine.
This was actually the first old school kung fu I ever saw and loved, thus beginning the dark path I now walk
There’s nothing quite like a good Martial Arts Film! Unfortunately, this isn’t really one of those. I wouldn’t call it a good film but rarely are exploitation/kung fu films. So I’ll excuse it. But there is also only like one good fight scene in the film. That is kind of tiresome.
Five Deadly Venoms, also known as The Five Venoms, is a Hong Kong film directed by Chang Cheh and is part of The Shaw Brothers line up of films. Five Deadly Venoms follows a young Martial Arts Student who’s master dies but warns him that his five previous students, each with different fighting styles, might use those powers for evil. So the young student must track down and prevent…
Watchable curio from the Kung-Fu film era, that is downgraded by a muddled plot and some ho-hum set-pieces.
While influential in the west, this film has a few unique ideas and great fight scenes, but little else. If you've never seen a Venom Mob movie before, start with this one. Otherwise... you'll know who the secret fifth student is by knowing your actors. Also, if Toad has invincible skin, he's been severely under-utilizing his martial arts powers.
Not even awesome fight scenes can save a meandering plot like that. Shouts out to Scorpion.
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