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.
Overtly cheesy and excessive in the best way, pushing forth legitimately thrilling hand-to-hand sequences alongside its deliciously comical bouts of pathetic dubbing and exaggerated performances that only top off the persistence of melodramatics lost in an ocean of ridiculously over-saturated fake blood. The Five Venoms, it seems, isn't in on the joke, and continues on with beautifully awful verve as it continues to dig a deeper hole for itself, which is where half the enjoyment arises. Immense, enthralling, and mesmerizing martial-arts schlock. A-
My favorite audience reaction at tonight’s screening: the young woman who told her boyfriend, just after the show ended, that she thought the film was “So good. So, so good.” That just about says it, I think.
Asian Cinema Challenge 2018 – Week 47: Shaw Brothers
O último aluno de uma mal afamada escola de kung fu tenta cumprir o último desejo de seu mestre: encontrar os cinco discípulos anteriores e um tesouro escondido; punir os discipulos que estiverem praticando o mal e entregar o tesouro para a caridade. Assim ele parte em busca de seus seniors: Centopéia, Cobra, Escorpião, Lagarto e Sapo; sem conhecer seus nomes verdadeiros e seus rostos.
A trama de The Five Venoms brinca com o mistério da identidade de cada um dos personagens. O diretor Chang Cheh investe nessa trama de mistério e nas elaboradas coreografias, ajudado por um time de atores de primeira.
Com certeza um dos melhores produzidos pelo estúdio Shaw Brothers nos anos 70.
This is a movie first about corruption and then about crazy kung fu styles.
It's my second time watching this and I can say that I understand more what this movie represent to genre now, after seeing a lot more of other classic Shaw Brothers films.
In the first time I was new to the style of wuxia and shape kung fu films and like many others this movie served as entrance to the genre, manly because of its popularity besides 36th Chambers of Shaolin.
With 36th and Drunken Master (and Snake in the Eagles Shadow) all released in 1978 this movie marked sort of a new wave in the popularity of the kung fu films.
I believe a decent…
i remembered (from being a kid) this being more of, like, a kung fu flick. to be reminded that it's a thriller instead is quite fun.
”Toadstyle is mentally strong and immune to nearly any weapon, when it’s properly used it’s almost invincible” - Old Master Yuan
Great cultclassic kung-fu flick with some murdermystery included. The introduction is super cool and stylish with the camerwork, colours and lighting. I mean there’s nothing to really complain about in this, pacing may be somewhat of slow from time to time, some downtime. Music is great, the leitmotifs to the Centipede and Snake are great. Last battle is amazing, loved every second of it.
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