Shao Lin wu zu

In 1974, Chang Cheh was roughly halfway through a career that already included such milestones as "The One-Armed Swordsman", "The Heroic Ones" and "Blood Brothers". While it can be argued that all martial arts movies are fantasies, Chang's films ("Blood Brothers", especially) were peopled by vividly wrought, three-dimensional characters that the viewer cared about. But, despite assembling a stellar cast for "Five Shaolin Masters", it is here that the veteran director begins to eschew character development. Of the titular masters, only Fu Sheng has any humanity; the remaining heroes (David Chiang, Ti Lung, Chi Kuan-chun, Meng Fei) and all of the villains (Wang Lung-wei, Chiang Tao, Fung Hark-on, Tsai Hung, Liang Chia-jen) are emotionless comic book figures, boldly but crudely drawn. From this point forward, Chang's characters and plots would become increasingly stylized until he was directing what were essentially live-action cartoons, like "Five Element Ninja". The films were still entertaining, but with rare exceptions (such as "The Chinatown Kid") were no longer engrossing. But hey, I won't get too stuffy in my analysis of what is undeniably an entertaining movie. There are lots of fights, both empty-handed and with weapons, and they're beautifully choreographed by Liu Chia-liang--soon to become a director in his own right--and Liu Chia-yung. (Look for brief cameos by the latter and by the Lius' adopted brother, "Master Killer" Gordon Liu.) Judged strictly on action, "Five Shaolin Masters" is a winner, and fans of the genre will want to see it more than once.

Five Shaolin Brothers distinguishes itself from other Shaw Brothers movies I've watched recently in several ways:

• Lots of it's filmed outdoors (mind you, I don't mind the soundstages so much anymore, as I've gotten used to them).

• It's apparently linked to another Shaw Brothers movie called Shaolin Temple, which is apparently a prequel, seeing as it takes place before this film, but was released two years later. This kind of confused me at first.

• The action is just constant, even in the first and second acts, which tend to be more low-key in most martial arts movies. Maybe it feels like quantity over quality at times, but I also loved how there seemed to be a new fight scene every five minutes.

• The characters say "among us" several times.

It's a little rough around the edges, but that also gives it a scrappy kind of charm that makes it endearing and fun. I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Five students escape from the destruction of their beloved Shaolin Temple...now each must take revenge and train in their own separate fighting styles...they will become The Five Shaolin Masters!! The film focuses on Shaolin's historic rivalries with the Qing Dynasty, and in fact this is made clear in the prequel, "Shaolin Temple" (1976). Trying to keep the films straight is a challenge in itself, especially considering how many name changes tend to happen.

Among the Cheh Chang films, this may have the most epic battles. I love the gimmicks of other films (such as the different "venom" styles), but here we have a great one-on-one fight that rivals anything you would see from Bruce Lee.

Chang Cheh´s Five Shoalin Masters is perhaps the Best Kung Fu Movie ever, besides the Bruce Lee Masterpieces. Ti Lung, David Chiang, Chi Kuan Chun and of Course Alexander Fu Sheng are just great in this Movie I hope this One (and the other great Shaw Brothers Movies) comes on Dvd sometime !!!

I was influenced by this movie to start training Martial Arts, first Kung fu, then Tae Kwon Do. It gave me some motivation when I lost almost all my friends because I was the kind of kid always searching for adventures and physical activities and they just disappeared from the scene because of the Atari's video games.

I loved the values of this 5 masters of the Shao Lin temple by honoring their ancestors, masters and school-temple and giving some pay back to the bad guys who betrayed and killed their people.

The stunts are great athletes and for sure great martial artists as well, but above all real combat experts instead of flying wired clowns.

The music is good, but I don't like the sound that all movie makers add to punches and kicks almost as fake as those "Pow" from Batman but I guess that is or was a standard in the industry so that is not their fault (producers and/or director of this movie).

Considering the context and the year when it was made, this movie deserves respect because it's original and it inspired so many kids when we start enjoying the benefits of VCR's (Beta format) back in early to middle 80's. Plus it teaches to kids that if you want to win, you need to pay the price and you need to go through training and discipline.