Shaolin Invencível

Another day, another Chang Cheh movie, this one both part of his 'Shaolin' cycle and a Venoms flick to boot. The light plot involves an evil Manchu general exploiting divisions between the North and South style Shaolin fighters, essentially getting them to kill each other while he gloats in the background. I'm a huge Venoms fan and it's very nice to have them all together here, although it's spoilt by the endless training sequences which seem to go on for about an hour; the film has a low budget feel as a result. Still, the gruesome climax goes some way in fixing things, and the experience is an amiable one.

If you are a big Chang Cheh movie fan this movie is one of his better directorial jobs. Somehow this movie saddens you because most of the major characters (the venoms) are pitted against each other. Because of a cunning plot by the Ching government North Shaolin and South Shaolin are against one another when they are really factions of the same school operating individually. Because of a court order the Ching government uses the best teachers from both the North and South Shaolin to train it's guards. A head Ching official arranges a contest at Ching headquarters to see which school teachers are superior to the other. North Shaolin proves to be far better in this friendly duel. The head Ching official then kills the 3 South Shaolin teachers and frames the North Shaolin teachers for their death, returning their bodies to South Shaolin. South Shaolin is now furious and sends 3 more students to try and defeat the North Shaolin teachers. Another "friendly" duel is arranged and tempers flare. Two more South Shaolin students are killed by North Shaolin teachers. Realizing that South Shaolin is obviously no match for North Shaolin the teacher appoints 3 more students to undergo intense training on particular styles to offset the strengths of the North Shaolin students. These training scenes are some of the best ever to grace the martial arts screen. One South Sholin student (Lo Mang) learns Mantis style, another student (Phillip Kwok) learns Lightskill and the Pole and the last student (Wei Pei, snake) learns a style that specializes in combat in close to the opponent. After they master these skills they are now ready to take revenge they swore to their dying master. At the last minute the two schools realize there is a plot by the Chings to destroy both the schools; but because they swore to their teacher they fight anyway. A classic martial arts film, one of the best Chang Cheh movies ever made. 8/10 on the scale.

When I saw the Unbeatable Dragon also known as Invincible Shaolin I was very impressed with the movie. There was a good story line to it and great acton sequences. With all my favorite guys in it. Chiang Sheng is my number 1 favorite in all the movies because he was the cutest. There where others but I will leave something to talk about next time. Sincerely, The Biggest Venom Fan Ever

This Kung Fu film from the Shaw brothers is quite entertaining, but lacks the self-sufficiency and consistence of their earlier "Five Venoms" and now seems dated and slow-paced. However, there are some classic moments, such as the final battle and one of the most hysterically funny death scenes ever! Otherwise, this is merely an okay addition to the Kung Fu genre.

Three North Shaolin teachers (Lu Feng, Chang Sheng, and Sun Chien) are called on by the Manchus to teach their soldiers and are urged to challenge the current South Shaolin teachers. They defeat the South Shaolin teachers and, that night, the head general (Wang Lung Wei) kills the South Shaolin teachers and blames their death on the North Shaolin teachers.

What does this film have going for it? For one, this is one of the few Venom films featuring Wei Pai (the Snake). And as another reviewer points out, "Sometimes dramatic and rarely violent, the action is carefully choreographed and edited for maximum visceral and emotional entertainment." Cinematography is key in kung fu movies, because it is all about the action and choreography... which is captured perfectly here.

Another reviewer notes that this was made "while a drunken Jackie Chan was farting in people's faces and sticking frogs down his underpants." Indeed! Maybe the Shaw Brothers and Chang Cheh are not as respected as John Woo, looking back now it seems that their films are the more authentic -- and more fun -- martial arts films of the time.