By Kim August === David* “Da Wei” Chiang remains one of Shaw Brothers most beloved performers for his superb acting skills and whimsical, acrobatic martial arts. David Chiang’s ease on camera can be traced back to his cinematic beginnings as a child star in the 50s and...
By Will Kouf of Silver Emulsion Films ===== Contrary to many Chang Cheh films from this mid-'70s period, The Savage Five is not focused on kung fu. Martial arts are present and integral to the story, but those looking for unforgettable hand-to-hand battles will be better served by other...
By Matt L. Reifschneider of Blood Brother Film Reviews === Every year, I attempt to craft a new list dedicated to my Shaw Brothers addiction, and every year I seem to give myself an aneurysm trying to whittle down the massive Shaw Brothers catalog into a theme and...
By Kim August === Where else but in a Chang Cheh movie would frenemies comment on each other’s knife skills as they slice through their targets like butter? The fight in question happens early in The Duel as rival gang bloodshed turns inward toward the Ren clan. Brothers...
Directed by the legendary Lau Kar-leung, the 1978 film “The Shaolin Mantis” (a.k.a. The Deadly Mantis) blends elements of an espionage thriller, domestic drama and period martial-arts action film at its traditional best, deftly balancing the always-exceptional Shaw Brothers studio physicality, not skimping on weapons-play,...
“I don’t feel like messing around with you. Please excuse me!” In this Robin Hood style early Chang Cheh wuxia, none of our heroes are who they seem to be. Lily Li’s Miss Jiang is not quite the damsel in distress she seems-despite her crying- Miss...
生日快樂 Sir! With so many grim elements in Sun Chung’s Shaw Brothers wu xia & period filmography, this Shaw Brothers director took every opportunity to slip in some comedy. Here are a few characters and funny moment(s) that make for a delightful tonal contrast. Judgement of An...
My last article for this site was dedicated to Executioners from Shaolin, so I felt it was fitting that I follow it up with a brief look and discussion about the themes of Chang Cheh’s 1976 overlooked classic, Shaolin Temple. While the former film looked...
Whether it was under the title The Water Margin, Seven Blows of the Dragon, or Outlaws of the Marsh this film has certainly generated a strong reputation as one of the most ambitious pieces of cinema in the Shaw Brothers catalog. The response to the...
Shaw Brothers’ master choreographer Tang Chia (Tong Gai) teamed up with Yuen Cheung-Yan to create the various fight styles on display in this early Chang Cheh wuxia. The aerial leaps and jumps aided by trampoline and light wirework are provided by David Chiang, a former...