Five Deadly Venoms

Amazon.com

One of the loopiest kung-fu movies ever made, a garish masterpiece of martial kitsch by the hard-boiled master of the genre, Chang Cheh. The five muscle-bound paragons of the title have fighting skills so hyperdeveloped that they border upon the occult, each modeled on the behavior of a different venomous beast: centipede, snake, lizard, toad, and scorpion. This "poison clan" is embroiled in a complex plot to lay claim to an ill-gotten fortune, but the story line feels like an afterthought. The nonstop wall-crawling action sequences, which match up the cast members in every conceivable combination, are the be all and end all here. This is late, decadent Chang Cheh, without the poise and sweep of earlier epics like Blood Brothers and Vengeance (the noble David Chiang-Ti Lung team ups that inspired John Woo), but it's great fun on its own terms. The painted masks worn by the Venoms, which make them look like berserk extras in a wrestling film, are based upon the belligerent warrior face paint of Chinese opera. --David Chute

Description

The dying master of the powerful Poison Clan dispatches his last pupil on a crucial mission. Worried that the skills he has taught are being used to evil ends, he orders the Yan Tieh to trace a retired colleague and warn him that the fortune he amassed from the clan activities is under threat from five of his former pupils. Each an expert in his own lethal combat style, the five comprise a truly invincible force. Yan must discover the whereabouts and true identities of these deadly masked warriors and decide which, if any, can be trusted.

Customer Reviews:

another bootleg.......2007-06-19

Just another of the many illegal bootlegs sold on Amazon, no wonder legit DVD companies have trouble making it in today's world.

a must have.......2007-04-21

I love all martial art films such as Gymkata, The Last Dragon and FIVE DEADLY VENOMS. My favorite character is the snake his movements are amazing. It's a hard movie to find so I recomend ordering it from amazon.

The A Team before the A Team.......2007-01-16

Before there was an A team there was this A Team...the Five deadly Venoms may be confusing at times but it is classic team rivalry and martial arts at its best.

THIS IS WHAT STARTED IT ALL!! THE ORIGINAL.......2006-11-25

WITHOUT THIS MOVIE, THERE WOULDNT BE ANY KUNG FU FLICKS MADE.YES,THIS IS THE 1ST OF MANY VENOMS FILMS.ALONG SIDE MASKED AVENGERS,THIS IS THE SAME STORY LINE. ITS GOOD VENOM VS. BAD VENOM. AT THE END ITS A FIGHT TO THE FINISH. PICK IT UP BECAUSE W/O THIS YOUR COLLECTION IS NOTHING. HAPPY KUNG FU SHOPPING. HAHA SEE YA, FROM KUNG FU COLLECT.

These Venoms Kick, Punch & BITE!.......2006-08-08

This one's a true original.

Forget all the chop socky tired foolery about vengeful students seeking bloody justice over murdered masters or bright eyed, bald Shaolin monks teaching the uninitiated and unwashed a thing or two about fighting and philosophy. This one's about money. It's also about treasure, about deception, backstabbing and backbiting, oh and did I also mention masks?

Five Deadly Venoms rocks and socks with some of the most memorable fight scenes ever filmed for a period Kung-Fu flick. And that's why we rent em and buy em, right? The action!

Watch this one before you pop in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. This one has to be one of QT's favorites and it may just become a favorite of yours too.

Average customer rating:

ALL HAIL THE CRIPPLES!!!!!!!!!!!
my youth in these venoms movies
Chang Cheh Classic

Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms
Starring: Sun Chien , Lu Feng , Chen Kuan-Tai , Lo Meng , and Chiang Sheng
Director: Chang Cheh
Manufacturer: Red Sun
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FELDNY
Release Date: 2007-02-07

Customer Reviews:

ALL HAIL THE CRIPPLES!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-03-27

chang cheh does it too me again. he leaves you craving for more this time after making david chiang and ti lung into international superstars he does with group of guys from a opera school in taiwan, a chinese muscleman, and a hun gar stylist from china. im talking about the ever so dynamic kuo chui, lu feng, chiang sheng and the muscle bounded supposedly mantisfist expert in lo mang and a hun gar stylist wei pai (who didnt appear in this movie). after making such classics as "the one armed swordsman", "the water margin", "5 masters of shaolin", and "the 5 deadly venoms" chang cheh takes a new approach in the latter part in the 1970's and into the 1980's. after his top notch choreographer lau kar leung became a reknowned director in the mid 70's he took a gamble with a young dynamic and taiwan opera school weapons specialist robert tai aka tai chi hsien aka gangly who also went to the same school with kuo chui, lu feng, chiang sheng, angela mao ying, judy lee, james tien, jack long, and chang yi. and man did robert tai bring a new dimension to fight choreogrpahy to the genre and he is one of the best fight directors ever but he doesnt get the credit he deserves. he definitley top 5 and all the fight scenes hes done for the venoms mob has been nothing short of superb and spectacular.so after he did naval commandos or so he became chang cheh and the venoms chief fight choreographer. this movie should be viewed by children just like the one armed swordsman because it teaches us the value of having a disability and turning it into our greatest strength instead wallowing in self-pity and frustration. this film stars one of my favorite actors chen kuan tai aka the original iron monkey as yes folks the LEAD VILLAIN which he has never played before this role and lu feng as his son and the crippled avengers are kuo chui (blind), lo mang (deaf and mute), sun shein (legless) and chiang sheng (dumb)and the all seek out chiang sheng's master because he was once a master swordsman and the others never learned any kung fu. wang lung wei as chen kuan tai's bodyguard and dick wei as a general out to kill chen's character. of course in the venom films dick wei lasts 30 seconds which is transcondescending of his talents but anyway he kills helen poon bing sung chen's wife and chops off his son's arms. the training scenes and fight scenes is like i said top notch and a great inspiring story as well this version the red sun is a definite pick up and also try to find the celestial pictures release as well.

my youth in these venoms movies.......2007-02-11

ever since i was about fifteen, and first saw "five deadly venoms", i was hook on whatever movie the "venoms" was in , and "the crippled avengers" was one of those movies...it brought out the almost comedic side of 'toad" and the usual comedic side of "young lizard", my best part is when young lizard was looking for one of his partner at the bad guy house and went in demanding to be heard and feared, when the boss man looked at one of his coharts and said, "who is this idiot?" which in his facial expressions really define the next move, and that was to make him an idiot. that scene was hilarious, outside of the extreme talents of the venomes moves and strength, it is one of my favorite venoms movies...and i hope you would add it to yours.... the unfortunate, ever since i saw my first venoms movie, i rate all other kung fu movies to the expert fighting sequences of most of the venoms...and outside of gordon liu, and of course , bruce lee. no other kung fu flick compares to a venoms movie, even an so-so venoms movie, and i will put a centipede five finger palm strike hold on anyone who says different!!!

k. stimage
chicago, il

Chang Cheh Classic.......2007-01-13

This Shaw Brothers movie is directed by the legendary Chang Cheh and stars the 5 venom mob. Sometimes known as "Mortal Combat" Crippled Avengers is a must have for any classic/old school kung fu fan. Cop it today.

Average customer rating:

Red Sun is good, but waiting for Image Entertainment
Five Deadly Venoms get 5 Stars
BUY THIS EDITION!! RED SUN VERSION
Poison Clan Rocks The World

Five Deadly Venoms
Starring: Sun Chien , Philip Kwok , and Chiang Cheh
Director: Chang Cheh
Manufacturer: Red Sun
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FCP9EU
Release Date: 2007-02-07

Customer Reviews:

Red Sun is good, but waiting for Image Entertainment.......2007-03-20

To anybody who never saw a "real" kung fu movie or thinks it's chop-socky nonsense, then watch this awesome movie. It will change your whole attitude around. Like most of the reviewers, I caught this movie as a kid on "Drive In Movie" Saturday afternoon in the early 80s. Actually, "Chinatown Kid" (another classic starring the Venoms & the late Fu Sheng) was my first official intro to the incredible Shaw Brothers/Chang Cheh realm. "Five Venoms", along with "The Kid With the Golden Arm" (same people behind that), "Master Killer" (directed by Liu Chia-liang, starring his half-brother, Gordon Liu) & "The Prodigal Son" (Samo Hung wing chun classic), is simply one of the best.

First, the film itself~everyone seems to know the story, dying sifu (Tu Lung a.k.a. Dick Wei) of the Poison Clan sends his last student Yang Tieh (the late Chiang Sheng) to seek out his other five students. Ally himself with one virtuous venom and kill the ones who are villainous. The five venoms are #1 Centipede; Tang San-kwei (Lu Feng), #2 Snake; Hung Wen-tung (Wei Pai, who I never considered to be a real venom. He was only in four of their films and wasn't a real martial artist like the rest of them), #3 Scorpion; Ma Tang (Sun Chien), #4 Lizard; Ho Yung-hsin (Philip Kuo Chui) & #5 Toad; Li Ho (Golden Arm himself Lo Mang).

Despite not having as many fights as some of the other Venom classics, the story is so engrossing it doesn't matter. However, the fights that do occur deliver the goods. Kudos to Robert Tai & Liang Ting for their choreography, especially Toad versus Centipede and that incredible end fight. Even Wei Pai looks good, although he's totally outclassed by Kuo & Chiang. Great performances and great music. I know it's stock music but Chen Yung-yu really picked out some of the best tracks.

A little trivia info, the Snake venom was originally supposed to be played by a woman and #1 & #2 were husband and wife. Director Chang Cheh (reportedly a chauvinist) scrapped the idea because he didn't want a woman having a lead role in his movie. Next, the DVD transfer~the Red Sun version is the best one right now, they must have borrowed their version from Celestial. It's widescreen, crisp picture, decent audio and it's uncut (you see the Scorpion sort of lose his mind right before he dies). Unfortunately, it's dubbed but at least it's those Australian people doing the English voices. Good news, Celestial Pictures did a slamming job on their version; bad news, it's region 3. However, Image Entertainment has been re-releasing awesome prints of Shaw Brother classics on region 1. Check out my review for "Have Sword Will Travel."

Five Deadly Venoms get 5 Stars.......2007-02-09

INSTANT CLASSIC!! You must have this movie if you are a fan of Kung-fu movies!! The various characters and styles were outrageous, but well-represented. The Red-Sun version sound was adequate, but my version got stuck when #4 quits the police department. I think this is a hit or miss.

BUY THIS EDITION!! RED SUN VERSION.......2006-11-10

Fully restored and anamorphic widescreen. Unlike the crappy bootleg copies others sell on Amazon, the picture looks great. The only negative I can see is that it doesn't have the original Chinese language track with English subtitles, but that doesn't really matter to me because I like the English Language track better. Old-School King-Fu movies, especially Shaw brothers are better enjoyed that way I feel, reminds me of my youth. Buy this edition for the best quality of this classic film.

Poison Clan Rocks The World.......2006-06-20

Everyone rejoice...the remastered widescreen English dubbed version of this famous film is now available. And yes the famous lines spoken by the original voice-over actors are intact. Now you can hear "poison clan rocks the world" and "the iron maiden" once again and enjoy the viewing the fabulous restoration at the same time. There aren't any significant special features but heck at least we have a version that's worth showing your friends.

Average customer rating:

another bootleg
a must have
The A Team before the A Team
THIS IS WHAT STARTED IT ALL!! THE ORIGINAL
These Venoms Kick, Punch & BITE!

Five Deadly Venoms
Starring: Sheng Chiang , Philip Kwok , Feng Lu , Pai Wei , and Chien Sun
Director: Cheh Chang
Manufacturer: Beverly Wilshire
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005MM75
Release Date: 2000-11-14

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

another bootleg.......2007-06-19

Just another of the many illegal bootlegs sold on Amazon, no wonder legit DVD companies have trouble making it in today's world.

a must have.......2007-04-21

The A Team before the A Team.......2007-01-16

Before there was an A team there was this A Team...the Five deadly Venoms may be confusing at times but it is classic team rivalry and martial arts at its best.

THIS IS WHAT STARTED IT ALL!! THE ORIGINAL.......2006-11-25

These Venoms Kick, Punch & BITE!.......2006-08-08

Average customer rating:

Five Deadly Venoms
Starring: Lo Ming; Philip Kirok
Director: Chang Cheh
Manufacturer: Saturn Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002CE04S
Release Date: 2002-02-02

Product Description

FIVE DEADLY VENOMS: A classic Kung-Fu movie with great action, a good story line and impressive effects for its time. As the master of the poison clan lies dying, he sends his one faithful disciple to hunt down the five "Venoms" - former students now turned to evil. However, each of the students has his own special kung-fu skill and besting them may be impossible. INTERACTIVE MENUS**REGION FREE**MADE IN THE US**SCENE SELECTION

Average customer rating:

Five Deadly Venoms
Starring: Lo Ming; Philip Kirok
Director: Chang Cheh
Manufacturer: Passion Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002DRBZM
Release Date: 2002-02-02

Product Description

From back cover, "A dying teacher instructs his final pupil to check on the activities of five former pupils, each of whom was taught a unique and special style of Kung Fu. Greed and treachery follow, as the student discovers that some of the students have turned to evil. Can any of them be trusted?

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