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5 Fingers of Death

5 Fingers of Death

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The original kung-fu classic...nothing comes close
Review: The original kung-fu classic Five Fingers of Death is not only the first of its kind but still is the best directed and choreographed kung-fu film to date.

Most kung-fu movies today are all about special effects (Yes...even WITH the kung-fu). Yeah, I've seen it all: Martial Artists flying in the air thinking they can defy gravity. Others punching their foes so hard that they literally fly fifteen feet forward into a brick wall (again defying gravity). But what did Five Fingers of Death have? Trampolines! And that was only for jumping in the air! If it wasn't for that trampoline idea, future kung-fu movies would've never have thought of using other crazy special effects that would make their characters almost look like gods. But to be honest with you, special effects have gone too far in today's kung-fu movies. I say the more realistic it is, the better. Anyway...when it came to the choreographed fight sequences in Five Fingers of Death, you can tell that these martial artists were for real. Not only do you see Chinese fists fly, but Japanese samurai slicing foes! The fight sequences with the sword-wielding samurai were again, very realistic. I may be crazy but I'm pretty sure that the swords(if not all the weapons)in the movie were real. Why? Well if you study carefully at the movie, you notice three things:
1)When our protagonist Chao Hao had to fight the two samurai, they seemed to have swung their swords very sluggishly, as if it were heavy.
2)You would hear very authentic sounds from the steel of the swords whenever they clashed with other bladed weapons.
3)The blades would shine whenever the sun was around.

Well, that pretty much convinced me. Even if the director didn't have real weapons in the movie, then you have to give the guy some credit for making it seem real.

I'm a huge film critic and I must admit, the directing in this film was masterful! You don't believe me? Well, watch the movie again and you'll notice this director has done many camera techniques(even for a low budget film)that only a master director can think of. Here's one example:

*SPOILERS AHEAD!*

When Chao Hao's old and new master dies, you notice that both turn green! Now why does the director do this? Well to be honest I'm not so sure myself, but I think it has something to do with the fact that they were both very close to Hao, and both were very wise. The director somehow wanted them to stand out, ya know, to make you realize that someone innoncent and important to Hao was dying. It could mean that, or it could be that they were just very pale after being tortured to death by that crazy villain. Either way, I thought it was a very interesting idea.

*SPOILERS END!*

I could mention many other cool camera techniques the director has done, but by the time I tell you all this I would ruin your fun with the movie and the review would never end! So I'm going to say one more thing and then I'll be done:

If you're a big fan of kung-fu, then this classic is a must have. Don't overly expect too much from the film, but watch it with an open mind. Remember, it's the first of its kind. The action is excellent, the acting is great, the directing is masterful, and the film is original.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: the,movie is great
Review: the,movie is great, I Like martial Arts movie

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: fun filled kung fu mayhem!!!!
Review: This film really started the kung fu theatre craze of the 1970's with its lousy dubbing, bizarre storyline, and vivid depictions of gratuitous violence.A must see for the kung fu fan!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: 5 Fingers of Death (1972) d: Cheng, Chang Ho
Review: This film was said to be "...the progenitor of the 1970's martial arts craze", and "...Hailed as the greatest of the Kung Fu movies", with that kind of praise one would think that it would have been given a better treatment than this DVD. Although I must admit, it is nice to see it released, and available in a dubbed full widescreen version. The disc has little extra features, and a very grainy VHS looking picture, which puts this very low on my list of favorites. The basic plot consists of a martial arts trainee soon to become a master of kung fu, facing many challenges. Great acting and fighting from star Lo Lieh and a bunch of other Shaw Bros. Regulars.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hilariously Dubbed Kung Fu Party Movie
Review: This is indeed the Kung Fu film which started the craze in America before Bruce Lee took the lead. The film contains outrageous Kung Fu stunts achieved by such tricks as running the film backward or having the actors jump from off-screen trampolines. The bad dubbing and worse dialog provides an unintentional element of hilarity which makes this film uniquely entertaining for its genre. My friends and I saw this movie 5 times on its initial American release, laughing until we cried each time, and dragged everybody to it that would go. You haven't lived until you've heard lines like "he's thick as two planks", and "take these two knives, and I'll see ya later!"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: After 25 years, this movie is still the one and only.
Review: This is the movie in which all martial art films are compared. This is the classic "Five Fingers of Death". This movie goes along side all of Bruce Lee's classic movies. A true martial arts film lover will watch this movie over and over. Leonard Maitlin, doesn't have a clue about this film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: After 25 years, this movie is still the one and only.
Review: This is the movie in which all martial art films are compared. This is the classic "Five Fingers of Death". This movie goes along side all of Bruce Lee's classic movies. A true martial arts film lover will watch this movie over and over. Leonard Maitlin, doesn't have a clue about this film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An old school martial art movie-classic!!!!
Review: This is truly a classic! I am an avid fan of martial arts movies, especially the old school ones from the 70's and 80's. This was the first martial arts movie I saw and I was only 12. 5 fingers of death at the time when I was 12 scared me! Especially with all the gruesome action that happened concerning eyeballs!!! and a head being carried around! this was a really hard core gory movie. But as an adult I understood the plot in those days of many movies- schools verses other schools, teacher gets killed, student takes revenge kind of plot, traitor student jealous of another student and schemes his way to the top, an enemy finally knowing the truth and warning Lo Lieh (I can't spell the characters' name but Lo Lieh was the star.) This was a good movie. If you like these old school movies then you'll like this one. These high flying wire and super fast action movies really don't appeal to me, it takes out really seeing and admiring the magnificent different martial art styles moves. I would buy the video because I am into collecting these old school martial arts movies. Thank you to who ever invented the video player and DVD's!! Now if these studios could get all these old school movies on to video!!! I'd be in martial arts heaven!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: one of my favorites
Review: This is truly a classic, don't let the bad reviews sway you. If you are a martial artist or just have good taste in movies you will love this one. It has a bit of everything in it as was common for these type of movies in their day. The fight scenes are excellent but what I like is the plot. This great movie can be watched over and over again. The voice dubs are great, especially the Master Teacher's voice. Acting is great too. This is not called a classic for nothing. Inspiring! Worth every penny!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Really cool for a low budget kung-fu film----true film
Review: This movie is rather interesting despite the quality of the film. The film is really old but there are many good points to the movie. Here are some of the reasons why.

First, I would like to address the accuracy of the film in terms of actual Kung-fu. The Iron Fist kung-fu is a true kung-fu technique. However, even though my title says the movie is true it is true in the sense of how you do iron fist not necessarily based on actual fact of the story. The story of course is fiction and really makes very little sense but the actual working up to be an Iron Fist grandmaster there is some truth to how the movie depicts the training. In reality, Iron fist kills with one hit. And no they dont fly in the air to hit someone like they showed in the movie. The way you train for Iron Fist is correct but they only showed the end of the training. Nobody starts out burning their hands first like he did in the hot coals. Actually that is last in the training. Imagine if it was your first time doing Iron Fist and you had to melt your hands in coals first. Ya right then nobody would learn it. Actually what happens is you work up to that skill then when you burn your hands in coals you already feel nothing. You also train to kill with one hit not 50 hits. BUt of course the movie would be boring if someone hit and killed everyone with one hit. Also the Iron Fist only needed one strike not 50 strikes to actually hit somone but then again it would make a very boring film.

Secondly, if you were to train Iron Fist you started with hitting a brick but you laid a piece of cloth on the brick so you wont hurt your hand. Then when you progressed you took the cloth off. Later you hit iron, then again last you burned your hands in coal. After each work out you dipped your hands in herbal chinese medicine to make the injuries you sustained to your hands heal quicker and lessen the pain. Well you get the point.

Pros:
-General Accurate Depiction of Iron Fist technique.
-Uses Interesting rather modern fight coreography for such an old film.

Cons:
-Poor story telling. You understand what they are trying to explain but its not well done.
-Old reused storyline. I mean come on Japanese vs. Chinese kung-fu fights get a little old dont they. I mean Chinese Connection with Bruce Lee, Fist of Legend w/ Jet Li are some of the other martial art films w/ chinese vs Japanese.


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