Ninja in the Deadly Trap

Rating:
Summary: Taiwanese Independent Masterpiece!
Review: During the Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates merauded the coast of China and devastated villages all the way to Fukien. Only one man among them all was the match of the Japanese, General Chi Ching Kwong (Ti Lung). Because he was the only man who'd be able to stop them, the Japanese sent a team of highly trained Ninja to infiltrate his home and assassinate him. Knowing it would not be long before the Ninja got to him, Chi sent his only son, Ying Min, to seek the aid of an old master who had once been a pirate skilled in the art of Ninjitsu, but who had now settled down peacefully in China.Barely escaping an attack by the Ninja, Ying Min finds the old master, who tells him to seek out his three former pupils, each of whom he has trained in a different deadly art. The three pupils have never met each other, but they will undoubtedly do anything their master wishes once they are found and brought together. The first pupil Ying Min finds is the youngest, Jao Chun (Chiang Sheng). He is skilled in the art of unarmed and hand to hand combat, as well as stealth. He's a bit of a jokester (as Chiang Sheng usually is in his roles), but a deadly fighter when the need comes. The second pupil Ying Min finds is Tung Yen (Lu Feng), He is skilled at making weapons and at combat. He is serious, deadly, and highly intelligent.The third and final pupil Ying Min finds is the master's oldest and best student, Mao Tin Yung (played by the film's director & fight choreographer, Kuo Chui of course). He is skilled at running, climbing, jumping, and is an all around master at close combat. Once united, the four realize that by now the Ninja have probably already infiltrated Chi Ching Kwong's home, which indeed they have, posing as servants. Ying Min brings the three brothers home with him, and installs them in the house under the guise of servants as well, so they can keep a close watch on the Ninja and keep them from carrying out their plan to assassinate Chi Ching Kwong. Eventually, an all out war breaks out in the household, and though Chi Ching Kwong is saved, his son is kidnapped. The leader of the Ninja, Shao Ping Wei (Yusuaki Kurata) is holding Ying Min for ransom in the shu gardens. The three brothers go there immediately, and the final showdown takes place... This is one of the rare Venoms films that was NOT directed by Chang Cheh. Though it is clear that Kuo Chui was highly influenced by Chang Cheh when he made this picture, taking premises from Shaw Brothers/Venoms/Chang Cheh films such as "Five Venoms" and "Five Element Ninjas", Kuo Chui clearly had a vision of what a Venoms film SHOULD be, and he went for it. When Shaw Brothers stopped making movies in the early 80's, Venoms Kuo Chui, Lu Feng & Chiang Sheng returned to Taiwan where they continued to make films on their own. This film was Kuo Chui's debut as a director. Kuo Chui, Lu Feng and Chiang Sheng were all students of the Peking Opera, and Kuo Chui made absolutely sure that all of their amazing talents were displayed in this film. Though every scene in this movie is well thought out and exciting to watch, it is short on dialog and long on action. Kuo Chui has stated that he felt he, Lu Feng and Chiang Sheng were the best out of all the Venoms, and he took advantage of that, showcasing his own tremendous acrobatic & weapons skills, Lu Feng's superhuman wielding of the spear, and Chiang Sheng's amazing light skill and use of double blades in choreography. Though the film seems to have had a much bigger budget than the Shaw Brothers Venoms films, it is lacking in that the actors in the film are not the usual cast of supporting actors we have come to know and love in the Shaw Brothers films. These actors were apparently all young Taiwanese stars on the independent circuit, and it's a bit of a disappointment not being able to pick the familiar faces of Yu Tai Ping, Ma Sze-Peng, Lau Shi Kwong, Chu Ker, etc out of the crowd. Other than that, the only other minor complaint that I have with this film is that Ti Lung was somewhat wasted in this movie, having a very small and ineffective role. Though he has stated that he did not enjoy the arduous process of being director, fight choreographer and star of this film all at once, I feel that he did a tremendous job. Capitalizing on the Ninja craze of the mid-80's, Kuo Chui created an intricately detailed, vivid representation of the art of the Ninja, and this film is a real treat to watch!.

Rating:
Summary: The "Five Venoms" in a non-Shaw film
Review: Members of the "Five Venoms" made this film after leaving the Shaw Brothers studios. Don't pay attention the the review by "A reader from Tacoma,Washington". This film is not cut. He is confusing this film with the film Super Ninjas.

Rating:
Summary: Could have been better if it wasn't all cut up.. 8-(
Review: My favorite movie to watch in the 80's...Best fight scenes I've ever seen in a long time.. This movie will have you thinking your a ninja too.., but the end was cutabout...30 minutes..They show the sun ninjas..but they left out the underground ninjas...tree ninjas...and the black ninjas.. but if you've never seen it before, then you wont be missing out that much because this movie still kix azz.. 8-)