Killer Army

Rating:
Summary: Killer Venoms!
Review: Refugees are being driven out of the provinces when China is torn by civil war. Homeless, the refugees pour in by the thousands into towns and are forced to steal if they want to eat. Those that are caught are beaten, tortured and sometimes killed by the soldiers of the General, Lin. Lin is represented in the town by his top soldier, Pan Peng (Chu Ker), who is particularly evil and enjoys torturing the refugees. One particular town is controlled by Chen Chu Chuang (Lu Feng) and his brother. They run everything, including the casino and the brothel. Chen is just biding his time, waiting to join General Lin's forces, but he is unsure how to do it because the opposing soldiers, led by General Wang, are in the way. General Wang is represented in the town by his loyal man, Col. Cheng. Before Chen and his men can safely align with General Lin, they must dispose of Col. Cheng, but they are not sure of how to do this. Among the unfortunate refugees are three young men named Wong Shu (Kuo Chui), Yu Wen Sang (Chiang Sheng) and Ti Chia Ping (Lo Meng). Escaping from a serious fight with the soldiers over a roast chicken he stole, Wong Shu ends up hiding in the local brothel. A kind woman there takes him in, and gets him a job there by saying he is a relative of hers. Ti Chia Ping takes shelter outside a local Kung Fu school, and gets in a fight with some of the students there. The teacher, Chiang Shao Hu (Yang Mi-Chu), is so impressed with his Mantis Style that he gives him a job as well. Yu Wen Sang lucks out as well- he is caught stealing a basket of buns from a local inn, and the owner, Tang Tu Tung (Sun Chien) takes pity on him and also finds him a job, in the local casino. Wong Shu, Yu Wen Sang and Ti Chia Ping meet each other during a giant brawl that they start in the casino. Initially fighting one another, they are impressed with each other's skills, and realize it doesn't make any sense to fight amongst themselves. Instead, they go out drinking, and at the end of the night, they vow to become blood brothers, and quickly go through the ceremony. Then they stumble out into the night, barely avoiding trouble when they come face to face with Pan Peng, who is out looking for refugees to torture. During the torture of one man, Pan Peng unwittingly learns that Chen is seeking to align with General Lin, and offers to help him. The two become allies, and they quickly hatch a plot to get Col. Cheng out of the way once and for all so Chen can pledge allegiance to General Lin. Chen sends his brother Chi Ya, and his lackey, Fan Chang Hu (Yu Tai-Ping) to treat Col. Cheng to a drunken night at the brothel, then kill him, and blame the murder on the doorman, refugee Wong Shu. All is going according to plan, Fan and Chi Ya murder the Colonel and are about to dump his body in the river and report that Wong Shu has murdered him, when suddenly they run into Wong Shu, Yu Wen Sang and Ti Chia Ping. When the three men realizes that they will all be framed for the Colonel's murder, a big fight breaks out, and Chi Ya is killed. The three refugees take shelter in the brothel to figure out their next move. They decide to go to Tang Yu Tung for help, but they're not sure they can get there without being caught by Chen and Peng. The woman at the brothel is concerned, and Wong Shu promises that they will meet her behind the brothel in the morning. Through many roundabout ways and narrow misses, the three men end up at Chiang Shao Hu's school. He gives them uniforms and takes them in disguise to Tang Yu Tung's school. But in a shocking twist (I won't give it away), they barely manage to escape Peng once again. Afterwards, they debate on whether they should try and get past the soldiers and join up with the other General, Wang, or if they should head south across the river and join up with the rebels there. In the end, they decide to join the rebels, but in another bizarre twist (again, I won't give it away), Ti Chia Ping is captured, and they must fight a brutal and bloody battle in order to make it to the coast, only to find that Chen Chu Chuang is waiting for them... There are a number of exciting fight sequences in the film, Lo Meng tears through the ranks of soldiers with his powerful Mantis fist, while Kuo Chui, once again using "Black Tiger Clan" style (not sure if this is a real style, but he uses it in a number of films), using everything and everything as a weapon in intricate and cleverly choreographed routines. Chiang Sheng is beyond impressive in his sequences, though he is known for lightskill, and playful, teasing fight scenes, a couple of his scenes here are unusually violent. Chu Ker does a standout job in his fight sequences. And in an unusual addition to the Venoms films, several of the young soldiers have a unique and inventive practice sequence using acrobatics and weapons. But of course, it always has been, and always will be, the ultimate villain Lu Feng who truly shines in this film, once again using a spear, and spinning it to dizzying speeds all around his body while at the same time leaping and tumbling, and impaling his victims.Though the storyline of General Vs General Vs loyal followers and friends can be a bit confusing, this still ranks up there as one of the best Venoms films ever made.

Rating:
Summary: Astounding choreography
Review: The Venoms... the mere mention of the name will send any kung fu fan into a tirade about their awesome skill and unbeleivable fight choreography. They were indeed super human beings and I beleive that no one has been able to match their god like abilities to this day. Chang Cheh, who directs all the venoms flicks, does a wonderful job once again and I guarantee you will be consecutively amazed to the point where you will utter profanities whenever a fight scene occurs. And man are there ever tons of fight scenes! I recommend every Chang Cheh film I've seen and this one especially delivers, packed to the brim with kung fu goodness that has yet to be surpassed.