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Shaolin Rescuers (1979)
Heaven and Hell 第三類打鬥 (1980) dir. Chang Cheh 張徹
The Venoms in Five Deadly Venoms (1978)
Today I’m thinking about the interview where Lo Mang said he goes to the park and flexes branches from trees instead of using weights. He believes in training naturally since he doesn’t want to let the weights turn him into a "great big monster," in his words!
Life Gamble (1979)
Directed by Chang Cheh
Featuring: Lu Feng, Bruce Tong Yim-Chaan, Kuo Chui, Lin Chen-Chi, Lo Mang, Shirley Yu Sha-Li, and Chiang Sheng
Two Champions of Shaolin (1980) Review
This film is certainly action-packed and spectacular. All of the Venom Mob came prepared to give some of their best performances, especially during the fight scenes. There is a particular focus on the relationship between the characters, which makes each scene feel even more important. The storyline starts to unfold in front of our eyes as the audience is let in on the twists and turns of the film. The film has some brutal death scenes, but only after the exciting action sequences that left me hooked. This is a tale of revenge, so it is to be expected. Each pairing makes for a unique show of skills since they often match actors who have a bit of a different fighting style, but it melds together well. The acting is great as each actor really embodies their role and shows the different aspects of human emotions, from sadness, happiness, anger, and even love. Tong Qianjin (Lo Mang) and Jin Bier (Yeung Ching-Ching) provide a contrast to the violent aspects of the film, as Chang Cheh captures their journey as they begin to fall in love. However, it doesn’t ruin the movie or make it seem out of place since it is woven well into the plot.
Lu Feng returns as his character from Shaolin Rescuers (1979), Gao Jinzhong, but he brings a new take on the previous version. The character has different personality traits, appears more expressive and actively tries to get along with the other characters. He seems to be calculating and always planning his next move. When he gets ready to strike, it makes for an intense scene. There is some brilliant weapons work for Lu Feng as he shows off some exciting moves with the fei cha. Chin Siu-Ho plays a very important part in the film since he helps move the story forward with his actions. While his character is kind and sometimes childish, it is easy to see the mature and brave side of him. He is sneaky and intelligent, actively going against the antagonists of the film but putting on a ruse to hide this fact. It adds some suspense to the movie since you never know what will happen next. Lo Mang and Chiang Sheng both make the film comedic since they like to have fun or tease the other characters. However, Chiang Sheng shines in this role since he is portraying a smart character with undeniable skills, instead of the less serious roles he often gets. It is fun to see Sun Chien and Yeung Ching-Ching have characters with a special skill that the other characters didn’t possess until they taught it to Tong Qianjin, so they add some spice to the film.
It is worth noting that all of the fight scenes are different, but each of the actors gives it their all. The action remains fast-paced, so it does not drag out for too long but keeps your attention since certain scenes add some surprises. I’m sure you can guess which scene I’m referring to, but I won’t spoil it here in case some people haven’t seen the movie. It is enough to make your jaw drop when you see it. I really enjoyed how they paired Lu Feng with Lo Mang as the two adapted to each other’s strengths, highlighting how well they work together as a group. It is a shame that Sun Chien didn’t have more fight scenes, but the one he did have showcased some of his beautiful kicks. I feel it shows off how nice his form is and he had me on the edge of my seat since he was taking on so many people at once. Chin Siu-Ho, Chiang Sheng, Yu Tai-Ping, and Wong Lik were equally as fun. Everyone stood out in their own way and ensured that this movie wouldn’t disappoint. Although they did leave me wanting more, since they were really impressive.
The plot of the film isn’t anything too complicated, so it is easy to follow. That is not a bad thing, though. Each shot and the various scenes are exactly what you would expect from Chang Cheh, which is really nice camerawork and it all comes together perfectly. The scenery in the movie is quite beautiful with an array of colors. There seems to be a use of lightning in the film since some scenes are darker while others are bright, matching the mood of the scene. Each of the outfits is stunning as the designs are a mix of simple and complex, giving each of the characters their own unique look. It is clear that a lot of time and effort was put into the film. If you are a fan of the Shaw Brothers, Chang Cheh, and/or the Venom Mob, then this would be a good movie to check out! It likely won’t disappoint since it has a wonderful cast with the bloody and gruesome deaths that Shaw Brothers films often possess. It is guaranteed to be a thrill!
The Rebel Intruders (1980)
Lo Mang in By Royal Decree (十二金牌)
Two Champions of Shaolin (1980)
Lo Mang and Kuo Chui in Five Deadly Venoms (1978)
《五毒》
Lo Mang in Vampire Cleanup Department (2017)
《救殭清道夫》
The Venoms and their villain characters
The Venoms all have really pretty smiles! I just love when they smile in their films and also in photos! It is neat how their smiles are all so different, but light up the screen.
To me, Lu Feng has one that really starts in his cheeks and then moves up to his eyes. It is very bright and exuberant. Charm practically oozes from it. Wei Pai has one that either has no teeth or he gets very toothy with it. His is gentle and displays nothing but happiness and sweetness. Sun Chien's tends to be very enthusiastic. His eyes certainly crinkle up to display true happiness. A lot of times, his eyes will twinkle in a beautiful way. Kuo Chui's smile can be described as broad and beaming since it takes up his whole face typically. He always looks so cheerful and you can see the indents in his cheeks. Lo Mang has one that I feel is dazzling because he seems to shine whenever he grins. Honestly, it does not even have to be that wide to really hit you since it's naturally vibrant. Lastly, Chaing Sheng has always had a smile that is very infectious. He is just so adorable with such a sweet look on his face whenever he flashes it at someone or something. You can tell that he was jovial, or at least that is how I feel.
How old are the venoms?
There seems to be some confusion regarding some Venoms’ birthdays, and therefore we cannot guarantee these are 100% accurate, but we can give fairly accurate guesses based on various sources.
In order, from oldest to youngest:
• Chiang Sheng is often cited as being born in 1951, which would make him 71. Tragically, Chiang Sheng died in 1991, so this is instead the 31st anniversary of his passing away. Kuo Chui confirmed in an interview that his own birth year was 1951, so he will be turning 71 on October 21.
• Sun Chien is said to have been born in 1955, putting him at 67 years old.
• Lu Feng often surprises fans with the fact that he is the third-youngest in of the Venoms, being born in 1956. He just turned 66 on April 3rd if our sources are correct.
• According to our sources, Lo Mang was also born in 1956 but three months after Lu Feng, so this would make him the second youngest!
• Wai Pai is by many accounts the youngest Venom, born in 1957. This makes him 65 as of this year.
How many of the mob we’re from taiwan?
If we're talking about the main six, then four of them were! Sun Chien, Lu Feng, Kuo Chui, and Chiang Sheng were all from Taiwan. Lo Mang is from Hong Kong, and it is unknown where Wei Pai is from exactly.
But if we're talking about the whole mob, then there were still quite a few of them from Taiwan! For example, b-tiers Yu Tai-Ping, Yang Hsiung, Robert Tai, Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi, Li Yi-Min, and Chu Ko all came from there.
Invincible Shaolin (1978)
Chinatown Kid (1977)