Customer Reviews

Shaolin Mantis

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shaolin Mantis (bizarrely also titled Deadly Mantis in this 1983 print)is widely recognized as one of David Chiang Da Wei's best efforts at the Shaw studio, and deservedly so; it is one of the few not directed by perennial favourite Chang Cheh and therefore has far more character development, intricate sets and cinematography, and even numerous female characters; all features famously lacking from Cheh's beloved comic-book style. This is also one of the first and best movies to use the device of copying animals to create a fighting style and the painful training sequences that ensue. The synopsis can be found elsewhere, and I believe nearly any aficionado of these films would give it all five stars.

The one issue is the print quality: this "Platinum Collector's Edition" literally opens with video jitter, showing plainly that it was transferred from video (probably someone's home copy), not from film, and it is entirely "pan and scan," which makes it difficult to follow the action, and not only in the action scenes. That said, it should not prevent you buying it... it is regrettable, though, that in the age of DVDs, collectors and lovers of these films are still forced to content themselves with mediocre, "Black Belt Theatre"-type copies. Don't miss this one, by all means! But don't expect any extra features, and don't expect the print to be better than the one you taped at midnight a couple of years ago. NOTE: A HONG KONG COMPANY CALLED CELESTIAL IS REMASTERING AND RERELEASING THE ENTIRE SHAW FILM LIBRARY ON DVD! BEAUTIFUL LUSH PRINTS IN ORIGINAL LANGUAGES WITH DECENT SUBTITLES! IF YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON THEM, GET THIS ONE! (note: you will need a region-free or all-region DVD player if you do not live in Asia!)

This review if exclusivly on the DVD production and quality not the movie itself which I give a 3. First off, it's put out by Ground Zero Entertainment which is pretty much hit or miss as much of what they put out is duped from VHS and not film. This title, like most of their titles, are Pan & Scan which I really dislike. Half the action is cut out and the scans can get annoying. Although Ground Zero does put out a few titles like Shoulin Avengers which has great picture quality and is in widescreen format. Until Criterion gets a hold of these old school classics and gives them the treatment they deserve ( which is highly unlikely but who knows!?!!) look for titles put out by Crash Cinema and Celestial for good widscreen quality.

Forced into being a Ching spy (David Chiang) is sent to infiltrate a family that is suspected of being revolutionaries. He falls in love with the daughter (Li Li-Li) and marries her. Soon after the spy finds out that the family members are revolutionaries, the family discovers the true identity of thier new son in-law and for their daughter's sake allow him to stay with them but will not let him leave thier home. Time is running out and the spy must get back to the Ching Emperior to report or his parents will be killed. The spy convinces his wife he needs to leave to visit his family. He and his wife fight side by side against her family and she is killed in the battle. He goes and creates a new style of kungfu while in hiding called mantis fist. He then returns to avenge his wife and manages to defeat the rest of the family. When he returns home with his job complete he has an interesting surprise waiting for him.

The DVD quality is what is you can expect from from a dubbed VCR tape to DVD. This is quite normal for a movie of this type and any true kung fu movie collector wouldn't worry about this.

I rate movies based upon the content, the actors, and costumes and humour. The quality of the DVD has little to do with how I rate these types of movies.
This type of movie is nothing like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Iron Monkey. If your looking for movies like that don't bother watching this.

"Shaolin Mantis" remains one of my top 10 best kung fu flicks of all time. This was my first exposure to the mantis fist, and to me it's still very impressive even now. David Chiang performed stallerly, his overall demeanor in this movie was simply top notch!! I would recommend this flick to any old school kung fu lovers out there,,this is one which you'll not walk away dissapointed!! The only draw back is the picture quality,,,almost every copy I've come across is really poor// however, still did not take anything away from this amazing flick!!

This is one of my favorite kung fu fic's of all time. The final fight scene is one of my top five finishing moves of all time, next to North Shaolin vs South Shaolin. The movie starts off a little slow only to set you up for two different but simular fight scenes. The female lead is just a bit silly but she plays the spoiled brat very well. The opening scene and the ending are in typical Asian style (a few light moments, surrounded by alot of conflict). A mission turned love story to tragity, ending with a twist. This is a classic you or any body would want to add to their Kung fu collection.

I still had to give it 5 stars cause the movie is so damn good. But it is really sad how bad they messed this one up. Most of the fights can be seen clearly, but I have the red sun version of this and it INSTANLY became one of my favorites ever. So if you are like me and see this thing for 3.99 at the used store then I highly suggest picking it up, but then again if you are a movie fan at all than I urge you to get the red sun version for like 9.99. Now since groundzero seriously puts like no effort whatsoever in their releases, we get the benefit of an uncut version. around 97 minutes, but just like a movie like her, it could have gone on for another half an hour or even an hour would have been appreciated by me.

Now the movie itself is a true classic. I have to say that Lau kar0leung puts togethter his best directing performance ever. Most people will put 36th chamber ahead of this which is cool, but I like a variety of things in a movie, AND MAN DID THIS ONE GIVE IT TO ME. Now I do strongly urge you to get this movie because it is a rare gem. David chiang stars as someone working for the government and has to go on a mission to capture a revolutianary(lau kar-wing). When he arrives at his destination he meets a young woman who is beating up her teacher and throwing him out of her family;s house when chiang shows up. So of course chiang becomes her teacher, because, well, her uncle is the guy that chiang is looking for. Now the love story in this is what makes this flick EXTREMELY unique. I would have to give the edge to this movie over another of my favorites of lau's, shaolin challenges ninja. The action in ninja edges this out a little but you just can't beat the story in this. Now this is kung fu and while the love story actually made me forget that I watch these movies just for the next fight, the love didn't end up where I wanted it to. But to replace a partially great love story are a series of like 4 kung fu fights that pretty much come one right after the other, except for a small break for chiang to learn mantis style. And I have to interrupt myself to say that I am not a chiang fan, at all!!! But he is VERY good in this one and I certainly will look at him differently from now on. His work with the 3-section staff is pretty cool, and the way he learns mantis goes back to the origins of kung fu. While it is pretty far fetched, the martial arts are actually based off of watching animals movement, hence the 5 animal forms. Also li-li-li makes a nice appearence as david's girl's mom. She is extremely hot like always and does some good fighting but they could have made more with her character. But still there is a series of battles in this one that will make your jaw drop. To give you a preview, the final fight goes like this, I will give a SPOILER warning but I am just explaining the fights, so read below if you want to know who the fights will include.

Final series
1.-norman chu double swords.
2.-wilson tong with the spear. BTW, I don't know wilosn very well(except snake in monkey's shadow of course), but I had to read kungfucinema.com's review to find out who this guy was who is wielding the spear. Now I recognize him from master killer and many others, awesome MA.
3.-lau with the pipe, nice showcase for good hand to hand, oh this scene is freaking sweet. Almost better than the scenes with the girl and the one wher ehe learns mantis.

One hell of a movie.

SHALION MANTIS WAS AN EXCELLENT MOVIE WITH A GREAT ENDING.

SHAOLIN MANTIS IS RATED R FOR NON-STOP STRONG KUNG FU VIOLENCE.

The first time I have watched this movie, I figured it was bad. The second time had watched this movie, it's worth 4 stars. I have seen better Shaw Brothers movies. Nonetheless, the story from I Kuang is always brillant.