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6 Degrees Entertainment

Shaolin Mantis [Limited Edition]
(Chia-Yung Liu, David Chiang, Lily Li, Cecilia Wong, et al / Blu-ray / NR / (1978) 2022 / 88 Films – MVD Visual)

Overview: Direct from the golden age of Hong Kong martial arts cinema comes Shaolin Mantis another fast-paced fight fest, from the mighty Shaw Brothers studio.

When scholar Wei Fung (David Chiang) is hired by the Emperor to infiltrate a clan of rebellious Ming loyalists, his mission goes adrift when he falls in love the clan leader’s granddaughter and his plans are discovered.

From legendary director and star Lau Kar Leung (The Spiritual Boxer, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), Shaolin Mantis is another superlative entry from the never-ending showcase of 70’s martial arts productions.

An absolute must for collectors of classic Shaw Brothers movies!

Blu-ray Verdict: This is an unusual and interesting story of the often conflicting, or even contradictory obligations in certain situations in a Confucian society.

It is also quite bleak in its conclusion, which often occurs in Shaw Brothers, revenge-driven Kungfu movies, but more so given the conflict of family, romantic and social ties in this film.

An oft-recurring theme in Shaw Brothers’ films is the lingering Ming resentment of Qing rule, which also is prominent in this one.

There are historic inaccuracies, such as a romantic lead, Chi-chi, who happens not to have bound feet, which would never have occurred in a noble family circa early Qing dynasty, and this would have precluded any martial arts study for women.

But the dominant story plot is the hero’s conflicting obligations to family, political loyalties and the intimate affairs of the heart.

None of this becomes clear until the second half of the movie, although it is clearly outlined early in the film. Some of the romantic elements develop slowly, perhaps a bit tediously, in the first part of the movie, but conflict deepens quickly with the resultant tragedy and grim conclusion of the film.

The mantis element in the film seems slightly contrived, and unessential to the broader thrust of the movie, and some of the early fight scenes in the movie lack the luster of other Shaw Brothers’ efforts.

But, and with that all said, the movie is still worth a look, if not wholly for the beautifully crafted and staged scenes on some most lavishly created sets at the Shaw Bros. studio.

The real discovery in this film is actress Huang Hsin-Hsiu (aka Wong Hang Sau), who plays Chi-Chi. She is not only a competent fighter, but a powerful actress, mixing playful moments with strong dramatic scenes.

I mean, for the first three-quarters, the film is really hers. Also in the cast are the great fighting femme Lily Li (as Chi-Chi’s mother), Lau Kar Wing (aka Liu Chia-Yung, the director’s brother), Norman Chu, and Wilson Tong (who also served as co-fight choreographer with the director).

Gordon Liu makes a cameo appearance as (what else?) a monk who fights David briefly in the opening sequence and special mention should also be given to the praying mantis that shares a few scenes with David. Crap, I mean, either this is an expertly crafted moveable model or an incredibly well-trained mantis!! This is a Widescreen Presentation (2.35:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

High Definition (1080p) Presentation in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
Interview with Actor John Cheung
US Trailer (The Deadly Mantis)
Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng
Complicated Families - David West on Shaolin Mantis
Audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
2.0 DTS-HD MA English Soundtrack
2.0 DTS-HD MA Mandarin Soundtrack with newly translated English Subtitles
Hong Kong Trailer

www.MVDvisual.com





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