The New One-Armed Swordsman [3-Movie Set] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This is one of the all time great Shaw films. David Chiang and Ti Lung are great in this film, and the villain, Ku Feng, is fantastic as well. In my opinion, it's even better than the original "One Armed Swordsman".
Big Boss Of Shanghai (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Pretty good film, definitely gritty and industrial, the rise and fall of a crime lord--but can he retain his morality while his friend goes corrupt? Chen Kuan Tai with a fine indepedent production in the tradition of "Boxer From Shantung".
Marco Polo (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Overall, this ends up being a classic Cheng Cheh film. I was worried about the whole Marco Polo theme and the introduction of Richard Harrison, but the four Shaw stars save the day.
Magnificent Wanderers (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I think this film was supposed to be funny. It was not. What's worse is that all of the stars in this film are bad, no one does a good job.
Invincible One (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This, IMO, is without a doubt Fu Sheng's greatest performance (as far as playing the childish fish out of water type of character). Though the plot is no different from "Boxer From Shantung" or even "Chinatown Kid", the acting and ambitions of the characters stand out. Fu Sheng's recklessness and Chi Kuan Chun's caution make for excellent drama. The martial arts performances by the leads are also done very well. The only drawback is the villains in the film: they are average, but the fact that no one here is a superman or comic book type makes the movie more realistic.
Five Shaolin Masters (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure The film that introduced me to Shaw Brothers Films, Shaolin, and martial arts action. This is a true classic and my sentimental favorite, it stands the test of time.
Three Evil Masters (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I would have preferred a different lead in this film. Too much comedy. Any scene with Chen Kuan Tai is brilliant, but the young hero is quite annoying. Excellent choreography though.
The Teahouse (product link) Martial Arts / Crime This movie definitely proves that Chen Kuan Tai can act as well as fight. Probably one of the most unique films I've seen from this era...
Shaolin King Boxer (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure A good description of this film is "hidden classic". Chen Kuan Tai is brilliant as always and Lau Kar Wing plays a great villain.
Shanghai 13 (product link) Crime / Martial Arts Nevermind the plot, it's ridiculous, but the fighting is top notch and there is lots of it. Leung Kar-Yan and Lu Feng deserve special mention. Their duel is amazing.
The Savage 5 (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Even if you dont like it, this is just a very memorable film. A Hong Kong film but with the feel of a western.
Return Of The 5 Deadly Venoms (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure If Chang Cheh and the Venoms kept up with this type of brilliance then the Venoms would have indeed been the best martial arts team of the 70s and early 80s, but "Crippled Avengers" as it stands was just a moment of brilliance. The Venoms are great in this film, and the villains--Wang Lung Wei and Chen Kuan Tai--are superb.
The Iron Monkey [1977] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This is like the classic "36 Chambers" story, but Chen Kuan Tai is more brutal and vicious than most Shaolin training films. "Iron Monkey" is a bonafide classic.
Invincible Monkey Fist (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I actually like this film--imagine Indonesian martial arts Pirates--and it stars the great Chen Kuan Tai and a young Billy Chong. The locations are beautiful.
Heroes Two (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts Only wish it would have followed Chen Kuan Tai's character moreso than Fu Sheng's but definitely a classic.
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