In my opinion this Shaw Brothers effort has everything. If you want drama, comedy, some mild horror and some of the most incredible action committed to film then you have it.

The plot may be somewhat on the thin side but it's held together by a superb ensemble.

Lo Meng plays an ex-peace keeper who leaves his team due to their corrupt ways. He meets up with a conman and together they end up protecting a very important document many people are out to get.

On the way we have fantastic scenery, costumes and some fairly engaging character development.

Of course, it's the action we all want and this movie delivers...ten fold. The last, say, thirty minutes alone is a half hour dedicated to bringing us, the viewer, an incredible viewing experience. Weapons and hand to hand combat like none you've ever seen seamlessly blend into each other. It's mind bogglingly entertaining.

Even the change of pace after what is essentially the final fight is welcome or at least I thought so despite what others may say.

Yes, I have gripes with "Lion Vs. Lion" but to air them would be to post major spoilers. I suppose I can simply say "Why?" and those that have viewed this masterpiece will know exactly what I'm talking about.

All in all this is ballistic perfection and should not be looked over.

The plot, while more complex then many similar efforts, is basically the traditional "We must destroy Shaolin!" movie. It's very competent in executing its plot and the strong cast put in good work especially at the times where characters are developed and thickened out for us to connect to.

However, I disagree with many when it comes to the fights. While it does have its fair share, the choreography wasn't quite to my liking. Don't get me wrong, it's above average, but at times it feels very blocky and awkward. Maybe it's just that I prefer the quicker, more eye-widening complexities from other movies, but I felt disappointed with this at times.

An achievement in the genre but overall I feel it has a very average feeling about it.

Okay, so the plot is dumb and is shoddily put together; but if you allow yourself to indulge in the madness at hand, then you are in for an absolute treat. Alexander Lo Rei shines as a "doesn't take any kind of nonsense from anybody" kind of character. His fights are powerful and surprisingly excellently choreographed for what is essentially a B-Movie.

This is no Shaw Brothers classic. In fact this is as far away from Shaw's efforts as you can possibly get. It's 90 minutes (approx) of silly, off the wall, laugh out loud kung fu action.

Those of you that want a break from the serious kung fu flicks and want something beyond the silliness of something like "Drunken Master" or even "Miracle Fighters" then look no further.

This is trashy, but a trashy gem like no other. Seek it out and let yourself be entertained.

The premise is simple: a bad guy calling himself "The Kung Fu Corrector" wanders into town to, well, correct kung fu. As he does this, he manages to beat a trio of students' master, shaming him. The students each seek out new masters in order to perfect new styles and take revenge for their original teachers' loss. Trust me, it's a lot simpler than I made it sound.

It's your standard affair. Interesting training sequences, mild comedy and more than a fair share of fights. Unlike many conventional kung fu flicks, the action is where this gem excels. I can honestly say some of the best uses of spear and staff can be found in this movie. It's possibly THE best, bar "The Odd Couple." The empty-handed forms are lightning quick, powerful and incredibly enjoyable. There are moments that make this above par when it comes to kung fu movies. The addition of the teacher and his turning to drink is a nice addition to this standard tale.

Overall this is a ballistic, action packed outing. Comparisons have been made between this and "Monkey Kung Fu"; and while I think the latter is better, "Five Superfighters" more than holds its weight in a sea of wannabes and solid actioners.

Superb.

"Stroke of Death" is no epic. In fact it just about manages to hold together a very wonky plot. However, if it's action you're looking for then step right up and indulge in this masterpiece of martial arts action.

The plot is simple: a kung fu master sentenced to death leaves his young, mischievous cellmate one half of a medallion. The youngster (and hero of the tale) escapes prison and goes on a quest to locate the other half of the medallion. Of course, there are a band of bad guys after the same medallion, and once the other half is found our hero and his partner in arms follow its message to locate a monkey kung fu manual. Fists, fights and foes ensue. The fights in this movie do not stop. I have never viewed a kung fu flick with as many fights as this, and each fight is fantastic. The choreography is incredibly diverse and skilled, with some incredible weapons work as well as traditional styles we all know and love.

There are many nods to Yuen Woo Ping's Jackie Chan vehicle, "Drunken Master"--and "nods" is a nice word to use. In places it feels as characters and scenarios have been lifted directly from the original classic.

"Stroke of Death" links up numerous fantastic fight scenes with a lackluster plot. Some action seems way out of place; in particular the fight with the very limber prostitute. It just doesn't seem to matter. Those looking for serious melodrama may want to look elsewhere. For those looking for all out kung fu mayhem with choreography surpassing many movies in the genre, look no further. For an example of how many fights there are in the movie I timed how long it took between the second to last fight and the finale. Three minutes. It doesn't make much room for a plot, but who needs it?

Fantastic fun abounds. Leave your sensibilities at the door and absorb the incredible martial arts on offer.

The movie itself is superb. The tale, while simple, really tense to delve into Chinese versus Japanese sensibilities. What begins as an arrogant testament to Chinese kung fu becomes a compelling story of virtue and honor.

Liu shines as a man recently married to a Japanese woman. They go head to head when he finds she still holds dear some of her Japanese traditions including the practicing of martial arts.

The film's pace is perfect. The quarrels between the newlyweds serve as some light hearted banter between some of the more ferocious exchanges. Of course once the challenge is issued and the Japanese martial arts masters travel to China to fight Liu's character things simply get better.

What more do you want from a movie than sword, spear, sai, tonfa, nunchaku and three sectioned staff fighting as well as judo, ninja skills, crane fist and drunken boxing? Could you really want more? You could? Well how about a fleeting performance by Yuen Siu Tien and a cameo by director Lau Kar Leung as Siu Tien's usually character of the drunken beggar?

By no means is this film meant to degrade the Japanese as each fighter holds their own when fighting. Of course Shoji Kurata puts in an excellent turn as the "ninja master" and the final duel is incredibly versatile. Even the ridiculous looking Japanese crab fist is something to behold.

"Shaolin Challenges Ninja" is much celebrated and I understand why. Where many have tried, none of reached the heights of its ambition. A Shaw Brothers classic at the top of many a list.

The story is very simple. Two surviving Shaolin monks end up going head to head with one being captured by rival forces (Chen Kuan Tai). The other monk (Fu Sheng) soon comes to realize the guy he fought was a friend rather than a foe and continues to try and release him.

It's a standard affair but mastered with skill. The sets are lavish and the cinematography absolutely superb which gives the movie a sense of epic about it.

While it has excellent direction, great performances and a very strong cast with numerous familiar faces I just wasn't impressed by the kung fu on show. Don't get me wrong, the choreography was very realistic but I've come to enjoy fights that stretch the imagination and use bizarre forms to capture my attention. So while I'd say "Heroes Two" is great for those of you that like less comedy, more production value and realistic fights for your penny, those of you that prefer the quirkiness of movies that may feature, say, Dean Shek might not get what you're looking for from this one.

In all honesty "The Martial Club" is a standard affair. It does have its fair share of superb fights but I couldn't help but feel that most of the action were collective brawls in which somewhat shoddy moves and forms were displayed.

The one on one combat is where this movie excels. Crisply choreographed fights utilizing the actors' superb skills are really the highlight. Whether it be Kara Hui Ying-Hung, Wang Lung Wei or Gordon Liu himself the action is fantastic.

Of course the final fight is the most talked about aspect of the movie and, yes, it is superb. Dragon, tiger, mantis, snake and numerous other forms are displayed in this well thought out finale. There are few climaxes to rival this one.

With a mediocre plot and somewhat annoying aspects (if you watch the dubbed version the fact that the Northern hero speaks a different language does not come across and therefore becomes very confusing) this film is top notch on kung fu but a fair effort all round. Definitely recommended for those that like their one on one action.

While the plot is somewhat simple, the film moves along at a good pace. Mark Long plays a drunken monk (he actually rarely drinks) who collects five fighters with different styles (acrobatic, weapon skills, strength etc.) and trains them up to fight a series of enemies. That's it in a nutshell. Okay, so there is the odd mention of Shaolin here and there and some scriptures but it's not all that important.

A third of this film is training sequences. These are not your typical training sequences either. Most incorporate physical feats such as acrobatics and displays of strength while Chaing Sheng displays his pole skills and another member displaying some fanciful forms.

The problem is that the training gets tiresome. There is a nice dosage of comedy to deter from the grueling tasks, but it's not enough to keep the middle of the film from becoming a little irksome. The notable wirework during some of the sequence is also quite an annoyance as it is so laughable.

Once the training is over and some mild fights have been played out, the last thirty minutes turns into an absolutely ballistic series of fights.

Quite honestly, the final half an hour of this movie is worth the price alone. If you like your films bloody, it's got that. If you like well-done wirework, it's got that. If you like black magic elements, it has that. Like weapons? Yup, you're covered too. I swear I was in awe with the finale. Some of the special effects make the kicks and punches look spine shattering. People are hit and then slide across the floor on their backs. It's something to behold.

When Jack Long bursts onto the scene as a white haired villain the action even ups a notch as he gives each of the five fighters a liberal beating. But of course the good guys have tricks up their sleeves!

"5 Fighters From Shaolin" is not a masterpiece. It's a little confused and really doesn't pick up a good pace until toward the end. The action is not often but if you like your fights frantic definitely pick this up. It really is worth it.

I have heard complaints about the amount of under cranking in the film but I found it to be fairly subtle.

Overlooked and underrated, "5 Fighter of Shaolin," while not necessarily a must have, is a welcome addition to any collection.

For those who like their kung fu movies with more than a pinch of comedy, this might be an above-average affair; but I like comedy and still found this to be somewhat lacking in most areas.

The comedy is evident throughout but I found it to be lazy and not nearly as broad as other classic martial arts comedies. Alexander Fu Sheng plays a relatively satisfying joker but the comic situations he's put in are, for me, grating to say the least. Granted, laughter was heard from both myself and my wife (a fledgling kung fu fan) but I couldn't help but feel the standard of the good humorous moments just couldn't be maintained.

Of course I have to talk about the kung fu action. "Treasure Hunters" is worth buying for the last twenty minutes alone. This extended finale contains weapons fighting, superb choreography and the absolute highlight of the movie, a twin-sword-wielding Yeung Ching Ching, putting everyone else to shame.

However it must be said that the minor fight scenes scattered lightly throughout the movie seem nowhere near as good as the climax of the film. In fact, if anything, it feels like someone else entirely different was brought in to choreograph the movie sans the finale and the great cameo by Lau Kar Wing. The movie actually manages to make Alexander Fu Sheng look bad in places. Maybe it's the bumbling extras playing the guards, police and numerous other "bad guys" but throughout I felt the choreography was more than a little sloppy.

Of course then there's Gordon Liu. The "Master Killer" himself is superb (if a little underused) in "Treasure Hunters." He portrays his character with resonating calm and a screen heavy honor. His fight scenes (other than the end) are what keeps this movie's head above murky waters and just goes to chow what a charismatic entry to any film he is.

So, in summary, this film is definitely not for everyone. If anything I think it's for those wanting to build their collection as it's far from a "must-have". With both the comedy and action feeling a little flat, it left me feeling unsatisfied. If you have a few bucks to spare then go for it, but you can definitely do much better than putting "Treasure Hunters" at the top of your list. If not for the explosive finish this would have gotten a 2 out of 5 for me.

Having enjoyed kung fu flicks for awhile now, I recently began picking up as many of the classics starring Lo Meng and the gang as I possibly could. Of course with praises sung from many a rooftop about the Venoms' releases, I opted for one in particular: "Kid With The Golden Arm".

The plot is a standard affair. An escort service of kung fu masters is hired to protect a large amount of gold being transported to a specific destination. Of course this ensures that a gang of bandits--lead by Golden Arm (Lo Meng) and consisting of Silver Spear (Lu Feng), Iron Robe and Brass Head--are also out to get the gold.

What I immediately gathered from watching "Kid With The Golden Arm" is that it feels rushed. Everything from the simplified plot to the shallow characters to the awkwardly choreographed fight scenes.

Sure there is the typical comic relief provided in the form of a drunken monk, played by Phillip Kwok, but even his attempt at lightening the heart of the film feels lackluster. Past characters of drunken kung fu experts have been done excellently and badly, and unfortunately this one is done badly. A man carrying a pot of wine does not equal a character anywhere near the likes of, say, Yuen Siu Tien's iconic turn.

"The Kid With The Golden Arm" tries and tries but fails to improve on traditional Venoms movies. The action is more like badly coordinated dancing than the hard-hitting violence we've come to know from Chang Sheh and the mob.

The inclusion of a female character does nothing to sustain any originality that might be salvaged from its haphazardness. After all, she practically does nothing throughout the film's duration.

To wrap this up "Kid..." is a must for fans itching to add to their Venoms collection, but it's entirely too sub-par to be considered anywhere near a classic in my humble opinion. With blocky, awkward fights reminiscent of Chinese opera, bad characterization and a rather ridiculous try-hard ending, this outing for the legendary group is a little below average.