They both worked in Taiwan, and dabbled in various genres--kung fu, wuxia, Bruceploitation, etc. Kuo's works were usually high on camp and crazy styles, while Nam's films had a somewhat serious tone, focusing more on story and characters. This movie is a good example of the latter's work.

Don Wong Tao shares top billing with Shaw veteran Chi Kuan Chun, playing two eagle claw students vying for the number one spot when their teacher is dispatched by an evil mantis master, played to the hilt by the great Chang Yi.

Chang Yi totally steals the show, from the moment he steps on the scene in his Merlin the magician hat and Ching Dynasty sneakers. Whenever this guy played a white-haired villain, he would dominate every scene he was in and usually outshine everyone else. That's also the case with this one.

The story is engaging and well executed, and the arc of the main characters plays nicely and feels believable. The fights are pretty cool and are very nice technically. But some of them lack a little energy, and I have seen better work from Tommy Lee.

The movie as a whole is a very good effort, and a nice representation of Lee Tso Nam's work. It is, in my mind, up there with his more popular films like THE HOT, THE COOL AND THE VICIOUS and SHAOLIN VS. LAMA (although those flicks were stronger in the action department). But give this a whirl, if you like some actual story between ass kickings.