The story is well put out. It keeps you interested in the plot, as many kung fu films rely on the martial arts more and the story second. So not only did it have great action, it had a very good story. It made me care about the characters. The training sequences are a highlight, as each training Venom is at his best. The Venoms really work well together and this film is proof. A must-have in the collection. Better than "The Five Deadly Venoms".

UPDATE: Sorry, I meant Wei Pei who was outshined, not Chiang Sheng. My mistake!

The Venoms are always pleasant to watch, with their fighting skills despite an average story line this time. At least, all the Venoms are present, something which is quite rare to find in a Venom movie.

There are some dragging moments in this film where Kwo Chue, Lo Meng and Wei Pai (the southerners) go into an arduous training session. Chang Cheh seems to be focusing on the kungfu training techniques than other things.

Of course, there is the finale between the newly trained Southerners and the much skillful Northerners, which ends with two of them left alive. Recommended.

This movie really felt more like a Lau Kar Leung film than a Chang Cheh film to me.

My biggest enjoyment came courtesy of the excellent training sequences (I'm a sucker for a good old school workout session), which actually takes up the better part of the movie, but they are done so well that it doesn't slow the movie down one bit.

The fighting was awesome too, and up to the usual Venom standards.

A definite must-have in my book.