The Thundering Mantis: Viewer Comments

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The Thundering Mantis
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by The Dragon

Liang Jia Ren. This is the film that made me want to see more of this man. Has there ever been an all-out, over-the-top action ending that has surpassed this film? I doubt it.

If you want to see some savage action and have never had the chance to view "The Thundering Mantis", do so. I want to know how it affects you.

by XslaveX

A film about Beardy (that's what I'm gonna' call him), who works at some fish market and gets into trouble with the Jade Horse Gang. This starts off fun, happy, and trivial; then the leader of the Jade Horse kills Beardy's mantis fist master, his fish market boss, and his little brother. This sets off a berserker rage within him and is completely, malevolently oblivious.

Despite some crummy satire, this film is the boom-diggity. The first hour (or right at the point where Beardy learns the mantis fist from his master) is where the film gets really good, because before this it's just stupid comedy. The kung fu action is, thankfully, not entirely kung foolery.

Beardy is one of my favorite actors. No one in cinema can express insanity better than he (except David Gale, of course). His screen fighting is really unique and really authentic. Completely an underrated actor. Of course, some fat retard called Ric Meyers said he knew no kung fu before he did a film called "The Victim". So what the fuck do you call this? Or "5 Shaolin Masters"? Goddamn that walrus lookin' piece of garbage.

The final fight had to be one of the best fights in kung fu film history. Not only is it very significant and dramatic, but also insane. This is why I think Beardy is one of the best when expressing lunacy. To think they implemented cannibalism in kung fu fighting. Oooooh, baby, so freakin' brilliant. And for your incentive, the action is plentiful, plus the fight choreography was excellent.

Even with the useless, pointless, worthless, listless satire, this film rules booty, bitches. Highly recommended.

AGREE?	READER COMMENTS	AUTHOR
Y	the finale is awesome	1MAFRK166
Y	"The final fight had to be one of the best fights in kung fu film history." UMMMM, YEAH!!!!!!!!	I love you rater haters
Y	All hail beardy, and yes, Ric Meyers is fat and stupid.	AH1706
Y	Leung Kar-yan has an amazing ability to perform whatever moves are shown him by a fight choreographer - something like eidetic body memory - but had no formal martial arts training before he became an actor. Ric Meyers' comments are irrelevant but true.	Jeffrey Frawley

by Rubberlegs

Crazy old school flick that only Leung Kar-Yan could pull off. Nothing too original as far as the story, but a very bizarre ending and that's what made the movie so damn awesome.

Chin Yuet Sang does a good job as playing the old master who teaches the Mantis Fist. The little kid who stars in this can be a little annoying at times but is still amazing with the type of talent he shows off.

Just an overall fun old school flick to enjoy. Great fights and an ending that sets it off. A must-see for Beardy fans.

AGREE?	READER COMMENTS	AUTHOR
Y	It is perhaps not a great film, but awfully entertaining.	Jeffrey Frawley

by 100pr00f
Wutang-corp.com

by Jeffrey Frawley

Is this really worth 4.5 stars? While there have been hundreds of more ambitious or high minded films, this just attacks some part of the reptilian brain. I love it. Our hero fights a losing battle with local gangsters for 75% of the film, learning an excellent form of kung fu from the requisite cranky old master and annoying kid acrobat, is pushed to the breaking point--and then we have the last 25% of the film. That first 75% is not what earns 4.5 stars. I'll leave it at that. If you ever wondered "What would really happen if a kung fu master was just pushed too far?" you can find out here.

AGREE?	READER COMMENTS	AUTHOR
Y	The end fight was outstanding!	Sgt. T
Y	4 for me. The end fight was one of the most original fights ever conceived. Looney kung fu SUCKAZ!!!	XslaveX
Y	The ending makes the movie! And Robert Tai's choreo ain't half bad!	JAY LEE

by MVR1950

Not a bad film, with "Beardy" teaming up with the kid from "Sleeping Fist". The kid in this film shows a lot more talent in "Thundering Mantis", even doing a believable Jackie Chan impression. A bit of warning to those a bit squeamish: the fun-loving mood typical in Beardy films is here, but goes in the opposite direction by film's end.

by Tigerbloodclaw

Wow! This movie had some very interesting twists and turns. I recommend this film to any that like extreme kung fu flicks, very bloody at times. Don't be fooled, this film is not as innocent as you may think at first.

by SA41862

by Porky Lo Meng

In this reveiwer's opinion, Leung Kar-Yan (aka Beardy) is one the most underrated actors and splendid fu artists who graced the HK screens in the late 70's and early 80's (although he still works in film, those were by far his best years). "Thundering Mantis" would be a mediocre fu flick at best without someone of Kar-Yan's magnetism. If you've seen (and likely enjoyed) Sammo Hung's "Knockabout", you know how well Kar-Yan can hold the screen comedically and with his high energy speedy hands in fights. "Thundering Mantis" captures the best of Kar-Yan's fighting talents while downplaying his true acting skills. The first hour of the movie sets the stage for the final half hour--namely, you see the happy-go-lucky but oft-bumbling Kar-Yan, fishseller and kung fu kid, as he pisses off a local thug. He then meets a young boy who is trying to steal fish from him, who then indirectly leads Kar-Yan to an older fu master who uses the mantis style. Some repetitive and predictable kung fu theatre filler goes on until the old man is killed and Kar-Yan seeks revenge. The last 15 minutes of the movie is worth the price of admission--some of the best fu, speed and control of handwork one can expect to see. Kar-Yan is a man possessed. If you aren't a Kar-Yan fan when you put this movie in, you will be when you're done with it!

AGREE?	READER COMMENTS	AUTHOR
Y	You're exactly right about Leung Kar-Yan's contributions to this film. It is unlikely the end sequence would have worked so well with any other star or persona in the lead. This works so very well.	Jeffrey Frawley
Y		JV47842

by JAY LEE

Although not a direct sequel to SLEEPING FIST, it boasts more or less the same cast (sans Yuen Siu Tin) and is definitely a superior effort to the aforementioned. Leung Kar Yan looks better and more on point in the fight scenes. Wong Yat Lung, the kid, is not as annoying this time. And Eddie Ko's villain character is more fleshed out, and much more despicable. I mean, he really is an evil bastard in this one. The choreo, courtesy of Robert Tai, is much tighter and more exiting. And the end fight--well, what can you say? It is pretty insane--and not so much in a crazy, wild way as much as a sick and twisted way. Awesome stuff. Don't miss it.

by Pat Rick

I must admit I'm not a big fan of Leung Kar-Yan, but after seeing this film I quickly changed my mind. This movie is very good, excellent fights, story; and I love the end. A MUST-HAVE!

AGREE?	READER COMMENTS	AUTHOR
Y	you know towards the end---it kicks butt. Nice rating	I love you rater haters

by EA43414

A true classic, and of course the ending is both exciting and yet a little disturbing. But after you view it you'll understand why. If you are a true collector of "old school" kung fu, this is a must-own!

by Shaun Williams

A completely uninteresting fact to most readers will be that I hate children in kung fu movies. That's right. I can't stand them. Usually they're there for comic relief or ridiculous acrobatic scenes. They do nothing for me.

I feel the same way about the child in "Thundering Mantis" but still can't get over the fact that this film is top notch martial arts cinema at its very best.

It's a simple revenge tale of a master being killed and a student seeking to kill those that committed the murder but the fights are thick, fast and ballistic. Leung Kar Yun excels and what can I say? The ending is a damn hoot. A complete twisted hoot, but a hoot nonetheless.

It's best to witness this gem for yourself as it truly is a masterpiece.

AGREE?	READER COMMENTS	AUTHOR
Y	I agree, this movie has some great choreography. The ending is outlandish and amazing. This movie is underrated.	Mad Monkey

by kangkane

This movie is another one of these fu films I saw in the early 90's that just blow me away.

The basic plot of this film isn't anything original (revenge), however how they get to the final fight scene and the actual final fight scene is unlike any fu film you would have seen before (I guarentee that).

This film took the final fight scene somewhere you would never imagine, it has to be seen to be believed (if you've never seen this film the final frames will leave you mesmerised and shocked).

If you're a true fu lover, then you must own a copy of this film.

AGREE?	READER COMMENTS	AUTHOR
Y	I can't really make an argument for giving this ***, but it's one of the most entertaining HK action films of its era, and I love it as much as you do. Okay, here goes: It's so entertaining that it earns ***, so there.	Jeffrey Frawley

by M.I.A.

ALTERNATE SYNOPSIS:
Ah Chi is a kung fu fanatic who is expelled from his gym after he has a run-in with Boss Hsia's henchmen. Now masterless, Chi spends his days aimlessly until one day he bumps into a crafty Kid and the two become good friends. The Kid introduced Chi to his uncle Chow, who was a master of "The Insane Mantis Fist". Although reluctant to teach the technique to anyone, The Kid trucks his uncle into teaching Ah Chi.

Soon Boss Hsia and his lackies, who still have a score to settle with Ah Chi, learn of his whereabouts and attack his home, killing Uncle Chow and kidnapping The Kid. Ah Chi delivers vengeance with the awesome power of the Insane Mantis in one of the Jade Screen's undisputed kung fu classics.

by Kung Fu Bob

One of my top 20 favorite fights EVER! Just a note: although Xenon released this film on VHS in a partially letterboxed print, the DVD is full-frame. What are those guys thinking?

by Keith Fraser

As the somewhat hokey-named "The Thundering Mantis" I bought the movie on a goof, then as the opening credits began, I realized this was one of my most favorite kung fu movies of all time that I saw in THEATRES as "The Mantis Fist Fighter". HUGELY popular in the 70s Time Squares rounds, the movie stars the actor from "Cantonese Iron Kung Fu" along with the drunken mantis master --- an immediately recognizable spectacular actor who routinely plays the drunken master or the monkey master. There is intentional comic relief, but not to a distraction. The plot is fairly mundane --- the evil gang leaders are mad that they constantly getting shown up by a local fish seller who learns kung fu at the local Shaolin temple in his spare time. In spite, the gang members eventuually kill everyone associated with the fighter. Meanwhile the fighter perfects his skills by incorporating the mantis technique of a local con artist beggar and his boy protege. The evil gang member boss, an Eagle master, in the end is the fighter's only rival. The story is compellingly executed with tempered slapstick and comedy. Numerous fights populate the film, involving spell-binding mantis choreography. The final battle is extraordinarily memorable, so much so that I certainly remembered nearly every frame of the film since I saw it over 20 years ago. A MUST for classic lovers.

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