5 Champions Of Death
From the first time they stepped on to the screen, they were a major threat to just about every actor at the Shaw Bros' studio. Because of their flair for action and their uncanny sense of timing and weaponry skills, they quickly became cinematic favorites. Coming from Taiwan, they were a "force-to-be-reckoned-with" -- as all of their films quickly became blockbusters, one right after the other. Shown in America as part of "Blackbelt Theater" -- their fan base here grew overnight. Each movie always had such a gloomy feel to it (and were always bloody), that it always kept the audience on alert, because, in their films, anything can happen (and usually does).
Brought to prominence by director Chang Cheh, they appeared in the films he shot as part of his Chang's Films company, before they were invited back to Hong Kong for filmwork. Somehow, as he started using them in his films, audiences began to seek out the movies they were in more than other films shot around that time. When they completed the film The 5 Deadly Venoms, they would became known simply as the "Venoms" by their fans, a name that has stuck ever since. Amazingly, when I first started online, their films were mostly all that people were asking me about. Their films have done so much for the preservation of kung-fu here in America, that it would be impossible to ask someone their "Top 10" favorites, without mentioning them or their films.
Though, each was very talented in their own way, it's when they were together that they made their greatest impact. Films like Kid With The Golden Arm, Spearmen Of Death, and Masked Avengers have all become classics and some of the most sought after films. But, it was the film, The Crippled Avengers, that seemed to rank high on many fans lists, because of the subject matter (and the action) - all the fighters have some sort of disability (even the villain's son). Other films showcased their abilities in Acrobatics (Daredevils Of Kung Fu), fighting skills (Invincible Shaolin) or weaponry (Killer Army, The Destroyers).
Brought to prominence by director Chang Cheh, they appeared in the films he shot as part of his Chang's Films company, before they were invited back to Hong Kong for filmwork. Somehow, as he started using them in his films, audiences began to seek out the movies they were in more than other films shot around that time. When they completed the film The 5 Deadly Venoms, they would became known simply as the "Venoms" by their fans, a name that has stuck ever since. Amazingly, when I first started online, their films were mostly all that people were asking me about. Their films have done so much for the preservation of kung-fu here in America, that it would be impossible to ask someone their "Top 10" favorites, without mentioning them or their films.
Though, each was very talented in their own way, it's when they were together that they made their greatest impact. Films like Kid With The Golden Arm, Spearmen Of Death, and Masked Avengers have all become classics and some of the most sought after films. But, it was the film, The Crippled Avengers, that seemed to rank high on many fans lists, because of the subject matter (and the action) - all the fighters have some sort of disability (even the villain's son). Other films showcased their abilities in Acrobatics (Daredevils Of Kung Fu), fighting skills (Invincible Shaolin) or weaponry (Killer Army, The Destroyers).
Their skills seemed to overshadow a number of Shaw Bros' stars David Chiang, Ti Lung, and Fu Sheng, but not their charisma -- as they had a solid fan base established, years before the Venoms came along. Yet, from (1978 - 1981), they were some of the best performers at the studio, as almost all of their films stood out as some of the best around. One of the most famous films of their era, that showcased only starred one of them (in a co-starring role) - Super Ninjas. This film goes on record as being the bloodiest of all of their films. Eventually, they split up, some making films with Independent companies, while others stayed at Shaw Brothers. Their contribution to the genre cannot be overlooked, as it is still being felt today.
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