Movielogr
Shaolin Mantis (1978)
Directed by Liu Chia-Liang
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Overview
When scholar Wei Fung is forcibly hired by the Manchu Emperor to infiltrate a clan of rebellious Ming Loyalists, his mission goes adrift when he falls in love with the clan’s leader’s granddaughter. Wei Fung must choose between his new love and his family, who will be put to death if he doesn’t return to the palace successfully.
Length 100 minutes
Actors
David Chiang | Cecilia Wong Hang-Sau | Lau Kar-Wing | Lily Li Li-Li | Wilson Tong | Norman Chu | John Cheung Ng-Long | Teresa Ha Ping | Wai Wang | Cheng Miu | Gordon Liu Chia-Hui | Lee Hoi-Sang | Lun Ga-Chun | Wong Ching-Ho | Lui Hung | Chin Chun | Lam Hak-Ming | Johnny Cheung Wa | Ho Kei-Cheong | Yeung Wah | Peter Chan Lung | Hsiao Ho | Cheung Chok-Chow | To Wing-Leung | Ting Tung | Sai Gwa-Pau | Ho Bo-Sing | Lau Cheun | Tam Ying | Tang Wing-Siu | Chan Ming-Wai | Chu Kai | Got Ping | Wong Chi-Keung | Chin Yuet-Sang | Mang Hoi | Nam Wai | Kei Ho-Chiu | San Sin | King Lee King-Chue
Viewing History (seen 3 times)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/31/2024 | TV | Blu-ray | Owned | 7 stars |
| 09/05/2018 | Phone | Streaming | Video on Demand | 7 stars |
| 08/28/2015 | TV | Broadcast | TV | 0 stars |
| (Average) 4.67 stars |
Viewing Notes
Good revisit since the last time was via El Rey Network. I’ve decided to revisit all those SB films I watched on El Rey since that was a sub-optimal viewing (non HD, commercial breaks, etc).
This movie is great because David Chiang is basically a kung fu master undercover that weds the granddaughter of a Clan that Chiang’s family wants to take down (that business is murky as both families are questionable). Anyways he needs to escape the new family and wants to take GiGi (Cecilia Wong) his badass bride (under the guise of seeing his folks). Of course her family won’t let them go unless they pass thru each “family point” - they have to battle each uncle/mother/brother to escape.
That entire sequence is perhaps the best of the film. Another great sequence is when Chiang’s Wai Fung encounters a praying mantis and learns a new fighting style from it. The opening sequence when Chiang fights Gordon Liu is also great.
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