My Favorite Martial Art Movie
Nuthin Nyce | Little Rock, AR | 06/13/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is an awesome movie. The fight scences are some of the best aever made, the costumes are great, and the use of weapons are really good. The basis of the movie is that the school of good guys (who wear white) has a tournement against the bad school (wears back) for control of the martial arts world. But when the bad guys lose, their hired killer throws the master of the good school his ring (which is poisonous) and tells him when he sees another ring like that that it will be his friend/master challenging him. So the master has his school practice and set up a defense system around their school. A few months down the line, they get a challenge from the killer's friend (the ninja school) to go against their 5 elements. So not knowing what they are up against, the good master sends most of his best warriors to see what the 5 elements are. And that's when all the action starts. Each element uses a unique style of fighting that will leave you awed. This movie is a great tale of revenge and regret. I think you'll really like it."
Pretty sweet, but... needs more venom.
Mantis Lake | Detroit, MI USA | 01/23/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"One of Chang Cheh's last efforts for Shaw Brothers, "Chinese Super Ninjas" is full of surprises, and is one of his best. Lo Meng is the only Venom in this, but he is joined by the likes of the very acrobatic and talented Ricky Cheng.
Our heroes are in a good-guy clan and win a tournament against some samurai-types. When the last one is defeated, he kills himself. Prior to his suicide, he writes a letter to some dude who looks like him, pertaining to dispatching the 5-Element Ninjas for a challenge against the good-guy clan. When the challenge arrives, the leader dispatches small groups to deal with the ninjas, leaving Lo Meng & Ricky Cheng behind to look after the group's headquarters. These small groups get absolutely slaughtered by the ninjas. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Lo Meng falls for the advances of a ninja-succubus, who helps kill all the good-guys from within when the ninjas attack. Ricky Cheng survives and escapes for further training from a ninja master he had once learned from. He and the master's other 3 students then challenge the 5-Element Ninjas.
I prefer straight kung fu to ninja movies, but this is definitely an exception. Cool, cool, cool. The fights in this are as creative as any I've ever seen. Full of cool weapons, styles, and guerrilla tactics. There is nothing wrong with the picture but it is not remastered or widescreened and is in English only. Celestial remastered this last year, but I've yet to find any availability in the U.S.. It's hard for me to imagine that Celestial won't release Region-1 DVDs, thereby blowing off the North American market. Thank goodness for Dragon Dynasty, who have at least shown interest in releasing this. We all pray they will. I will certainly purchase it again. Very violent, entertaining, and recommended.
1982. aka: Five Element Ninjas; Super Ninjas"
Bootleg
morgoth | omaha, NE | 09/30/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Celestial has finally remastered this movie so there is no reason to buy this Red Sun bootleg. The picture quality is horrible and the DVD freezes up like many other Red Sun discs. So make sure to get the region 3 IVL version.
5 stars for the movie. 0 stars for this DVD."
To bad you can only give 5 stars.
Jerry E. Monroe | USA PA | 04/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To bad you can only give 5 stars. This is an awesome Movie. Some of the scenes are excellent. Some sad parts and some good parts. Some shocking parts. I mean like some really wow parts. One guy is fighting ninjas under ground and gets stabbed from underneath. I mean like wow he steps on his own intestine! You have got to get this movie. If you don't have it GET IT! An amazing Movie. One of the best Shaw releases."