One theme was martial artists who could fight while climbing up walls and on the ceiling. We saw it in Five Deadly Venoms, and director Chang Cheh pulls it off with clever editing and the use of wires. 25 years later we see the same vision in Matrix: Reloaded. The scene where Neo is fighting the Blade Leapers. They, too, fight while running on walls. Now with computers, the scenes can be better envisioned. Look at the stills below from both movies - a wideshot during a climactic part of the fight scene. Amazing the ideas Chang Cheh envisioned, years way ahead of his time.





Thanks,
VenomsFan

Hey, I've never noticed that....that's pretty damn cool. I wonder what Chang Cheh would've done with today's techno;pgy....KILL BILL with better action choreography?

I'm a fan of the matrix (part 1 and 3) but they were simply average kung fu wise and I cant stand it when I hear fanboys claim its the best kung fu movie ever (arghhhh!) They fail to mention the heavy overuse of wire-work and quick editing make these so-called kung fu experts look a lot better than they really are.

Well I dont want to sound like an elitist pig (or something to that effect) but, imo, I honestly believe these old school movies run circles around any of these newer movies (with Ong Bak going that right direction and hopefully others will follow).

SIDENOTE: I am going to watch Kill Bill vol. 2 tomorrow!

Chang Cheh was indeed a visionary, but he was in good company being right there at Shaw Bros. with King Hu. Lets not forget he was also inspired by the written works of WuXia novelists like Jin Yong (Luis Cha). Whose stories were full of such feats. "Sword Stained with Royal Blood" is one of his stories.
I also think too much emphasis is placed on wire work nowadays. I like it, but the old Shaw Bros. actors could actually do traditional, CLASSICAL Kung Fu and not just WuShu. Todays so called "Contemporary" Wushu is based heavily on aesthetics and not as much on effective techniques. And hey lets face it, that DOES look better on film. But I think the fight scenes in the older movies had a more "Real" feel to them, a better flow. Heres the link to a Jin Yong page. Go there and click on the translated story "Sword of the Yueh Maiden" You will see what I mean about the literary inspiration!
http://www.heroic-cinema.com/articles/wuxia.htm

Hey all -

Anyone see Jet Li's Unleashed this summer? There's a nice Venoms scene in it. In the end fight Jet Li, who did awesome in this movie, falls down a chimney and starts using some chimney sweeper type weapons. Turns out they are the same ones used in the Venoms movie DareDevils.

It was nice to see him use those, but even the choreography matches that of what was seen in the late VenomsFilm. Not a surprise though as Yuen Woo Ping/Corey Yuen who are the fight choreographers for films like The Matrix and Unleashed, attended the same opera schools as the Venoms.

Just refreshing to see this stuff in today's action films.

Thanks,
Venomsfan

I know this is an old thread - but I found it hard to resist...
Speaking of Matrix...
I'm sure you all recall that moment during Toad vs. Snake fight at the court in 5DV... Y'know, this moment:

May be just me, but that's when I thought that "Wachovski brothers must have seen this"...

I think most people take for granted the influence and impact that these old movies have had and still does have on popular culture. In my opinion, movies like the Matrix would not have had half its appeal if it wasn't for the martial arts. It made the movie! Even though there was a lot of hidden social commentary and deep meanings, the fight sequences made the movie a cult classic and Keanu a superstar. Our music is still influenced by it whether its the Wu Tang Clan (old but relevant)the sampling done on many hip hop songs, I was thinking about one of Bobby Valentinos songs, samples music from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Its all around us, just got to know how to see it

A heads up, martial arts sensation Tony Jaa has released a martial arts film tribute to the old school king fu films of yesteryear - ONG BAK 2!

Check out the trailer here (if you haven't seen it yet)



Now for his post and website, notice the weapons and fighting seen in the great VenomsClassics we have come to know and love:

1. Shield/Sword fights as seen in Killer Army and Shaolin Rescuers
2. 3 Sectioned Staff seen only a handful of times. one memorably by Philip Kwok in Killer Army.

And much more! It is a great film I have seen and is classic old school all the way since the VenomsFilms. Be on the lookout for this DVD in the coming months.

Thanks,
VenomsFan