Gui fu shen

FIVE FIGHTERS FROM SHAOLIN is a cheap but effective martial arts film from Taiwan that flirts with the fantasy genre on occasion while never going as all-out in terms of oddness as other genre entries did. However, while the production values are certainly cheap and cheerful, this is a film which has a fun, anything-goes feel to it, and it's never slow for one.

The film's protagonist is an old monk (played by a near unrecognisable Mark Long, the Ghost Face Killer from MYSTERY OF CHESS BOXING) who is forced to leave the sanctuary of his temple after a murder takes place. He decides to set up a new temple, but must contend with villainous soldiers and a betrayal from an old friend, to which end he gathers five kung fu fighters and trains them in the secrets arts of the martial arts. All hell subsequently breaks loose.

As is usual for the genre, FIVE FIGHTERS FROM SHAOLIN contains plentiful knockabout comedy and training sequences mixed with some solid fight scenes. There's a particular emphasis on acrobatics here with actors throwing themselves all over the place and as such the fight scenes are fun and full of energy. The mid section where a couple of the guys have a crazy pole climbing competition is a highlight, but other plot ingredients include melodrama, tragedy, murder, and even a brief wizard duel featuring computer noises, flying needles, and plenty of sweat. I kept wondering why the sound of Big Ben chiming was dubbed in on the soundtrack. The fight scenes utilise plenty of props and scenery and inevitably the best of these is the final battle against Jack Long, which is crazy stuff, full of stunts, violence, and explosives.

This movie is barely unable to be followed in the beginning, you're not quite sure what's going on or why this master is collecting students. However, is ridiculously fun, and the humor and inventiveness slowly winds you over. It's not inventing anything, and the plot is nothing really that new, but the way they go about it within the movie is very fun.

It isn't a movie I'd watch over and over again, but for Kung Fu fans, it is a must watch at least once. Not only is it a must watch, I found out shortly after watching the film that Wu Tang clan also put this on their must watch movies from Kung Fu cinema. And you know it's good quality when they recommend it as well.

this movie was pretty sweet. the fight scenes were fast and good, especially the ending. jack long as the white haired villian with the super powers is no joke. mark long was no joke either. mark plays a drunk crazy monk who leaves the shaolin temple to build his own. he takes 5 kung fu fighters under his wing teaching different fighting styles. the ending was excellent with the 5 kung fu fighters displaying there fighting techniques they were taught. they took on jack long and his fearless thugs. check it out.

The Five Fighters from Shaolin was a very enjoyable movie. It was quite full of Kung Fu action . It starts out when a monk decides to leave his temple in order to defeat the Chinese Imperial Guards who brutally murdered is fellow monk . On his journey he collects 5 Kung Fu artist and trains them to help him fight the guards and an old friend of his a white-haired wizard . Full of fighting from beginning to end.

I was so excited to finally see this action packed classic, and I was not disappointed! Not only did it star a fantastic martial arts cast - including Jack Long in a similar look to his character in the brilliant Ninja Hunter (ironically this is also known as Ninja Hunter 2), but the fight choreographers behind the action were none-other than the amazing Alexander Lo Rei and Robert Tai. Of course, Lo Rei starred alongside Long in the aforementioned movie, and the most of this cast have also shared the screen with Lo Rei at some stage, or at the very least, been directed by Tai...

Directed Ko Shih Hao was behind one of my childhood favourites, Ninja Kids: Kiss Of Death (aka Ninja Tiger) as well as starring in a host of classics from the 70's. And sure enough, with those Alexander Lo Rei movies in mind, 5 Fighters From Shaolin totally delivered!

Bursting with energy, due to its fantastic kung fu cast, the film has some fun comedy woven throughout mixed with crazy stunt-work, with plenty of fast and furious martial arts choreography. Mark Long, almost unrecognisable as an old monk, travels the land to find the best (but most rag-tag) bunch of fighters to help him take on the white-haired killer, Jack Long. These include Shaw Brothers star Chiang Sheng, who also played the blind master in Ninja Kids: Kiss Of Death, and a host of other recognisable faces.

Although I talk about how 5 Fighters From Shaolin is just like Lo Rei's other ninja movies, it is by far the most comedic of them all. And funny in a way that doesn't detract from the top kung fu action that is going on. In between the many fights on offer, is the obligatory training sequences - which obviously begin in a comedic fashion before making the fighters into masters. This of course, leads to an insane 20 minute finale with the fighters taking on the awesome Jack Long and his men, in a kung fu battle of crazy stunts, violent moves and explosions in true Lo Rei/Robert Tai style, which is more than enough to keep me happy!

In fact, all that's missing is Alexander Lo Rei himself...

Overall: Funny and fast paced, action packed and full of great kung fu, 5 Fighters From Shaolin is well worth the watch and highly entertaining!!