The Invincible Armour

John Liu and Hwang Jang Lee once again star together in this Ming Dynasty kung fu epic film. The movie deals with a Ming General being framed for murder. He must fight off soldiers while looking for the real murderer. The movie was choreographed by Yuen Woo Ping (along with Corey Yuen and Yuen Biao) and the fights are great. Liu's kicks are awesome, simply delightful. Hwang Jang Lee mostly uses the eagle's claw technique and doesn't kick as much as he should. However, the choreography isn't as complex and drawn-out as many movies during that time period are. It's fast-paced and very fluid. Overall, a must see for kung fu fans. You won't be disappointed.

This has to be the Best martial arts/ Kung Fu movie of the era! It can be hard to follow though so you must pay attention. There are 3 major guys who look alike and have similar sounding names even and then there are 2, 3 or 4 old master types who all look identical and in fact 2 of them are brothers in the film... LOL. I have to rewatch it of course to see if I have exaggerated too much for this review but as far as bad guys go, this bad master is one of the toughest I've seen in these kinds of movies. There are many fight scenes and most of the fighting is pretty realistic if you can suspend your disbelief of course and all are well choreographed.

Those elaborate, Shaw Brothers-style period costumes just don't work against a Poverty Row background like the one we see in "Invincible Armor", but hell...why quibble? Hwang Jang Lee and John Liu, two of the top three kickers in the business (the third being Delon Tam, Liu's instructor), tear up the screen in this film and that's what counts. My only complaint about the fight scenes is that there were too many distracting, split-second shots of shattered eggs every time someone attacked what they thought was Hwang's vulnerable point (his testicles, naturally). Just concentrate on the action, guys, please! Otherwise, this is a fun, straightforward flick that you'll enjoy if Hong Kong kung fu cinema is your thing.

I recently rewatched the Shaw Brothers classic Invincible Armour (1977) on Tubi. The storyline follows a young man falsely accused of murder by the Ming dynasty leadership. Forced into hiding, he meets a martial arts expert who teaches him the Invincible Armour fighting style. Once he masters the technique, he sets out to seek revenge and clear his name.

Directed by See-Yuen Ng (Secret Rivals 1 & 2), the film stars John Liu (Secret Rivals 1 & 2), Phillip Ko (Eastern Condors), Yuen Biao (The Prodigal Son), Corey Yuen (Fist of Fury), and Hoi-Sang Lee (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin).

This is another fantastic Shaw Brothers production, immersing you in its world with striking sets, authentic costumes, and a great variety of weapons. The villain is perfectly cast, setting the tone for the entire film. The choreography is top-notch, and the sound effects, especially the weapon clashes, always bring a smile to my face. There's clever and diverse use of weapons throughout, adding to the film's entertainment value. The dialogue brings some humor, and as always, anything Yuen Biao is involved in is a treat. The fight in the woods and the final showdown are martial arts gold, exemplifying the best of the genre.

In conclusion, Invincible Armour is an underrated gem in the Shaw Brothers catalog and a must-see for martial arts fans. I'd rate it 9/10 and strongly recommend it to fans of the genre.

John Liu and Hwang Jang Lee star together in this excellent kung fu film. The plot deals with a Ming General being framed for murder. He must then fight off soldiers while looking for the real murderer and with both John Liu and Hwang Jang Lee the fights cannot be anything else but great. Liu's kicks are awesome; it is hard to believe that according to his instructor and fellow Kung fu actor Tan Tao Liang, John Liu had problems with flexibility. When you see him holding his leg up as he stand still it is hard to believe this was ever true. Hwang Jang Lee sadly doesn't kick as much as he should and his skills are underused, we see far more in Secret Rivals of his phenomenal ability. The egg part is really funny although I am sure it wasn't intended to be. Having said that, this is great film for all kung fu fans.