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Cast:
David
Chiang
Ti
Lung
Fu
Sheng
Chi
Kuan Chun
Meng
Fei
Wang
Lung Wei
Fong
Hak On
Leung
Kar Yan
Tsai
Hung
Action:
Liu
Chia Liang
Liu
Chia Yung
Kwok
Ting Hung
Director:
Chang
Cheh
Score:
  
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FIVE
SHAOLIN MASTERS
AKA:
5 Shaolin Masters ||
Five Masters Of Death
Year:
1974 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Chang
Cheh's favourite subject - the destruction of the Shaolin
temple and the events that followed - are tackled in this
all-star spectacle. As the 'Iron Triangle' was slowly coming
to its end, Chang Cheh began to introduce one of his new
discoveries to the blend, Fu Sheng, and packs the supporting
cast with a rogues' gallery of familiar villains.
The
film opens a few moments after the Manchu army has destroyed
Shaolin and killed most of its inhabitants. Escaping from the
slaughter are five Shaolin heroes: Tsai Te-Chung (Ti
Lung), Ma Chao-Hsing (Fu Sheng), Fang Ta-Hung (Meng Fei), Li
Shih-Kai (Chi Kuan Chun) and Hu Te-Ti (David Chiang). With the
rebellion movement in tatters, the five are now stuck with a quandary
- how to continue their ideals against such great
odds. Their initial idea is to confront the five Manchu masters
responsible for the temple attack, one of whom is a
Shaolin traitor (Wang Lung Wei), and try to quench their
desire for revenge. However, they soon discover that they are
not able to match the skills of their adversaries and barely
escape with their lives. The quintet are forced to
re-think their strategy after their severe set-back;
appreciating that they lack the ability to defeat the Manchu
masters, they decide to spend their time training and honing
their skills. With the Manchus using every means possible to
track them down, the Ming patriots know that their time for
revenge is nigh and plan one final attack.
'Five
Shaolin Masters' is a Chang Cheh film that has attained
classic status; the exceptional cast and well-worn storyline
have long been appreciated by genre fans. Nonetheless, I
couldn't help feeling that the subject matter had been
approached more successfully with films like 'Men From The
Monastery' and 'Shaolin Martial Arts'. What always made Chang
Cheh such a significant figure in the world of cinema was the
fact that his greatest works were underpinned by his themes
and characters. With 'Five Shaolin Masters', there is a
definite impression that the great director's inspirational
ideas of brotherhood and honour are somehow diluted. Though
the quintet of lead characters are fully bound by the Shaolin
code, the basic ideals that Chang Cheh's finest works fleshed
out are allowed to remain dormant. It is the underdeveloped
nature of these themes that degrades the production's merits.
As
was said, characterisation is another important feature of a
Chang Cheh film and, with 'Five Shaolin Masters', this area is
also found wanting. Hu Te-Ti, as played by David Chiang, is an
uninvolving leader while most of the other characters are
under-written. The only exception to this is Ma Chao-Hsing who
is given a mixture of playful arrogance and subtle immaturity;
his arguments and misunderstandings with Li Shih-Kai
provide moments of mirth that create a balance with some of
the more serious moments. Solid characterisation and good kung
fu cinema have not always been a necessary combination, but
one expects a bit more from a Chang Cheh film.
Despite
my misgivings, there are still reasons why genre aficionados will enjoy the film. The choreography is varied enough to
remain interesting despite the vast amount of action and the
production values are a pleasant reminder of the difference
between Shaw Brothers and the independent market. It's also
worth remembering what a stellar cast is assembled here - five
of the Jade Screen's great heroes face-off against five
infamous villains - this might be worth the price of the DVD alone. Nevertheless, there are too many little hindrances that
manage to combine and undermine the film's better elements.
It's unfortunate to report that this film cannot live up to
its reputation and fails to capitalise on its promise.
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