Shaolin Avengers | aka Invincible Kung Fu Brothers (1976) Review

“Shaolin Avengers” Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Invincible Kung Fu Brothers
Director: Chang Cheh
Co-director: Wu Ma
Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Chan Wai Lau, Bruce Tong, Lung Fei, Choi Wang, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Chiang Sheng, Leung Kar Yan
Running Time: 93 min.

By Martin Sandison

As a kid I remember settling down to watch Chang Cheh’s Shaolin Temple – for me the crowning achievement of his monumental Shaolin-cycle. A depiction of the classic story so nuanced, well-acted and topped off with a fantastic end fight, the film is one of the all-time best Shaw Brothers productions. The same year Chang as usual was an incredibly busy man, and made another Shaolin-cycle movie, Shaolin Avengers, featuring Alexander Fu Sheng and Chi Kuan Chun reprising their roles from Shaolin Temple, the film surprised me with an original style of narrative, advanced choreography for the time it was made, and a hilarious and horrid approach to the classic weak spot kung fu movie trope.

Fong Sai Yuk (Alexander Fu Sheng), his brother Fong Xiaoyu (Bruce Tong Yim Chaan, The Naval Commandos) and Hu Huigan (Chi Kuan Chun) have common enemies. In a novel approach to the storyline, they face off against them at the beginning of the film. As the fight progresses, flashbacks reveal the lead up to this deadly battle.

As you would expect from a Shaw Brothers classic like this boasting an innovative narrative, it’s written by Kuang Ni, who scripted most of the greatest films in the canon, and has over 200 writing credits to his name. Chang Cheh also assisted in the writing process, something he did from the very start of his career. The incorporation of the flashbacks never seems forced or jarring, they are a natural way to tell the story. I hold my hands up, and say I don’t have much knowledge of the real Fong Sai Yuk, and whether there is much historical accuracy here. But I’m guessing not, let’s be honest these movies play fast and loose! And there are so many of them telling similar stories, both Shaw Brothers, Golden Harvest and the Indies, that for many of them the phrase fast and loose is an understatement.

Interestingly, both this film and Shaolin Temple were not choreographed by the crack masters Lau Kar Leung and Tang Chia. They had the action reins of so many Chang Cheh films at the time, many of the Shaolin-cycle such as slices of brilliance like Shaolin Martial Arts and Men from the Monestary. The choreographers here are Hsieh Hsing and Chen Hsin I, who previously had worked with Chang on the disappointing Marco Polo. Both men cut their teeth in bashers and early 70s Indies such as Hero of Chiu Chow and Hurricane. So do their efforts at least match Lau and Tang? In my mind they most certainly do, and at times are more impactful and mind-blowing than Lau and Tang’s output around the time such as the flappy-handed 5 Shaolin Masters.

‘76 was a watershed year for the kung fu movie, mainly with the release of two Indies: Hong Kong’s Secret Rivals and Taiwan’s The Hot, the Cool and the Vicious. Both films were choreographed by the unsung master Tommy Lee, and ushered in a new style of action. Flashy high kicks, intricate handwork and an impact that hadn’t been seen before were ground-breaking. Shaolin Avengers was made the same year, and I would argue some of that influence can be seen here. There are the usual concentration on traditional styles of kung fu, to the point of overkill, but some takes are resounding in their impact, with a crispness and excellent timing that would be seen as the genre advanced in to the ultimate year of the old school: 1978. Having watched the majority of Fu Sheng’s filmography, I would say here is some of his best action. One take had me in bootwork heaven, as he deals with four lackeys, interchanging kicking techniques brilliantly. Chi Kuan Chun, a legitimate master of real kung fu, is in incredible shape as always and brings a brooding physicality to his role.

The variety of villainous actors displayed here is one sure to turn old school fan heads. ‘Beardy’ Leung Kar Yan, Odd Couple, in one of the first films in which he sported his infamous beard, gets a couple of fights and performs a deadly pull-out-the-innards-Shaws-style finishing move. Wang Lung Wei, Martial Club, the ultimate Shaw Bros villain, has a small part here and a couple of great two-on-ones versus Chi Kuan Chun. Among the lackeys there are Venoms Lu Feng and Chiang Sheng, and The Dragon, the Hero choreographer Tang Tak Cheung. The biggest surprise is that perennial Indie movie villain Lung Fei, in his sole Shaw Brothers part. I love this guy. From my favourite axe-action in Dream Sword to hamming it up as a Karate master in One Armed Boxer, he is always one to rely on. His fight with Fu Sheng on that great set, the wooden poles, is one for the ages.

At times the cracks of Shaw Brothers approach to film-making begin to show; there’s a set used in countless films that stages kung fu contests used here, plus painted backgrounds that look a little silly, taking you out of the film. The formulaic nature is of course present here, with a shooting style, character types and storyline we’ve all seen before; it’s a basic revenge plot, with Shaolin heroes doing their thing, and a standard filmic style with little variation or innovation from what we have seen before. However, when it comes to the fights there is freshness and impact, and the flashback narrative echoes this. Plus – get this – Fu Sheng goes through invincible skin training, meaning his whole body is impenetrable. Apart from… his anus. Whoah.

While not in the top pile of Chang Cheh flicks, for me this one is near the top of the Shaolin-cycle, just shy of its predecessor Shaolin Temple. Will Fu Sheng feel the sting in his brown eye? Watch on to find out.

Martin Sandison’s Rating: 8/10