Shaolin Mantis (1978) User Reviews (8)

interesting tale of conflicting obligations

[dmuel · 8/10 · 18 March 2017]

This is an unusual and interesting story of the often conflicting, or even contradictory obligations in certain situations in a Confucian society. It is also quite bleak in its conclusion, which often occurs in Shaw Brothers, revenge-driven Kungfu movies, but more so given the conflict of family, romantic and social ties in this film. An oft-recurring theme in Shaw Brothers' films is the lingering Ming resentment of Qing rule, which also is prominent in this one.

There are historic inaccuracies, such as a romantic lead, Chi-chi, who happens not to have bound feet, which would never have occurred in a noble family circa early Qing dynasty, and this would have precluded any martial arts study for women. But the dominant story plot is the hero's conflicting obligations to family, political loyalties and the intimate affairs of the heart.

None of this becomes clear until the second half of the movie, although it is clearly outlined early in the film. Some of the romantic elements develop slowly, perhaps a bit tediously, in the first part of the movie, but conflict deepens quickly with the resultant tragedy and grim conclusion of the film. The "mantis" element in the film seems slightly contrived, and unessential to the broader thrust of the movie, and some of the early fight scenes in the movie lack the luster of other Shaw Brothers' efforts. But the movie is still worth a look!

Strange, but quite entertaining

[Jeremy_Urquhart · 7/10 · 12 February 2023]

The plot of Shaolin Mantis makes it sound pretty serious, given that the main character's family is essentially held hostage while he goes to commit an act of espionage. But then he falls for a young woman and finds his loyalties tested, and that's when the film becomes kind of comedic.

There's a long section where he has to battle the family's various kung fu masters, maybe to prove his love I guess? It almost feels like a video game, with every stage being a new family member (and that's similar to Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, in a way - the whole fighting for the one you love and stuff). That being said, the fights get a little more violent and heated as they go on... but for a while it felt kind of funny.

That strange tone makes Shaolin Mantis feel a little off in parts, but it's still entertaining and kind of charming because of that weirdness. And when the action kicks in during the second half (there's not much in the first half), it's really well choreographed and fun to watch.

I guess the main bit of an action is a fight between Gordon Liu (who I don't think had had his breakout role in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin yet) and David Chiang. It's always fun to see two big Shaw Brothers stars in a one on one fight, even if Liu was almost (but not quite) a star at this point.

Really good movie but that ending..smh

[jarharnamme · 7/10 · 9 April 2021]

I like this movie. Mind you I watch a lot of shaw bros movie during this pandemic & I watch most of em with my phone in hand & this movie actually managed to make me concentrate on movie rather than my phone.

1st of all I don't like the main actor but somehow he's good in this film (he usually play as some1 cocky playboy confident but really good at everything he does) Kinda overwhelm that gordon liu in here is just for opening scene few minutes. That's it just minor character that isn't important at all I would have give this movie 9-10 out of 10 because the story & action is better than most shaw bros movie but that ending is just ugh. All that fight are for nothing. Maybe this is based on true story? Man all those trains undercover spy 💩 is for bad king & that ending just minus the rating of this good movie anyway 6-7 out of 10 aint that bad. I wish it end differently tho.

SHAOLIN MANTIS - Liu Chia Liang's unsung kung fu masterwork

[BrianDanaCamp · 14 November 2001]

SHAOLIN MANTIS (1978, aka THE DEADLY MANTIS) ranks among the best work of premier kung fu director Lau Kar Leung (aka Liu Chia Liang), who's better known for THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, 8-DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER, HEROES OF THE EAST, and LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA. For the first three-quarters of its 102-minute length, MANTIS is more of a drama with kung fu scenes than a traditional martial arts film, as it builds up the tensions among a clan that learns of a traitor in its midst, but one they must tolerate in order to keep the clan patriarch's granddaughter happy. It's a complex story, slowly and deliberately crafted, that, for the most part, avoids casting anyone as good guy or bad guy. Every character has clearly understandable motives and the impending clash of loyalties is inevitable, but no less heartbreaking for being so.

David Chiang plays Wei Fung, a young scholar recruited by the Emperor to infiltrate the Tien Clan in order to get evidence of the clan's connection to Ming loyalists and anti-Ching activities. If Wei fails in his mission, his own well-connected family will be punished. He infiltrates the clan by serving as tutor to Chi-Chi (Cecilia Wong Hang-Sau, aka Huang Hsin-Hsiu), the spoiled teenaged granddaughter of Tien (Lau Kar Wing). When Tien investigates Wei's background and finds out who he really is, lovestruck Chi-Chi saves Wei's life by marrying him and promising Tien that Wei will never leave the village. Eventually, Wei must get the information he has gathered back to the Emperor or his own family will suffer. This puts Chi-Chi in a difficult position and forces her to have to choose between husband and family. Although they are slow in coming, just after the midway point there are a number of intense fight scenes--a mix of straight kung fu and sword- and spear-play--featuring six major kung fu performers: Chiang, Lau, Lily Li, Wilson Tong, Norman Chu and John Chang.

However, at the ¾ point, the film sharply shifts gears into more traditional kung fu territory, sending David's character alone into the wild to observe a praying mantis and develop the mantis style of fighting. He then returns to continue the fight. After some typically furious Lau Kar Leung-staged fights in the last 20 minutes, there is a genuinely surprising twist ending. The problem here is that the dramatic momentum built up by the interplay of moral obligations and family dynamics is somewhat dissipated, replacing intricate and complex character interaction with a final half-hour of more conventional kung fu practice and combat, albeit superbly done.

The film is beautifully crafted and staged on lavish sets at the Shaw Bros. studio. The screenplay is by Szeto An (evidently filling in for regular Shaw Bros. scribe I Kuang and doing a great job). The fights are not quite as intricate as Lau's best fights (see 8-DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER, HEROES OF THE EAST, and LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA), but they still rank among the best of the genre, particularly the final fight between David Chiang and Lau Kar Wing. Chiang may not have been as skilled a fighting star as Gordon Liu and Alexander Fu Sheng, but he was a fine actor and, when guided by the best fight directors, could put on a good show amidst better fighters.

The real discovery in this film is actress Huang Hsin-Hsiu (aka Wong Hang Sau), who plays Chi-Chi. She's not only a competent fighter, but a powerful actress, mixing playful moments with strong dramatic scenes. For the first three-quarters, the film is really hers. Also in the cast are the great fighting femme Lily Li (as Chi-Chi's mother), Lau Kar Wing (aka Liu Chia-Yung, the director's brother), Norman Chu, and Wilson Tong (who also served as co-fight choreographer with the director). Gordon Liu makes a cameo appearance as (what else?) a monk who fights David briefly in the opening sequence. Special mention should also be given to the praying mantis that shares a few scenes with David. Either this is an expertly crafted moveable model or an incredibly well-trained mantis! (Truth to tell, it looks real to me.)

While the film's structural flaw is not fatal, it does keep it from being one of the absolute best of the kung fu genre. Still, fans of Shaw Bros. films who don't mind drama and characterization mixed in with martial arts will be amply rewarded.

Caught between a rock and a hard place...

[poe426 · 10/10 · 31 January 2012]

Wei Feng (David Chiang), who is both an outstanding scholar and martial artist, is put to the test by The Emperor and overcomes a Mongol and a priest (Gordon Liu). Satisfied that Feng is up to the task, he dispatches him to the home of the Tien Clan (whom he suspects are guilty of treason) to spy on them. To ensure that Feng does as he's told, The Emperor blackmails Feng, threatening his family. Feng meets Zhizhi, Tien's granddaughter, and she fancies him right away. When Tien learns that Feng is a spy, he makes plans to kill him- whereupon Zhizhi saves Feng by claiming that the two of them are lovers. Instead of the "proposed" execution, a wedding is planned. When Feng insists on returning to his family, he and Zhizhi must run a family gauntlet to get out of the Tien home. This is where some beautifully choreographed fight scenes come in- fight scenes that rival the director's work in the later LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA. There's a wildly improbable escape that involves the sudden appearance of a dummy (strapped to Feng's back!), but the subsequent scenes wherein Feng observes and then imitates the fighting style of a praying mantis more than makes up for it. Throughout the dubbed version, the Goblin soundtrack from George Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD is put to good use. But it's the twist ending that makes SHAOLIN MANTIS most memorable.

FAMILY MATTER

[kirbylee70-599-526179 · 9/10 · 3 May 2022]

Yet another great Chinese martial arts film from 88 Films is released, this time featuring mega-star David Chiang. Chiang was the first major star I became acquainted with after seeing him star alongside Ti Lung in DUEL OF THE IRON FIST. I knew then this was someone to watch.

SHAOLIN MANTIS stars Chiang as Wei Fung, a young scholar and martial arts master recruited by the Emperor to infiltrate the Tien Clan, a family that he suspects of supporting rebel group and those faithful to Ming becoming Emperor. To ensure that he follows through on this task he gives him a year to follow through while he continues to remove the stature of his family and at the end executing them.

Wei works his way into the family when he witnesses the youngest granddaughter of the clan, Tien Chi-Chi (Cecilia Wong), berating her teacher and kicking him out. Chi-Chi is a brat to end all brats, misbehaving and doing as she pleases while at the same time being the apple of her grandfather's eye. When she asks her grandfather Tien (Lau Kar Wing) to take in Wei to be her new teacher he does so but remains suspicious of him.

Wei is able to contain Chi-Chi better than any of her previous teachers and eventually the two fall in love. Sadly Tien discovers who Wei is and plans to have him executed. Chi-Chi pleads for his life pledging her love for Wei. Tien considers what to do and tells them both that if they marry and Wei never leaves the family compound ever he will spare his life.

Remembering the promise the Emperor made concerning his family Wei decides that he must return to prevent them from being killed. Tien follows through with his threat and the only way the Wei and Chi-Chi can leave is by passing through the various uncles and their specialized techniques to finally leave. What happens following it tragedy on a grand scale.

Perhaps more than any of the other releases 88 Films has offered this one contains the mix of humor and drama we've seen in some but not to this degree. The sequences between Chiang and Wong have a simplicity and playfulness that takes skill to make work just right. They do so with ease. As well as these comedic touches the tragedy that follows is equally strong, completely changing the tone of the film before the end pops up.

Directed by Lar Kar Leung, who most famously made THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, this film features some stunning fight sequences that play into the storyline. Each battle takes on its own persona and makes for fascinating viewing. Couple that with Chiang's dynamic acting and martial arts skills on display and you have a film worth seeking out. Thank goodness 88 Films has made it easy for fans to find.

Not only is the film presented in pristine restored HD presentation for the first time they've included several great extras as well. Those include a limited edition slipcase with brand new artwork by R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien, a double-sided A3 foldout poster, an audio commentary track with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, an audio commentary track with Asian cinema expert Frank Dieng, "Complicated Families" David West on SHAOLIN MANTIS, an interview with actor John Cheung by Frédéric Ambroisine, the US trailer and the Hong Kong trailer.

Yet another in the series of martial arts masterpieces brought out as part of 88 Films Asian Collection that deserves to find a spot on the shelf of all martial arts and action fans.

Kung Fu & Sets are Okay. Character Actions & Behavior are Incomprehensible.

[camerica1978 · 3/10 · 18 July 2012]

Okay, I don't expect any classic kung-fu movie to have an intricate, well-crafted plot. But most classic kung-fu movies do have a simple, but understandable and logical plot. You understand why the characters behave the way they do.

Not in this movie. Most of the characters in Shaolin Mantis behave in unnecessarily homicidal & down-right dirt stupid ways. Backstabbing deaths that could have been avoided with just a little discussion between characters who are supposed to care about one another, aren't avoided. Unnecessary deaths & conflicts which could have been avoided with just a little common sense, aren't avoided. It's like most of the characters in this movie took a permanent dumb pill. Too many things in this movie just don't make sense, and that includes the stupidly plotted twist ending.

Some classic kung-fu movies I've watched again & again & again (like Fatal Needles, Fatal Fist). This one I don't want to ever see again.

Still, I give it 3 stars because the set decorations and the fights are decent enough.

Shaolin Mantis

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 12 March 2022]

Wei Fung (David Chiang, King Boxer, The Boxer from Shantung) has been given an assignment from the Emperor himself: work his way into the Tien Clan rebels, gain evidence of their connection to a series of enemies and report back. If he fails, his entire family will be punished. Complicating the mission is the fact that he's already fallen for one of his enemies, Tien Chi-Chi (Huang Hsin-Hsiu), the granddaughter of the rebel leader.

The rebels have already learned that Wei-Fung is a spy, yet Chi-Chi has already fallen for him. Her grandfather Tien (Lau Kar Wing, the choreographer of so many movies, including Master of the Flying Guillotine) doesn't want to break her heart, so if she can gain Wei-Fung's hand in marriage - and he pledges to never leave - he may live. However, if he doesn't come back with the list of spies, his entire family will be decapitated. And what does the praying mantis have to do with an entire new style?

Unlike so many Shaw Brothers martial arts movies, the fighting is part of the story instead of the entire tale. It naturally comes out of the human drama within the movie, making Shaolin Mantis a movie worth discovering. It also has a shock ending that made me love this film.