Crippled Avengers
From The Deuce
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Also Known As
- Return of The Five Deadly Venoms (USA) (DVD title)
- Avengers Handicapped Hong Kong (original subtitled version) (English title)
- Chaan kuet (Hong Kong) (Cantonese title)
- Crippled Heroes
- Mortal Combat (USA) (dubbed version)
- La Vengeance des infirmes (France)
- Vier gnadenlose Rächer (Germany)
Main Details
- Released in 1978
- Color
- Running Time: USA:100 min (DVD) | Hong Kong:107 min
- Production Co: Shaw Brothers
- Distribution Co: World Northal (1981) (theatrical)
Cast and Crew
- Directed by Chang Cheh
- Written by Cheh Chang, Kuang Ni
- Starring Kuan Tai Chen, Feng Lu, Philip Kwok, Meng Lo, Chien Sun
- Produced by Lieh Chen, Mona Fong, Runme Shaw
- Original Music by Yung-Yu Chen
- Cinematography by Hui-chi Tsao
- Film Editing by Hsing-lung Chiang
Film Review
Crippled Avengers is another classic Shaw Brothers hit that came out right after Five Venoms (aka Five Deadly Venoms). You cant say you love kung fu without experiencing the old school films of Chang Cheh. Filled with blood, flamboyant characters and amazing kung fu action, Crippled Avengers is a prime example of 70s kung fu at its most stylized and fun.
The films story follows the "crippled master" storyline we first saw in films of the Japanese Pop Samurai genre, for instance "Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman" series of the 60s-early 70s. In that film series the main character is a blind masseuse, but he is also a deadly samurai who can take out anyone who dares challenge him. In Crippled Avengers we see that story sort of adapted into ancient Chinese history. The film also features the main stars from The Five Venoms: Lu Feng, Phillip Kwok, Chiang Seng and Sun Chien and Lo Meng.
At the opening of the film things start up fast, no waiting around for a story to unfold here. Three thugs attack Tian Du's family chopping off his wife and sons arms. Tian Du returns home and kills the attackers. While his wife dies, his son survives, Tian Du then creates two metal prosthetic arms for his son Dao Chang (Lu Meng) to wear. The arms also shoot metal darts. The father and son terrorize anyone who dares make a problem for them. The first victim of their senseless wrath is a young salesman named Chen Shuen (Phillip Kwok) who is blinded by the attack of Tian Du and Dao Chang. The next is a blacksmith Wei Jia-jie (Lo Meng) who is made deaf and dumb. The next is Sun Chien who has his legs chopped off. Their only friend Wang Yi (Chiang Sheng) goes to avenge them but he has his head put in a vice and he becomes mentally retarded. Unable to make a living, they all make their way to Wang Yi's master who agrees to train them in kung fu in order to get revenge.
The legendary Director Chang Cheh uses the stars unique personalities and fighting styles to create extraordinarily cool action sequences. The great acrobatic work of Phillip Kwok, Chiang Seng and Lu Feng is the main attraction. The men use only their own natural abilities and there is no fake looking CGI like we see 99% of the time these days in action films. BLAH!
While there are some brilliant action sequences in the film, the group also use weaponry to fight their foes. Things such as iron rings, and all kinds of other custom made iron attachments to help them fortify themselves after being crippled by their enemies.
Crippled Avengers takes us through the standard revenge plotline, but still the reinvention of that storyline by Chang Cheh is excellent and witty. No scene plays out like you think it will and the breathtaking action with the wily, acrobatic, crippled avengers will be sure to have any kung fu lover enthralled. A classic old school Shaw Bros. kung fu film from beginning to end. I reccomend watching this back to back with Five Deadly Venoms. It would sure make a great Chang Cheh-Venoms double bill!
Reviewed by Popeye Pete - 6/10/07