.....

TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH (1981)
NS Video 
100 Minutes
Directed by Chang Cheh
Produced by Mona Fong and Runme Shaw
Written by I Kuang and Chang Cheh
Cinematography by Tsao Hui Chi
Fighting Instructions by Lu Feng, Kuo Chi, and Chiang Sheng
Music by Eddie Wang
Cast: Lo Meng, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Sun Chien, Wang Li, Yu Tai Ping, Chen Hsiao Hao, Candy Wen Xue, Yeung Jing Jing, Walter Cho Tat-Wah
Video: Full Frame (1.33.1)
Audio: Dolby Digital Mono 2.0
Subtitles: None
Packaging: Keepcase
Chapter Stops: 14

TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH is unique in that it allows the other Venom bit-players to share the spotlight with the main Venoms crew. Kuo Chi is absent in this one but handles the choreography. Lu Feng is the villain again and he doesn’t show up until the last half hour. The core Venoms group is Lo Mang, Chiang Sheng, and Sun Shien, who again play legendary heroes of Chinese folklore. Lo Mang is Tung Chen Chin, the Chinese equivalent of Hercules (who displays fantastic feats of strength). Chiang Sheng is Hu Wei Ching, another prominent legend of ancient folklore. The limited screen time commanded by the Venoms affords the supporting actors much screen time. These talented supporting cast include the gorgeous Candy Wen Xue, also seen in other Shaw Brothers movies like SWORD STAINED WITH ROYAL BLOOD, BRAVE ARCHER AND HIS MATE, and ODE TO GALLANTRY. Another Kung Fu vixen, Yeung Jing Jing, had prominent roles in FIST OF THE WHITE LOTUS, RETURN TO THE 36^TH CHAMBER, and INVINCIBLE POLE FIGHTER. Actor Chin Siu Ho is still active in the contemporary HK film scene, but back in the day he appeared in such Venoms classics as MASKED AVENGERS, HOUSE OF TRAPS, and TEN TIGERS OF KWANGTUNG. Wong Li is another Venoms bit player as evidenced by his roles in SHAOLIN RESCUSERS, TEN TIGERS OF KWANTUNG, and FLAG OF IRON. The same can be said for Yu Tai Ping who appeared in CHINESE SUPER NINJAS, THE CHINATOWN KID, and BRAVE ARCHER PART 3. And HK film veteran Walter Cho Tat-Wah starred in the classics KILLER CONSTABLE, BUDDHA’S PALM, and SHAOLIN RESCUERS and plays the villainous leader of the Wu Tang Clan. NS Video released TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH on DVD as part of their second wave of Venoms films in 2001. Coincidentally, this movie is also available from Panmedia International as TWO CHAMPIONS OF SHAOLIN. There is also another version available from Venom Mob Films making TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH the first Venom film available in three versions.

The wise Shaolin Abbot Chi San prepares his underground forces for battle against the Manchurians, who have seized control of China. Chi San recruits Tung Chen Chin (Lo Meng) because of his incredible strength (he’s known as the Chinese Hercules). It was the Manchurians who killed his parents, so Tung Chen Chin burns with hatred for them, and is only too happy to join the rebel cause. Meanwhile, Pei Mei (Walter Cho Tat-Wah) has defected from the Shaolin, and now leads the Wu Tang Clan. Pei Mei assigns Li Te Tung (Yu Tai Ping) and his brother Pa San (Wang Li) the task of tracking down and destroying the Shaolin rebels. Li Te Tung vows to destroy the natural enemies of the Wu Tang, and employs his own Shaolin-hating daughter, Erh Wan (Candy Wen Xue) to assist him. He also secures the services of Wei Ting Kung (Chin Siu Ho), a Wu Tang orphan whose parents were killed by the Manchurians. Though Wei Ting Kung is faithful to the Wu Tang, it kills him to see that his clan are now lackeys of the Chings. Meanwhile, Chi San requests that Tung Chen Chin travel to Canton and recruit his brother, Hu Wei Chin as a valuable ally. While searching for his brother in Canton, Tung Chen Chin crosses swords with Li Te Tung and his Wu Tang guards. The Chinese Hercules beats off the attack of his enemies, but he is wounded by Li Te Tung’s Flying Daggers. He is rescued by Chin Ta Lei (Sun Chien) and his sister Pei (Yeung Jing Jing) who hate Li Te Hung because the Wu Tang bandit killed their father. In retaliation, they have sworn to get revenge against him and Pei has even mastered Li Te Lung’s own Flying Daggers weapons and tactics. When Tung Chen Chin is healed and mobile again, the brother and sister duo teach him how to counter the Flying Daggers techniques, should he ever face Li Te Tung again.

While all three martial artists train together, Tung Chen Chin and Pei fall in love, and get engaged. Hu Wei Chin eventually meets up with his brother and his new found friends, and together they prepare for the downfall of the Wu Tang Clan. More Wu Tang soldiers soon arrive commanded by Pa San. The four heroes easily defeat him and his followers. When word of this gets back to Pei Mei, he sends for the regal assassin Kao Chin Chun (Lu Feng), and his disciples, the Yuen brothers. Kao Chin Chun and his band raid the Shaolin Temple, forcing the rebels to flee. The survivors go to Canton and meet up with Tung Chen Chin and his allies. The rebels are unable to identify the killers because they were all wearing masks. Tung Chen Chin, Hu Wei Chin, Chin Ta Lei, and the other rebels clash with the Wu Tang once again, gaining the upper hand and killing Li Te Tung. His brother Pa San plots his revenge by crashing the wedding of Tung Chen Chin and his bride, Pei. Their friends and family don’t suspect the attack, so once it comes no one is able to prevent Pa San from capturing the Groom and taking him back to the Wu Tang headquarters. Pa San strings up Tung Chen Chin and prepares to execute him, until Wei Ting Kung intervenes. Wei Ting Kung is cunning and betrays the Wu Tang without them knowing it, then frees Tung Chen Chin. Pa San and his men cannot prevent their prisoner from escaping, which prompts Pei Mei to take matters into his own hands. He sends Kao Chin Chun and the Yuen Brothers to destroy these allied followers of Shaolin. The final battle erupts with Tung Chen Chin, Hu Wei Chin, Chin Ta Lei, and their new ally Wei Ting Kung challenging Kao Chen Chin and the Yuen Clan.

As you can tell, TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH is one of the most convoluted of Chang Cheh’s Venoms films. What appears to be yet another Shaolin Vs. Wu Tang picture transforms into something else altogether. The complex script tries to pack in too many ideas and characters that it tends to overwhelm the viewer. TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH contains four (count ‘em four) young fighters who are seeking revenge for the death of their parents. This generalization is played out to the extreme, with absurd results. I Kuang’s script lays the groundwork for a truly epic martial arts film that incorporates all the heroes of Chinese mythology—but this is something Chang Cheh fails to deliver on. Perhaps the background and characters are just so rich, that no director could fully explore the premise sufficiently. The pacing is sometimes awkward, with long periods of time between fight scenes. Several major revelations, such as the marriage of Tung Chin Chen, are only barely implied. There are some moments of vintage Chang Cheh, namely the bloody violent and super nihilistic ending which depicts the heroes with big smiles on their faces while they expire.

The absence of Kuo Chi also affects the potential of TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH. The Venoms characters on display here are their usual stereotype. Lo Mang is the usual brave, overconfident, and dim-witted muscleman (who is captured twice!). Chiang Sheng is the charming and cocky daredevil. Sun Shien, often cast as a baddie delivers a solid performance as the vengeance-driven brother. Lu Feng is of course the nasty villain, but give the man credit; he plays his part a bit differently for TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH than other roles. Usually he’s a stoic and downright nasty presence, but in this movie his evil personae is regal and flamboyant, echoing the well mannered high-society occultist he played in MASKED AVENGERS. His character Kao Chin Chun communicates with his intended victims by playing cat and mouse with them. Lu Feng’s participation in the film is one of the best reasons for recommending it. Outside of the Venoms crew, there are good supporting performances by Chu Tai Ping, Wong Li, and especially Chin Siu Ho in this, his movie debut. With Lu Feng, Kuo Chi, and Chiang Sheng in charge of the fight choreography, you know that TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH will deliver. Most of the fighting is mostly one-on-one hand-to-hand combat, with a few wild weapons thrown in such as the Flying Daggers. Not a whole lot of poles, sectionals, or other weapons until the finale, which is a whirlwind of complex martial arts movements. The characters known as the Yuen Brothers (and not the real-life respected choreographers) use Monkey Style Kung Fu on their victims. Lu Feng again uses a trident on his opponents during the climax.

SIGHT

TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH opens with the original Shawscope logo, and the English language credits are in widescreen. For a Shaw Brothers first, this opening credit sequence contains animation that reminds one of the martial arts equivalent of a James Bond film. After Chang Cheh’s name, the video presentation switches back to full frame 1.33.1, and it’s a shame because all those great Shaw Brothers production values and fight sequences are hindered because of it. Chang Cheh makes a conscious attempt to bath the cinematography in various shades of bright reds. These reds are overkill in many sequences and often distract from the unfolding drama. NS Video’s transfer capably reproduces these colors, which sometimes are too saturated for their own good (perhaps the blues and blacks should be tweaked up to match the reds). It’s not uncommon for some old school flicks (IRON MONKEY anyone?) to contain completely washed out colors; TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH does not fall into this category, but the reds overpower all the other colors in the image. The source print utilized for this transfer exhibits very little wear, and the detail level is commendable—though some fine details are hard to make out in the reddish haze. Black levels appear to be off just a tad. Flesh tones are too pink. Grain is the only other problem with this transfer, but that is unavoidable considering the age and history of the genre. Except for the over-saturated reds, this is a superior full frame presentation from NS Video, and a huge step up from than their dark and grainy transfer of say, MASKED AVENGERS.

SOUND

The soundtrack is in two channel Dolby Digital Mono. This sound is mostly clean with occasional background noise heard during the quieter exposition scenes. The soundfield is full with bone-cracking blows, zipping daggers, and clanging weapons. The moans and groans of the Venom Mob victims are easily heard. TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH has a large set of characters. The folks who lend their voices to this deserve praise for delivering the English dialog for this movie, while differentiating all the characterizations. TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH offers a score by Eddie Wang, who is a talented composer. However, Wang cannot match the style of Chen Yang Yu, the Shaw Brother’s answer to Akira Ifukube. Wang’s score combines with the sound effects and the vocal track for an overall quality aural presentation.

FEATURES

None. But the disc includes attractive menus with colorful animation. Quite a change from the generic menu design of Tai Seng’s DVDs.

CONCLUSION

TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH is not a bad movie by any means, it just does not deliver on the plot potential, and is one of the weaker Venom pictures (not rising to the excellence of FLAG OF IRON, KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM, or RETURN OF THE FIVE DEADLY VENOMS). The absence of Venom mainstay Kuo Chi does not help things. Don’t get me wrong, even a bad Venoms movie is 99 percent better the stuff that’s out there, just not up to Chang Cheh’s usual excellence. TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH is still a must-buy for Shaw Brothers fans, and those looking to purchase it will have a few versions to pick from. PanMedia International’s DVD is the most expensive and sports the worst transfer. NS Video and Venom Mob Films TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH contain the same version (and same price) with a decent transfer. All three discs have a complete lack of extras, except for the Venom Mob Films DVD which includes some cast and filmography data.

TWO CHAMPIONS  OF SHAOLIN is available from HKFlix.com

-- Tony Mustafa

BACK TO

REVIEW INDEX

DVDCULT HOME