Sun Chien Movies

Chao Chun-fang (Lo Lieh), a mentally unbalanced lantern maker gets a chance to avenge his mistreatment by two rich and powerful men when one of the men (who are enemies, in fact) asks him to make special lanterns for an approaching festival. Chao then methodically kills three female family members of the two wealthy men and peels off their skin to use as a covering for the lanterns. These acts are shown in full detail -- not a movie for anyone sensitive to the victimization of women in films, nor for those who are aware of the Nazi antecedent of constructing lampshades out of the skin of their victims, nor for those who would find the actions objectionable on any grounds. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Master kung-fu director Chang Cheh delivers this straight-ahead period martial arts saga. Tung Chien-chen (Lo Mang) was accepting into the hallowed Shaolin Temple even though he is Manchu, because his parents were both killed by the same. Shaolin has been locked in a fierce rivalry with the Wu Tang clan, which is allied with the Manchu born Ching emperor. When Tung is wounded in a skirmish with a group of Wu Tang's men, he is given safe haven from a master of knife throwing named Chin Tai-lei (Sun Chien) and his sister, Pei. Tung soon learns the finer points of their art and eventually, along with fellow kung-fu master Hu Wei-chen (Chiang Sheng), strikes revenge against the Wu Tang. Later, Tung proposes to Pei, but during the reception, the Wu Tang attack, kidnapping Tung and killing Pei and her brother. Will Tung get out of this ugly situation and find justice? ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Master kung-fu director Chang Cheh spins another period martial arts epic. As government official Yang Yu-hang (Sun Chien) prepares to ship a wagon full of gold to end a famine in the hinterland, he learns that the villainous bandits from the Chi Sah gang -- led by the seeming invincible character with an appendage made of precious metal -- are plotting to steal the load en route. Instead, they give everyone a miss and swipe the stuff before the journey commences. When the villain's cart throws a wheel, they are attacked by a shadowy government agent named Hai To (Phillip Kwok Tsui), who displaces incredible fighting abilities when blind drunk. The gold is returned to Yang, but the Chi Sah gang vow revenge. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Chang Cheh spins this lightly comedic martial arts saga about Ying (Philip Kwok) and Chun (Lo Mang), two bored restaurant workers who long for a chance to use some of their formidable kung-fu skills. The two meet and soon become fast friends with Chu Tsai (Sun Chien), another martial arts master. Meanwhile, Pai Mei -- the treacherous priest responsible for the torching of the Shaolin temple -- and his henchmen kill such legendary figures as Chi San and Fong Sai-yuk, hoping to destroy the last vestiges of Shaolin. Pai then tracks down Hung Hei-kwun, injuring him. Ying, Chun, and Chu Tsai happen upon the fallen master and nurse him back to health. When Pai learns that his enemy is still alive, he rallies his thugs and plots an attack against the three friends. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

In this classic martial arts adventure (which, incidentally, isn't actually a sequel to Five Deadly Venoms, though it features many of the same actors), Tu Tin-To (Chen Kuan-Tai) and his son (Lu Feng) are unscrupulous warlords drunk with power who will cripple anyone who crosses their path. Five men who have fallen victim to the violence of Tu Tin-To and his son band together -- a blind man (Phillip Kwok Tsui), a deaf-mute (Lo Meng), a man with no legs (Sun Chien), a man who has been rendered an imbecile through torture (Chiang Sheng), and a gifted kung-fu master. The master teaches the four maimed men deadly fighting skills, and they set forth to reclaim their village from Tu Tin-To's reign of terror. Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms, originally titled Can Que, was also released as Crippled Avengers. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This delightfully dated Hong Kong martial arts film from Shaw Brothers Studios stalwart Chang Cheh is a visual feast for fans of polyester, funky music, and bad haircuts. The main reason for less camp-oriented genre devotees to watch is another outstandingly charismatic performance from the late Alexander Fu Sheng as Tan Tung, an ambitious young man who falls under the influence of the triad crimelord Chu Ho (Johnny Wang). Chu Ho is impressed by Tung's martial arts skills and also realizes how easily he can be manipulated. Tung, however, betrays Ho by helping one of the kingpin's hookers escape from captivity, so Ho has the young man framed for drug possession. Tung flees to America, where he meets a college student from Taiwan named Yang Ching-wen (Sun Chien). The pair get a room in San Francisco's Chinatown and work illegally in a local restaurant, where the brash young Tung soon crosses paths with the leader of the Green Tiger gang (Lo Mang). Tung beats up most of the gang in the street, impressing their competitors, the White Dragon gang, whose boss (Phillip Kwok) quickly enlists his aid in wiping out the Green Tiger completely. As the White Dragon grows in power, Tung grows in status, at least until he discovers that Yang has become a hopeless drug addict, and begins to have second thoughts about his participation in the White Dragon's narcotics trade. Tung's efforts to end the gang's drug business mark him as a target for elimination, setting up the climactic final battle between the principled young fighter and his ruthless employers. Ha Ping co-stars with Kara Hui and Dick Wei. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi