Lü si niang chuang shao lin (1976) User Reviews

Shaolin Death Squads

[jddog130 · 6/10 · 13 April 2015]

Shaolin Death Squads 1976 (aka Shaolin Death Squad)... The film I have is the German (English dubbed) "Das tödliche Geheimnis der Shaolin".

When a ruthless premier murders to further his own ambitions, the victim's daughter (Polly Kuan) vows to avenge his death. While planning her revenge, she uncovers the premier's villainous plot to kill the king and succeed him as Emperor. His seizure of the throne would only result in tyranny and ruin. With the help of friends who pledge their undying loyalty, Polly sets out to foil the diabolical plan. There's an array of styles including Double Swords and Meteor Whip.

This movie shouldn't be confused with "The Shaolin Kids" 1977 (aka "The Shaolin Death Squad" aka "Shaolin Death Squad") because it also stars Polly Kuan and Carter Wong. Both movies can be found titled "Shaolin Death Squad".

This was a good film that I enjoyed.... 6

Who came up with the title? Did they even glance at a script or the dailies?

[lotekguy-1 · 5/10 · 8 August 2022]

Many of the 1970s-'80s chopsocky flicks crossed the Pacific under titles with little relation to what's in the production you'd watch. That's why I keep checking my prior IMDb ratings when looking for new kicks (literal and figurative) from vintage Asian offerings, since titles rarely trigger memories of the stories within. This is another example of the dissonance.

Most would expect a movie called Shaolin Death Squad to include large doses of monks at a temple - training sequences; moral and philosophical musings from the elders; perhaps a bit of horseplay among the disciples; and a rousing climactic battle showcasing the superb kung fu they'd just learned before our very eyes.

Wellll, on that quartet of criteria, this one bats 0-for-4. What we get is an average political plotting and resistance tale with a bevy of decidedly non-monkular (just made that up; hope you like it) protagonists, who only briefly enlist the help of a posse of no-name Shaolinians for one measly fight scene. Even then, they're relegated to the margins for most of that engagement. Almost as hard to find Shaolin fighting as it is to find bows and arrows in the Brave Archer series.

Still OK to watch. Just don't expect Grasshopper, or anyone like him, to grace your viewing experience.