Cha Shou (1981)
Genre: Action / Drama
Duration: 92 minuten
Alternative titles: Masked Avengers / Cha Sau / 叉手
Country:
Hong-Kong
Directed by: Cheh Chang
Starst: Sheng Chiang, Siu-Ho Chin and Feng Lu
IMDb score:
7,0 (880)
Releasedate: 15 May 1981
Cha Shou plot
"Hidden Death! Unmasked Terror! In a New Kung Fu Style."
A gang has been terrorizing the interior of China for some time now. Their methods are brutal and they are known for using a three-pointed spear. Nobody knows who the members really are because they always hide their faces behind a mask. Chi San Yuen is a young clan leader, and he has had enough. He finds out in which village the gang has its headquarters and goes there with all his men. When they arrive in the village, they stay in an inn with a good overview of the village. But unmasking the gang turns out not to be as easy as thought.
Actors and actresses
Qi Shanyun
Zeng Jun
Ling Yunzi
Fang Zuguang
Fang Ying
Long Congjiang
Long Congfeng
Long Xianer
Kao Yao
Chen Shengkang
Reviews & comments
Onderhond
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- 87623 messages
- 12891 votes
Cheh Chang's later work.
Strange that those older Shaw Bros films often feel a bit more solid. It's like they've gotten a bit sloppy after 15 years of making the same movies. The more recent films are better on certain points, but overall the films from the early 1970s are preferable.
In terms of choreography, the more recent ones are a bit more fun. Especially a bit more surprising and more smoothly executed. Less angular without having to cut everything up and with a nice creative element left and right. This movie was also a bit bloodier, although I don't think that adds much to the Shaw Bros work. Acting is limited and the effects are quite cheap.
However, the story is extremely simple and I think those studio recordings detract from the atmosphere a bit. Can imagine that some find it just charming, but I prefer to see normal outdoor shots where necessary.
As always, it doesn't take too long and you don't have to count on an unnecessarily long outro. Final scene with final fight and then done immediately. The Shaw Bros have a large catalog, which makes it quite easy to pick up a few here and there, but it is rarely great. Movies for the enthusiasts.
Especially these Masked Avengers. Certainly not the best Shaw Bros work, but it remains entertaining.
2.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
frolunda
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- 1115 messages
- 4602 votes
Of all the films I've seen by the famous martial arts director Cheh Chang, I think this one is one of the least so far. When he made Masked Avengers / Cha Sau in 1981, he was pretty much in the fall of his career, so maybe that's why it all looks a bit less tight and convincing.
The story, which is not too much, is about a clan that is on the hunt for a kind of Devil Gang that is infesting remote villages in the interior of China. Their attempts to expose the leader(s) of the gang was the most interesting aspect of it. The intriguing, and initially somewhat strange role played by the cook of the Hotel-Restaurant where the clan stayed, also gave the story an extra dimension.
Furthermore, a lot of action, which was quite okay with the presence of the Venom Mob, although it sometimes looked a bit messy. Although that may also have been due to the opponents because those gang members with their devil masks and tridents were not exactly impressive. Reminded me of similar people from the Suske & Wiske album 'De Poppenpakkers', that says it all.
But for the rest, Masked Avengers was quite amusing and good due to the not too long playing time.
Final Judgment; Sufficient to more than sufficient.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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