Watch Two Champions Of Shaolin
- R
- 1980
- 1 hr 41 min
-
6.3 (758)
Two Champions of Shaolin is a 1980 martial arts movie directed by Chang Cheh and produced by the prolific Shaw Brothers studio. The film stars Meng Lo, Sheng Chiang, and Li Wang and follows the story of two brothers, Wen and Chang, who are forced to train in Shaolin kung fu to defeat the evil tyrant that killed their parents. The movie begins with a flashback of Wen and Chang's parents being killed by the villainous Lord He Suo. Wen and Chang, who were just kids at the time, manage to escape and vow to avenge their parents' deaths. Fast forward to the present day, and Wen (played by Meng Lo) and Chang (played by Sheng Chiang) are grown men with excellent martial arts skills.
However, they are still not powerful enough to take on Lord He Suo and his band of warriors. They decide to seek refuge in the Shaolin Temple, where they can train in the powerful Shaolin kung fu. After some initial reluctance from the temple's abbot, they are eventually allowed to stay and train.
The movie is divided into two distinct parts. The first half is dedicated to the brothers' training in the Shaolin Temple. They learn various kung fu techniques, such as the infamous "iron body" and become skilled at using weapons such as the staff and the sword. The training sequences are well choreographed, and the film takes care to portray the Shaolin Temple as a place of great wisdom and spirituality.
The second half of the movie sees the brothers leaving the temple to face off against Lord He Suo and his minions. They are aided by a squad of Shaolin Temple warriors, including a female warrior played by Li Wang. The action scenes in this section of the film are fast-paced and well-executed, with plenty of kung fu combat and swordplay. The film does not shy away from bloody violence, with the final battle being particularly brutal.
One of the aspects that set Two Champions of Shaolin apart from other martial arts movies is its emphasis on brotherhood and family. The relationship between Wen and Chang is central to the movie, and we see how it sustains them through their struggles. There is also a subplot about Wen's love interest, played by Lily Li, who joins the Shaolin warriors to fight alongside them. However, this storyline is not as developed as it could be.
The film's production values are impressive, with excellent cinematography and score. The sets and costumes are also well-designed, and the film benefits from being shot on location at various temples and natural landscapes in China.
Overall, Two Champions of Shaolin is a solid martial arts movie that will please fans of the genre. The superb fighting choreography and the touching brotherhood storyline make it an enjoyable watch. However, some viewers may find the violence too graphic, and the female characters are not given enough screen time. Nonetheless, the film is an essential classic for any martial arts movie enthusiast.
Two Champions Of Shaolin is a 1980 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.