Executioners from Shaolin (1977)

Why so much hype?

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The Shaw Brothers have made a bunch of kung fun movies in their lifetimes, not a single one has left me bored. In "Executioners from Chaplin", a couple bore a son whose father is trained in Tiger Boxing and a mother in Crane style. The son learns crane style kung fun, but he doesn't learn the tiger style until his father loses his life battling the eunuch tyrant Pai Mei(Lieh Lo). This brutal fighter has made his way killing anyone who would challenge his fighting style. He killed the father's master, he's killed the ones who's avenging him. So it's up to the son to get his revenge. Spending all his life learning to be warrior, he sets out to seek Pai Mei. Both men learn how to find Pai Mei's vitals. They were no good in the nether regions. And unlike his father, he was successful on getting PaI Mei. I think this movie has got a little humor in it as well. Before the son was born, the couple made their way following a side show when they met. The brothers kept their fighting skills intact throughout their lives. This movie was very entertaining, and very fun to watch. I found nothing to complain about here. A true gem here. 2 stars

I first seen this movie in the early 80's when I was about 9 or 10. It aired on a Sunday afternoon during a kung fu marathon. It stuck in my memory as one of my favorite "old" kung fu flicks for MANY years. Of course no such luck of catching it on TV ever again, or especially finding it on video. In 2004 as I was watching Kill Bill Vol.2 I was astounded to see one of the characters from "Executioners" in the film. Looked perfect. And the actor was also a character from "Executioners". WOW. That inspired me to put the internet to use and with some research found that EFS was indeed available on DVD! So of course I now own it and unlike many films you see and love as a child then see as an adult and you're like "why did I like that movie" EFS still kicks butt. Want to see an awesome modern day kung fu film? How about an "executioners from shaolin" remake with maybe a little plot tweeking. Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Hung Hsi Kuan....Jet Li (Hero, Unleashed) Wan Yung-Chun....Maggie Cheung (Hero) Hung Wen-Ding....Tony Jaa (Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior) Priest Pai Mei...Gordon Liu (Kill Bill Vol.2) Tung Tien Chin...Jackie Chan

This was one of those films that I watched over and over, whenever I could. I've seen it on TV, usually in NYC on Channel 5 Saturday afternoons at 1pm, 3pm, or 5pm, on Drive-In Movie. I have also paid to see it repeatedly years ago in the old Times Square movie theaters. They used to specialize in Hong Kong martial arts films before Giuliani killed them all off. That's one thing I really miss about the old Times Sq...This movie had it all: great plot and writing, great acting and action, even great dubbing. I really wish it would come out on DVD or even VHS...

I saw this movie on a cable station in Alberta in the early Eighties. God...what a show. The only thing that I can really say, is that I've been trying to find a copy of the damn thing since then...with no luck! Fantastic! If you like "Five Deadly Venoms", you'll love "Executioners"!