5 Star

The Venom Mobs Fangs.

From the Shaw Brothers studio comes two of the best ‘Venom Mob’ action films, also both written and directed by the “Godfather of Hong Kong Cinema” Cheh Chang (Hidden Hero, Ninja in Ancient China). Now Eureka Classics brings us The Daredevils and An Ode to Gallantry on Blu-ray, in 1080p. The Venom Mob show off their considerable skills in these two classic martial arts films.

The Daredevils

Set in Republic era China, Han Pei-tsang (Li Wang, Masked Avengers, Five Elements Ninjas) has held a military coup against Yang Ta-ying’s (Meng Lo, Hard Boiled, Ip Man 2) father, and wiped out the rest of his family, and the way he can turn is towards his friends before he can exact his revenge on Han. That friend is Chen Feng (Sheng Chiang, The Five Venoms, Crippled Avengers), who invites him to hide in plain sight, as part of his street-performers, with their friends Fu Quanyi (Lu Feng, Lei tai, Xi shen bao chou), and Xin Zheng (Sun Chien, Black Lizard, Hu dan nu er hong). They recruit another compatriot, a merchant escort and martial artist Liang Guoren (Philip Kwok, Tomorrow Never Dies, The Eye 2).

This is where we first see the considerable skills of the Venom Mob, as they entertain the locals in the street, but they aren’t very forthcoming with the tips. However, Chen uses his old skills as a pickpocket to get them all fed, watered and well drunk, except Ta-ying who has a plan for his revenge.

Ode to Gallantry is also set in the same period, but this time it is a story of mistaken identity, as Philip Kwok‘s character ‘Mongrel’ is allegedly the leader of a gang, but a powerful and eccentric martial artist Xie Yanke who carries out his own style of punishment every three years with ritualistic massacre.

There is also a love interest in Ding Dang, who will teach him martial arts to help him defeat her grandfather to prove his love. It is all twisty and martial arty, as the men and women show off to you their unbelievable skills in their set pieces of sword play and Kung-fu.

THE DAREDEVILS & ODE TO GALLANTRY: Two Venom Mob Films (Eureka Classics) Limited Edition Blu-ray is a must-have for the martial arts fan in your home.

THE DAREDEVILS & ODE TO GALLANTRY is available now