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The Thundering Mantis [DVD] [1984]
 
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The Thundering Mantis [DVD] [1984]

DVD ~ Li-pao Au
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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The Thundering Mantis [DVD] [1984]
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The Thundering Mantis [DVD] [1984] 4.0 out of 5 stars (2)
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Product details

  • Actors: Li-pao Au, Fu-chien Chang, Feng Cheng, Yuet Sang Chin, Mien Fang
  • Directors: Wing-Cho Yip
  • Writers: Hsin Yee Chang
  • Producers: Fu Liang Chou, Fung Wang
  • Format: PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 18
  • Studio: Mia Video Entertainment Ltd
  • DVD Release Date: 18 Jun 2001
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005KH06
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 59,920 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Seriously weird as only the best, completely-barking-mad kung fu flicks can be, The Thundering Mantis is the story of Ah Chi, a martial artist who hooks up with a kid sidekick. However, an old grudge resurfaces, with the result that the boy's uncle is murdered and the boy himself kidnapped. So far so Arnie-in-Commando, but it's at this point we're reminded that indigenous martial arts movies are something else again, as Ah Chi's rescue attempt goes disastrously wrong and the boy is tortured to death before his eyes. Apparently driven to insanity by this experience, Ah Chi goes berserk, breaking free and systematically trashing everything and everyone in sight. End of movie.

Devotees will absolutely want this in their collections, but those who have yet to progress beyond the Jackie Chan/Jet Li school of Americanised martial arts films will need to leave their preconceptions at the door. There's a nice touch to the dubbed English soundtrack, where the voiceover artists seem to have taken it upon themselves to imitate various British character actors: listen out for Wilfred Brambell, Kenneth Connor and so on.

On the DVD: The Thundering Mantis has no extras on the widescreen DVD other than a one-screen guide to other titles in the Kung Fu Connection series. --Roger Thomas

Video Description

Special Features: Widescreen
Digitally Re-mastered
2.0 Dolby Digital
English language
Interactive menus
Scene Selection

Subtitles: None


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Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Thundering mantis-classical kung fu, 13 Jan 2004
Thundering mantis is, quite simply the best kung fu movie I have ever seen. Taking the cheese from films such as drunken master yet without the totally unbelivable wire work of new legnds of Shaolin thundering mantis is both comedy and beliveable(ish). The film starts of in true karate kid fashion ie old master teaches some guy how to fight like a demon, evil kung fu master and his hordes kill master before the pupil takes revenge. However the last scene which is indelibly printed on my memory turns this all on its head, and has to be the best fight scene ever-i shant say what happens but its worth the cost of the DVD alone. Any self respecting kung fu fan has got to see this-be warned though, its not for the faint hearted. Definately not one to see with the girlfriend.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Didn't know if I should laugh or cry..., 12 Jun 2003
By S. Fisher "Paxbrother" (Manchester, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Thundering Mantis [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The plot of the film is classic kung fu, with the rebellious loner being taught by an old man and his grandson how to perform Mantis style kung fu.
However, i spent around half an hour in a stunned daze due to the TERRIBLE dubbing. You hear punches connect either five seconds too early or too late, and even worse, all the voices are weird Cockney english voices, meaning i laughed my head off throught most of it.

The fighting can be pretty impressive, and i dunno if the comedy factor of the dubbing is infact on purpose, because the last fifteen minutes are pretty dark, with the trio getting attacked by their nemesis and the lead character going absolutely ballistic, if not actually insane.
The final fight is pretty savage, and it ends on a particularly sinister note, so maybe the comedy of it all helps to balance it out, who knows...

its very entertaining, but maybe for the wrong reasons. worth a look anyway.

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