Invincible Pole Fighter

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant.......2007-07-01

This is a unique movie. It starts off with a very serious Lily Li getting a message in her thoughts that only 6 out of her 7 sons will return from a battle with some Mongolians. Instead, only brother #6 returns (Alexander Fu Sheng). He comes back insane after seeing all of his brothers die. It was a bit disturbing for me as well. Hsiao Ho, Lau Kar Wing, Wong Yue and 2 other Yang brothers all bite the dust before the movie ever really starts. Luckily, Yang #5 (Gordon Liu) makes it out alive and goes to study at Shaolin Temple. That is all I will tell about the story, you just have to experience it for yourself. A true Shaw Brothers classic. The use of sets only may turn some people off, but they are beautiful sets and any Shaws fan will not have a problem with this. Also, if you love hand to hand, there is a slight chance you will not like this wonderful movie. It is all pole fighting, no hand to hand. Only get this if you want to see some of the best stick work ever. Even Lily Li gets about 2 minutes to show off. And just like a lot of Lau kar Leung's other films, this is a true Shaolin movie, and the Shaolin pole techniques are on full display. Their skills in pole fighting are a big reason why the Emperor favored them and why Shaolin became what it is today.

If you are a fan of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, you may like this movie even more. Not as many training scenes, but some awesome Gordon Liu action.

You need good villains in kung fu movies and luckily Johnny Wang Lung Wei is in this. The other 2 main baddies are acceptable. Philip Kao Fei also stars in a very memorable role as the head abbot.

Even though this movie had to be drasticly changed because of Fu Sheng's death during the time of filming, it is amazingly still a masterpiece in just about every way.

Another one of the last Shaw films, and another one of the very best. Sad to see they had to close up when they had all of these megastars on hand to make great movies like this.

One more note- I was not expecting this high of a death total in a Lau Kar Leung movie. He usually stays away from the violence. Well, "usually" is the key word here because I counted well over a 100 total deaths (you have to watch very close). The poles get very bloody. :)

Another masterpiece from Master Lau. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this.

4.5/5

One of Gordon Liu's Best!.......2007-06-27

I would have to say without a doubt this has got to be one of Gordon Liu's best performances. He is young, and extremely fast in this movie. Wonderful Choreography and full of action. The Plot was good, and the story line a slight confusion but all in all Magnificent. The coffin Fight Yes I said "Coffin fight" alone to save his sister was amazing. Get this one Everyone this is Awesome!

Sifu Monroe

The Invincible Pole Fighter is Invincible.......2007-02-09

This movie was fantastic. I am a person who was not allowed to watch a lot of kung fu movies, and fighting as a kid but I am diving head first back into this fun realm.

The movie starts and ends with action, has a fantastic plot, and has fairly believable acting throughout. Gordon Liu (Brother #5) was excellent as a young warrior that had to swallow his pride, and instincts of revenge long enough to attack in the end. The only reasons why it was not a five-star movie was because the other brothers who got ambushed and killed were on so briefly, that their actual number of birth did not even matter. In addition, it was hard to figure out who was good, and evil but at the same time that part was a strength of the movie. A major reason for this was because the Yang family was well known throughout the area as upholders of the law, but the evil general was trying to kill all of the brothers, and end their faithful rebellious following. In reality he had them set up, and then tried to find the remaining two brothers and charge them for treason.
Good questions to ask yourself when watching this movie are:

If the head monk of the Buddhist temple was such a great fighter, then why would a Mongel ambush pose even the smallest threat?

If Brother #5 knew that the anti-pole weapons used by the general's men were what killed his brothers, then why did he not train to nullify their ability?

Why did Brother #4 really go crazy, and how were they going to have him cured?

This is a must have movie with actors that are in many of the good Shaw Brothers/ Wu-Tang/ Shaolin movies. The fighting skills were very good, and there wasn't much use of the "fake receeding hairline shoguns" of other movies which mostly has you laughing instead of paying attention to the plot.

Average customer rating:

Yang #5-"Abbot, you've broken the rules". Abbot-"No, were driving away wolves".
One of the all time greats!
Gordon Liu Classics!!!
Very Good Flick, but don't believe the hype!!
SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!

Invincible Pole Fighter
Starring: Chen-Peng Chang , Tiet Wo Chu , Sheng Fu , Hou Hsiao , and Kara Hui
Manufacturer: Crash Cinema Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005QAQE
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Customer Reviews:

Yang #5-"Abbot, you've broken the rules". Abbot-"No, were driving away wolves"........2007-03-10

Brilliant.

OK, I will tell you more, but there is really not much more that needs to be said. This is a unique movie. It starts off with a very serious Lily Li getting a message in her thoughts that only 6 out of her 7 sons will return from a battle with some Mongolians. Instead, only brother #6 returns(Fu Sheng). He comes back insane after seeing all of his brothers die. It was a bit disturbing for me as well. Hsiao Ho, Lau Kar Wing, Wong Yue and 2 other Yang brothers all bite the dust before the movie ever really starts. Luckily, Yang #5 (Gordon Liu) makes it out alive and goes to study at Shaolin Temple. That is all I will tell about the story, you just have to experience it for yourself. A true Shaw Brothers classic. The use of sets only may turn some people off, but they are beautiful sets and any Shaws fan will not have a problem with this. Also, if you love hand to hand, there is a slight chance you will not like this wonderful movie. It is all pole fighting, no hand to hand. Only get this if you want to see some of the best stick work ever. Even Lily Li gets about 2 minutes to show off. And just like a lot of Lau kar Leung's other films, this is a true Shaolin movie, and the Shaolin pole techniques are on full display. Their skills in pole fighting is a big reason why the Emperor favored them and why Shaolin became what it is today.

If you liked '36th Chamber of Shaolin', this is a must have in your collection. Not as many training scenes, but some awesome Gordon Liu action.

No doubt one of the greatest casts ever including Johnny Wang Lung Wei as one of the villains. You need good villains in kung fu movies and luckily Lung Wei is in it. The other 2 main baddies are acceptable. Also starring is Kara Hui and Philip Kao Fei in a very memorable role.

Even though this movie had to be drasticly changed because of Fu Sheng's death during the time of filming, it is amazingly still a masterpiece in just about every way.

Another one of the last Shaw films, and another one of the very best. Sad to see they had to close up when they had all of these megastars on hand to make great movies like this.

One more note- I was not expecting this high of a death total in a Lau Kar Leung movie. He usually stays away from the violence. Well, "usually" is the key word here because I counted well over a 100 total deaths (you have to watch very close). The poles get very bloody. :)

Another masterpiece from Master Lau. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this. 4.5/5

As for the different versions of this movie-, I have the bootleg Red Sun version. I would recommend waiting for either Image or Dragon Dynasty to release this. There is no doubt they will. You can also get the Crash Cinema version which is sadly presented in full screen. IVL has this remastered and Red Sun obviously just stole their remastered print. That is the only way I can come up with a reason for Red Sun having it remastered. They steal their prints DIRECTLY from the IVL versions. Most of them at least. If it's not stolen from Celestial, it is probably not remastered. If people do not know about Red Sun being a bootlegging company, then DO NOT SUPPORT THEM ANYMORE. Just so you know, supporting bootleggers like Red Sun DESTROYS ANY chances for a legitimate American movie release. If you don't believe me or wish to find out more info on what I am talking about, just ask. I would be more than happy to comment on how Red Sun is absolutely heartless and tries to ruin martial arts movies for true fans. I am a true fan, and I find their DVDs disgusting. I hope that everyone realizes this.

One of the all time greats!.......2004-11-11

What can I say? This is the quintessential kung fu film, and if you ask me it should be on EVERYONE'S top 10 list. I'm not going to say it is the greatest of all time....but it very well may be. Not only do you have a dark, emotional tale starring an all-star Shaw Brothers cast, but you also have a film directed by the greatest kung fu filmmaker of all time, Lau Kar Leung (Liu Chia Liang). In "8 Diagram Pole Fighter" (Invincible Pole Fighter), he directed both the greatest pole fight of all time(Gordon Lui vs. Phillip Ko Fei) and one of the most brutal, over the top final fights in all of kung fu history. Do yourself a favor though and don't buy this version. Instead, buy an all-region DVD player and pick up Celestial's beutiful, remastered version. It is well worth the money.

Gordon Liu Classics!!!.......2003-09-17

Love classic Kung Fu. Big fan of Gordon Liu. Good oldschool flick.

Very Good Flick, but don't believe the hype!!.......2003-05-31

This was a very good movie, but it is not the greatest shaw brothers film. Other SB films have had better story lines and Fight sequences. If you enjoy Gorden Liu then by all means purchase this film. The movie has a decent plot and very good action (especialy the final fight). You wont be mad that you have it in your collection.

SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!.......2003-04-24

Eight Diagram Pole Fighter is definitely one of the best of all-time. Its in my top 5. The pole fighting in this movie is spectacular. My favorite scene is when Gordon Liu fights the shaolin monk to complete his training. The choreography is amazing. $$$ well spend. You must buy this movie. It is Gordon Liu at his best.

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