THE NEW SHAOLIN BOXERS is a Shaw Brothers vehicle for martial artist Alexander Fu Sheng, who often plays as part of an ensemble cast but here gets to take centre stage and effectively runs away with the part. Chang Cheh is the ubiquitous director bringing Fu Sheng's ferocious fighting style to the screen, and the result is one of the studio's best outings.

This is a deadly serious story about Fu Sheng's hot-headed youth and the trouble he gets into with some local thugs. It's a little like Jackie's DRUNKEN MASTER II in that respect and follows the same template, albeit without the extra smuggling back story. Fu Sheng goes around fighting various goons and causing trouble in the first half of the story, despite the fact he can't fight particularly well, before he's sent off into the mountains to train with an old master. On his return, all hell breaks loose.

Everything about this film screams professionalism. The fights are top quality and mix fine choreography with starling bloody violence. Fu Sheng is full of charisma and really strong in the fight scenes too. The sets and costumes are expertly crafted and the iron claw weapon is one of the most vicious I've seen in any Shaw Brothers movies. The supporting cast is also exemplary: good old Wang Lung Wei is the top bad guy yet again (and the reason he was so often cast in this role? He's good at it!) and Beardy one of his top henchmen. A number of Venoms also show up on the cusp of stardom: Chiang Sheng, Phillip Kwok, Lu Feng, and Wang Li, some in bigger parts than others. THE NEW SHAOLIN BOXERS remains watchable throughout and becomes more and more gripping as it goes on, right until the hair-raising climax. It's a classic.

THE NEW SHAOLIN BOXERS is an outstanding example of what Chang Cheh was capable of doing, given the right tools. The right tools in this case were a solid script, a young superstar on the rise, and a behind-the-scenes crew at the top of their respective games. The focus is all on Fu Sheng as Zhong, a lowly young coachman with a penchant for getting himself into trouble; he doesn't go looking for trouble, but, when it presents itself, he has no problem whatsoever stepping up and trying to lend a hand to the victim(s). Therein, of course, lies his problem: whenever he attempts to right a wrong, he finds himself in deeper than he was at first. (When he tries to defend helpless merchants from bullying thugs, he inadvertently destroys the stalls and goods of the merchants themselves- as well as his own uncle's stand.) He gets knifed when he tries to prevent a gang member from raping a young woman. Needless to say, the gang doesn't take his interference lightly and the gang's leader, Feng, played by Wang Lung-wei, decides to teach the young Zhong a lesson. Which he does. To add further injury (material) to injury (physical),the gang decimates the entire fleet of coaches driven by Zhong and his co-workers. When he realizes that Zhong has irked "the wrong guy," Zhong's Master, Zhou, closes his kung fu school and sends Zhong to the mountains to learn a special brand of martial arts (which we see Fu Sheng demonstrating during the opening credits, in what must be the longest such demonstration I've ever seen in a martial arts movie). Feng, using a black metal claw (of the type traditionally used by ninjas for climbing),kills Zhou. The gang then proceeds to rape and turn to prostitution a young woman who just so happens to be a friend of Zhong's (as if murdering his Master wasn't bad enough). This sets the stage for the Big Finale, which doesn't disappoint- and which packs an Emotional Wallop as well as a physical one. Fu Sheng's technique throughout THE NEW SHAOLIN BOXERS is tight and beautifully choreographed and shot (the beautiful cinematography rates special mention: it's craftsmanship of the highest order); truly outstanding filmmaking.

This is one of those film where you want to scream at the townsfolk WTH!? Zhong Jian (Fu Sheng) is a sweet guy with White Knight Syndrome in a town where the people simply look the other way no matter what happens. Jian is a cab driver who saves a woman from assault in the opening scene. She actually gets angry with him for protecting her. JIan's uncle, Zhong Zhi-Mun (Lo Dik),is none too pleased with Jian for fighting. The reasons are irrelevant to Zhi-Mun.

Jian seems to find trouble no matter what he does. He simply cannot stand by and watching the townsfolk being harassed by the local thugs lead by Feng Tian-Shan (Johnny Wang Lung-Wei). Jian is appalled to see the townsfolk ignore a man dying in the street after being attacked by Tian-Shan's men. No one will help Jian get the man to a doctor.

Jian finds himself compared to Li Ting (Stephan Yip Tin-Hang),who is making something of himself and stays out of trouble. Jian soon learns the perfect Li Ting has secrets. Li is indebted to Tian-Shan's gang for gambling. Li is given a way to resolve his debts at the expense of his girlfriend, Xiao Li (Wu Hsiao-Hui's introduction film). Li is told to think long and hard about his options.

JIan's Wushu Master Zhou (Shan Mao),decides Jian is too naive for his own good and sends him off to learn Choi Lee Fut Kung Fu with Master Zhu (Chan Wai-Lau). There are some humorous moments while Jian learns to control his emotions while practicing the Choi Lee Fut. Jian returns to town to attempt to follow his new training and stay out of trouble, He borrows $200 from his uncle to buy a taxi to earn money. It's broken down and needs some serious TLC, but it will be Jian's lock stock and barrel. He promises to repay his uncle, even if it has to be done after his death (a rather foreboding moment i the movie)

Jian learns Master Zhou has been murdered by Tian-Shan and things are not kosher between Li Ting and Xiao Li. Li Ting has agreed to Tian-Shan's terms for eliminating his gambling debts and hands Xiao Li over to them after having sex with her. Jian gets into more trouble attempting to rescue Xiao Li from the mess Li Ting has created for her. Jian's taxi boss becomes another collateral damage victim when Tian-Shan's gang destroys his taxis in retaliation to Jian's interference.

Jian's family, friends and neighbors have gathered to have a whine-fest over Jian's behavior. Jian has gone off to deal with Tian-Shan and his gang. Someone needs to stand up to them. The townsfolk feel nothing bad would happen if Jian simply stayed out of Tian-Shan's way. Xiao Li announces none of them understand anything and leaves the room crying. Li Ting is engulfed with extreme guilt yet stills say nothing of his own bad behavior.

The battle between Jian and Tian-Shan has some good moments. When Tian-Shan uses the claw hand he used on Master Zhou, it's clear what the outcome will be. The final scene is a gathering of friends and family at Jian's Uncle's home. The police arrive to present Jian's uncle with the $200 he had given Jian for the taxi. The police comment on what an upstanding man Jian was, while those gathered reveal the guilt they've been hiding.

Fu Sheng shines in this movie. Seeing venom members in it was a treat. If the townsfolk had actually revealed spines, I might have given it a better score.