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Heroes of the East streaming

Original title: 螳螂
1978 Movie Hong Kong SAR China Action, Drama, History, Comedy 105 min Ages 17+
By: Lau Kar-leung, Chia-Liang Liu With: Ou-Yang Sha-Fei, Wilson Tong, Kei Ho-Chiu, Cheung Chok-Chow, Hsiao Ho

A Chinese man (Liu) marries a Japanese woman through an arranged marriage and manages to insult all of her Japanese martial arts family by issuing a challenge to her that is misinterpreted by the others. He must then prove how good Chinese Kung Fu really is through a series of duels with the seven Japanese martial artists who come to meet the challenge.

Filmium rating
75%

Mood

Adventurous
Competitive
Dramatic
Heroic
Humorous
Intense
Respectful
Romantic
Suspenseful
Tense

Cast & Crew

Chia-Liang Liu
Lau Kar-leung
On Szeto
Kuang Ni
Lau Kar-Wing
Cheung Chok-Chow
Lee Hoi-Sang
Chu Kai
Lui Hung
Fong Yue
Wilson Tong
Chan Ming-Wai
Lily Li
King Lee King-Chu
Nobuo Yana
Man Ngai-Tik
Helen Poon Bing-Seung
John Cheung Ng-Long
Kei Ho-Chiu
Naozo Kato
Yeung Wah
Hitoshi Ōmae
Lau Chun
Gordon Liu Chia-hui
Yasuaki Kurata
Nam Wai
Chia-Hui Liu
Kang-Yeh Cheng
Got Ping
Hsiao Ho
Teresa Ha Ping
Cecilia Wong
Kwan Yan
Chin Tsi-Ang
Ho Bo-Sing
Huang Pa-Ching
Hui Ying-Ying
Gam Tin-Chue
Lam Wah
Ou-Yang Sha-Fei
Chow Siu-Loi
Linda Hoh
Yuka Mizuno
Cecilia Wong Hang-Sau
Norman Chui Siu-Keung
Hung Ling-Ling
To Wing-Leung
David Da-Wei Chiang
Ching Miao
David Chiang
Riki Harada
Yuen Siu-Tien
Peter Chan Lung
San Sin
Tam Ying
Norman Chui
Gordon Liu
Liu Chia Hui

Budget

Classic Martial Arts Production
Mid-Budget

Cinematic Technique

Choreographed Fight Scenes
Choreographed Fights
Dynamic Action
Dynamic Camera Work
Fight Scenes
Fluid Cinematography
Martial Arts Choreography
Martial-Arts Choreography
Slow-Motion
Visual Storytelling
Weapon Demonstrations

Film Movements

Hong Kong Martial Arts Cinema
Kung Fu Film
Shaw Brothers Style

Narrative Structure

Battle Series
Challenge-Based
Character-Driven
Cultural Misunderstandings
Episodic Duels
Linear

Pace

Action-Driven
Action-Oriented
Dynamic
Engaging
Exciting
Fast-Paced
Moderate-Paced
Varied

Runtime

Classic Length
Long Runtime

Soundtrack

Action Score
Score
Traditional Chinese Music
Traditional Martial Arts Music

Style

1970S Hong Kong Cinema
Action-Oriented
Action-Packed
Cinematic
Cultural Representation
Dynamic Choreography
Martial Arts
Martial Arts Film
Martial-Arts
Period-Piece
Traditional

Time-Period

1930S Shanghai
Historical Setting
Pre-World War Ii
Qing Dynasty

Central Conflict

Betrayal
Cultural Clash
Cultural Misunderstanding
Duels
Espionage And Loyalty
Family Betrayal
Loyalty Vs. Love
Martial Arts Challenge
Martial Arts Superiority
Personal Vs. Political
Romantic Tension

Characters

Chinese Martial Artist
Emperor
Japanese Martial Artist
Japanese Martial Arts Masters
Japanese Wife
Martial Artist
Martial Arts Master
Martial Arts Student
Rebel Granddaughter
Spy

Ending

Ambiguous
Cliffhanger
Cultural Understanding
Fight Scene
Honorable Combat
No Deaths
Respectful Resolution

Historical Context

1930S China
Anti-Qing Rebellion
Interwar Period
Japanese-Chinese Relations
Ming Loyalists
Qing Dynasty

Key Plot Points

Assassination Attempt
Betrayal
Challenge Duel
Challenge To Japanese Martial Arts
Cultural Misinterpretation
Final Showdown
Infiltration
Marriage Dispute
Romance
Series Of Duels

Plot

Betrayal
Cultural Clash
Cultural Conflict
Cultural Misunderstanding
Espionage
Infiltration
Intercontinental Conflict
Marital Conflict
Martial Arts Challenge
Martial Arts Duels
Rebellion
Romance
Romantic Conflict
Romantic Reconciliation

Setting

1930S Shanghai
Ancient China
China
Chinese-Japanese Cultural Exchange
Imperial Court
Japan
Qing Dynasty
Rebel Stronghold
Villages

Shooting Location

China
Historical Sites
Japan
Shanghai

Theme

Betrayal
Cultural Pride
Cultural Respect
Honor In Combat
Honor In Martial Arts
Intercultural Respect
Intercultural Understanding
Love
Love And Sacrifice
Loyalty
Loyalty And Betrayal
Patriotism
Respect
Tradition Vs. Modernity

Genre

Action
Adventure
Comedy
Drama
Historical Drama
Martial Arts
Romance

Audiences

Action Enthusiasts
Action Lovers
Action Movie Enthusiasts
Classic Hong Kong Cinema
Cultural Cinema Lovers
Historical Drama Viewers
History Enthusiasts
Martial Arts Fans
Shaw Brothers Enthusiasts

Titles

Challenge Of The Ninja
Heroes Of The East
Shaolin Mantis
Shaolin Vs. Ninja
The Deadly Mantis
螳螂

Reception

Cult Classic
Martial Arts Recognition
Positive Reviews

Production Countries

China
Hong Kong
Japan

Release Year

1978
mowizz ID: 7ac687c9-6006-4389-8a38-2aa4ec589385
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