Out of all Cheng Pei-Pei movies, "The Brothers Five" which was released in 1970 was probably the most queer as the main female lead in the movie was not the center of the story at any time. Still, with the help of an excellent cast which included the beautiful Pei-Pei, director Lo-Wei pulled off an amazing movie.
Like all other wuxia movies during that period, the movie has nothing new on offer as far as the script is concerned. The movie begins with Yueh Hua helping a man who was being roughed up by the driver of a coach while going to the Flying Dragon Villa, a mansion that is usually not spoken of by the villagers.
Yueh Hua beats the driver who runs away leaving behind a driver-less carriage. Yueh Hua finds Yan Loi (Cheng Pei-Pei) sitting inside the carriage. Yan was herself going to the Flying Dragon Villa. So Yueh offers to driver her coach and together they head for the Villa.
Gao Wei (Yueh Hua) wards of a few more bad guys on the way and then Yan Loi tells her story. Gao Wei was going to meet Yan's father who is dead and the evil Long Zhen Feng is responsible. We are then introduced another revenge story that unfolds gradually. "The Brothers Five" have the usual wuxia style of plot which is set in a world filled with martial arts exponents.
The action sequences are well thought and executed. We are introduced to the Flying Dragon Villa almost half an hour after the movie starts. The first fight scene at the Villa featuring a blacksmith (Chin Han) and a group of baddies is a feast and the original location adds to the thrill. Devoid of any background music, the scene is filled with wide shots plus loads of mouth-watering action.
The film might seem predictable at times with the brothers arriving one after another, but most of the time the movie is exciting and well planned. All the five brothers are eventually drawn towards the Flying Dragon Villa in a series of well thought and executed events.
The timing for the release of "The Brothers Five" was perfect. It does not have the usual super-male quotient as other Cheh movies, nor does it have the stodgy factor as in the earlier Shaw movies during the 60s. Male chauvinism is, for once, is never the highlight of the movie. The usage of real locations to show the Flying Dragon Villa is a welcome relief and it is in fact exciting to watch the brilliant actions scenes against the backdrop of blue sky as well as greenery.
"The Brothers Five" is definitely lengthy when compared to other movies by Cheh. But you can't really complain when you have a 15 minutes long climax which is filled with heart-stopping sword fights and feisty hammer fights. This is the movie to choose if you are a fan of such thrilling and well-crafted action. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.
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