CHINATOWN KID is yet another Shaw Brothers kung fu movie that feels fresh and different despite the fact that the studio made literally hundreds of similar movies during this era. Like so many others, this one is directed by Chang Cheh, although this one is a bit unusual as it features the fresh-faced star Alexander Fu Sheng in the leading role instead of one of Cheh's earlier favoured stars like Ti Lung or David Chiang. The Venoms also play in support, on the very cusp of stardom before 1978's FIVE DEADLY VENOMS.What I liked about this film was its setting. It's a modern day story that feels more convincingly modern than something like THE ANGRY GUEST. Fu Sheng is a country bumpkin who finds himself transported off to the USA to begin a new life, before inevitably falling in with some drug-dealing criminal gangs who run San Francisco's Chinatown. The story is thematic and densely-plotted in places, featuring multiple rival factions and characters and of course a multitude of thrilling action scenes.I saw the Chinese version of this film which is some twenty minutes shorter than the international release. As such it feels very fast-paced and never boring. Fu Sheng has never been more innocently likable than he is here and he's given fine character support from the underrated Sun Chien, an actor I thought never really got his dues as he's always very good and should be better-known in the west. The exemplary supporting cast features Wang Lung Wei as a stock villain (with hints of grace) and two of the Venoms, Phillip Kwok and Lo Meng, as rival gang leaders. Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, and Dick Wei also appear as henchmen. The action sequences are fantastic, of course, and bolstered by the engaging story; there's very little to dislike here, although I would like to see a good-quality version of the extended cut one day to find out what I'm missing.

The confusion in some of the reviews above is because the Celestial release is a different edit, including a different ending to the longer International version. The Celestial version is a nice print but confusing at times with for example the sub-plot with Alexander's saving the reluctant prostitute Kara Hui in Hong Kong cut completely. The ending is also much softer with Alexander surviving at the end and repenting the path he had chosen. But this is still a good film. Ignore the shaky reconstructions of 70's San Francisco (though it's fun to spot the mistakes) and enjoy Alexander Fu Sheng in a good role as the poor kid who ends up on the wrong path to riches (and a digital watch) playing opposite Sun Chien(in thick studious glasses) who works hard for his success. The fights are frequent but not particularly spectacular or that bloody for a Chang Cheh film. The 'bit' actors are generally poor except for the glimpses of what would become the five Venoms - Philip Kwok has a good role as the leader of the White Dragon gang and a few fights. Shirley Yu Sha Li doesn't do much but shows off the sex appeal that propelled her to immense fame in Hong Kong. An enjoyable film but pity a complete print isn't yet available (the International version apparently has different cuts according to other reviewers).

Man I just got the Celestial remastered DVD release of this classic venom film, I first saw this on channel 5 "Drive in" movies on a Saturday after noon at 3:00 o'clock in the mid 80's and it was awesome, I was and will be a Fu Sheng fan, I even have the poorly American version of this DVD...well let me tell you the version I just saw is totally different. On the TV version he dies, on the remastered version he gets arrested and lives, if you take a look at his white inner vest he has a wound that is bleeding right trough to the jacket and this is on the final fight scene, which he dies from on the American version, he gets arrested and lives...wow! Now there is something I never expected, director Chen Cheng did something I've never seen before on Hong Kong cinema (at least from that time frame) double ending.This is gonna make me take a more careful look for every Celestial release from now on, so far I got 10 releases that are remastered and beautifully cleaned, but I haven't found the other classics yet.

Again, the 5 Deadly Venoms (and Fu Sheng and Wang Lung Wei) prove why they're the best martial artists on screen! The action is first rate, but as usual the cameraman doesn't capture the whole scene in some parts. This, however is the only real flaw in this film. The story is much better than average and Philip Kwok finally plays one of the bad guys!