28-04-2005, 02:00
A staple of many late-night "Black Belt Theater" TV shows, "Five Fingers of Death" is the first kung-fu film to cross over in the States; its long tenure in 42nd St. grind houses paved the way for the wave that followed. Young student Lo Lieh must win a kung-fu tournament to prove he's worthy of marrying his sifu's daughter. His master's rival covets the trophy, however, and hires some unsavory characters to smash Lieh's hands. Unfortunately for them, it takes more than some crushed mitts to take the lovelorn fighter out of the running, thanks to the mystical "Iron Fist" technique he's managed to learn. It's a certainty that our hero will get the girl, but not before he flattens a number of foes, demonstrates just how lethal those titular digits can be, and knocks his nemesis through a brick wall. Twice.
There's no stoppin' what can't be stopped, no killin' what can't be killed. You can't see the eyes of the demon, until him come callin'...