this be definitely one of the best kung fu movie ever and and may be one of the best movie ever . it get a great plot that function like a puzzle and with lot of intrigue and suspense . this film be full of cat and mouse game and deception and with people hide their identity and their nature . the character in this film live and breath much more than your average kung fu movie character . they be all interesting and compelling and the movie do a good job at give them scene to show their personality and desire . the fight scene play out like little story and many of them be very original and exciting . it have cool training sequence and martial art skill that be so awesome they enter the realm of fantasy . there be 5 member of the poison clan each one with his own style that mimic the special skill of a venomous animal . the style of each of these character be fun to watch and you can see the technique they use in training apply during the film . when this happen and the director use quick cut back to the training scene to draw a parallel . these cut be accompany by music change and sound effect and the whole thing really work nicely . one thing about this movie that be very original be the way it treat death . the director chang cheh be obviously very concerned that the film not trivialize death . this make some of the scene in the movie much more effective . we actually care when people be kill in this film . this be because the camera linger on the horror of death even when the bad guy be kill . some of the sequence in this movie be truly gut wrenching . when character go in search of vengeance you really feel their anger and pain . at the same time and this be also a fun movie . it have all the typical thing you expect from a traditional kung fu film . there be bad dub and the character be willing to fight at the drop of a hat . some of the sound effect be hilarious and at time the behavior of the character be incredibly unrealistic . all this just add to the greatness of the film . and let not forget that this director be a visual stylist much more gifted than most of his contemporary . if you watch this movie closely you will notice that the technical prowess on display be virtuostic . everything go by so fast ( because of the quick cutting style and the rapid camera movement of the genre ) that it be easy to overlook how beautiful the movie really be . the lighting and composition be spectacular at time . the camera work and movement be extremely sophisticated along with very interest fast paced edit . in the scene that portray suspense and intrigue for example and imagine hitchcock move at about twice the speed . chang cheh be truly a master craftsman and artist who know his genre and be able to produce important material while work within it confine . he doesn not rattle the boat of the kung fu genre film and but in a subtle way his skill permeate every scene and every shot and they add greatly to the quality of the work . he be an important filmmaker who continue to influence many people . this be the real package a kung fu movie that delivers on every level . it art and it trash and it emotionally move and and it fun and it have a true sense of morality and but doesn not allow that morality to get in the way of deliver good action . i recommend it to everybody whether you be a fan of this genre or not .