While most martial arts movies tend to center on one hero’s efforts to defeat the villain, many have found success in weaving a narrative around an assortment of talented fighters. Over the years, this formula has led to a number of memorable martial arts ensemble films, including 2021’s Mortal Kombat.
Among the best of these are several works from Shaw Brothers, from 1976’s Shaolin Temple to The Brave Archer series in the 1980s. For these projects, Shaw Brothers would bring together handfuls of its A-list stars for large-scale action sequences and stories where there would be multiple protagonists.
Such was the case with The Water Margin and its sequel, which have developed great reputations with fans of old-school kung fu movies. Both are top-notch efforts from Shaw Brothers and must-watch classics of the martial arts genre.
Shaw Brothers’ Adaptation Of The Water Margin & Viewing Order Explained
In 1972, Shaw Brothers released The Water Margin, a historical epic that adapted chapters 64-68 of the Chinese story of the same name. The original tale follows the exploits of a large group of Chinese warriors from the Ming Dynasty known as the 108 Heroes. Though regarded as bandits, they were portrayed in the story as righteous rebels standing up to evil.
This particular tale focuses specifically on the efforts of the 108 Heroes to recruit a highly respected lord named Master Lu, whose devotion to martial arts makes him the ideal candidate to defeat the main villain, Shi Wengong. This challenge proves difficult, though, as his adulterous wife and scheming advisor complicate their plans and throw everything into jeopardy.
Three years after The Water Margin, Shaw Brothers followed it up with All Men Are Brothers, which picks up where its predecessor left off and finishes the journey of the 108 Heroes with a grand finale. It retains the cast of The Water Margin, with the vast majority of the actors who played the principal members of the 108 Heroes all reprising their roles.
Together, The Water Margin and All Men Are Brothers complete an epic, two-part martial arts saga. However, there are other parts of the story that Shaw Brothers explored that are certainly worth watching. The studio made two additional films that function as prequels, The Delightful Forest and Pursuit.
In the United States, Roger Corman’s New Worlds Pictures released an edited, shorter version of The Water Margin titled Seven Blows of the Dragon.
They’re technically standalone films, far-removed from the ensemble nature of The Water Margin and All Men Are Brothers, as they only focus on one character each. But most importantly, they connect directly to this particular adaptation in that their lead characters are played by the same stars.
The Delightful Forest shines the spotlight on Ti Lung’s character, Wu Song a.k.a. Tiger Killer, who was only a supporting player in The Water Margin and All Men Are Brothers. Meanwhile, Pursuit dives into the past of Yueh Hua’s Lin Chong a.k.a. Panther Head.
Because they offer some much-appreciated context on who Lin Chong and Wu Song are, both are worth watching before diving into The Water Margin and All Men Are Brothers, but aren’t necessarily required viewing to enjoy the two films since neither drives the plot. They are, however, enjoyable old-school kung fu movies filled with great choreography and familar themes of revenge and brotherhood.
Shaw Brothers’ Two-Part Water Margin Adaption Is An Amazing Martial Arts Saga
Despite vast differences in production values, it’s easy to be reminded of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy when watching The Water Margin and All Men Are Brothers.
For a 1970s martial arts movie, The Water Margin boasts a unique sense of splendor, one that’s built largely from its magnificent landscapes, spectacular cast, and a brilliantly written, fluid narrative that flows from one character to another as the story shifts.
Characters disappear and return after long lengths of time, but their absences make sense within the plot, where it’s often made clear that another hero has to step up and do their part in the mission when their time comes.
The leader of the main characters, Ku Feng’s Song Jiang, sends different members of the 108 Heroes on different missions, enabling everyone to get their share of the spotlight, even if it takes until the second half of the story (All Men Are Brothers) for that to happen.
Similar to The Lord of the Rings, the size of the cast comes across as an advantage to the film. It’s not hurt in any degree by the number of characters it includes, as it only enhances the grand scale of the film and the feeling that you’re watching a truly epic tale unfold.
Their high level of star power lends itself well to that aspect of the two movies. For those well versed in Shaw Brothers kung fu movies, The Water Margin and All Men Are Brothers are packed with familiar faces.
Ti Lung, David Chiang, Chen Kuan-tai, Yueh Hua, Lily Ho, and Danny Lee, who regularly headlined their own films, all play key roles in both movies. Ku Feng, another of Shaw Brothers’ most well-known actors, is perfectly cast as the chief of the 108 Heroes. Several other actors who were fixtures of old-school kung fu cinema – including Wong Chong, Wu Ma, and Fan Mei-sheng – are featured prominently as well.
Bolo Yeung, who famously played the villainous in Bloodsport opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme, has a role as a minor antagonist in All Men Are Brothers.
And as should be expected from any martial arts movie, the story ends in glorious fashion. All Men Are Brothers takes the diverse group of characters established in The Water Margin and brings them to a thrilling climax. After watching them for over three hours at this point, there’s a great deal of emotional stakes, where it’s not clear which members of the 108 Heroes will survive the grueling and bloody final battle.