Watch 7 Star Grand Mantis

In the 1983 film 7 Star Grand Mantis, directed by Lim Chung-Kuo, we follow the journey of a young martial artist named Kao Fei (played by Byung-heon Seo) who seeks revenge on the Wing Chun clan who killed his father when he was a child. Kao Fei's father, a renowned martial artist, was defeated by the Wing Chun's leader, Master Wu (played by Yeong-il Kim), in a battle for supremacy. Determined to avenge his father's death, Kao Fei trains in the art of the Seven Star Grand Mantis, a rare and powerful martial arts style that he hopes will give him the strength to defeat the Wing Chun.

The film takes place in ancient China, and the fight scenes are choreographed and shot in a traditional martial arts movie style. The opening scene shows Kao Fei training in the Seven Star Grand Mantis under the tutelage of his master (played by Jeong-a Song), who tells him that the style is based on the movements of the praying mantis. He must learn to mimic the insect's agility and speed in order to use the style effectively.

The film then cuts to a scene of the Wing Chun clan sparring, led by Master Wu. The choreography of their movements is similar to that of the Seven Star Grand Mantis, but Wu tells his students that their style is superior because it is more focused on the use of the hands and less on the legs. He also warns them of the threat of the Seven Star Grand Mantis, which he considers to be an inferior technique.

Kao Fei travels to the Wing Chun's stronghold, where he witnesses a sparring match between Master Wu and his top student, a young woman named Mei Ling (played by Yang-yang Chen). Mei Ling is aware of Kao Fei's plan for revenge and tries to convince him to abandon it, but he remains determined. Kao Fei challenges Wu to a fight, but Wu refuses to fight him, saying that he doesn't waste his time on inferior opponents. Kao Fei then takes on several of Wu's students in one-on-one fights, defeating each one using the Seven Star Grand Mantis.

The film then takes a surprising turn as Kao Fei and Mei Ling begin to fall in love, despite their initial hostility towards each other. Mei Ling is conflicted because she loves Kao Fei, but also feels loyalty to her martial arts clan. Meanwhile, Kao Fei's master is kidnapped by the Wing Chun, and he must rescue her and prepare for the ultimate showdown with Master Wu.

The climax of the film is a spectacular battle between Kao Fei and Master Wu, which takes place on a rocky cliff overlooking a raging river. The cinematography here is particularly stunning, with shots of the combatants silhouetted against the setting sun. The music, composed by Xu Fu-lai, adds to the drama and tension of the fight. Kao Fei uses all of his Seven Star Grand Mantis techniques to defeat Wu, but not without receiving some serious injuries himself. As the Wing Chun clan begins to disperse, Mei Ling stays behind to tend to Kao Fei's wounds, and the two leave together to begin a new life.

Overall, 7 Star Grand Mantis is a classic martial arts film with all of the elements that fans of the genre love: intense fight scenes, forbidden romance, and a hero who overcomes incredible odds to achieve his goal. Byung-heon Seo does an excellent job as the determined protagonist, and Yeong-il Kim is appropriately intimidating as the villainous Master Wu. The film may be over 30 years old, but its themes and action sequences still hold up today.

7 Star Grand Mantis is a 1983 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.0.