The Killing Machine (1976)

1946. Martial arts master Doshin So (Sonny Chiba in fine fierce form) returns home to Japan after serving as an undercover spy during World War II. Doshin soon establishes himself as a protector of homeless orphans, opens a Shaolin martial arts school, and declares war on a nefarious black market racket.Director Noribumi Suzuki, working from a tough-minded script by Isao Matsumoto, relates the gripping story at a steady pace, maintains a harsh gritty tone throughout, doesn't skimp on the bloody'n'brutal violence, and stages the karate fights with savage aplomb. Moreover, this film offers an interesting depiction of the tattered mess of post-World War II Japan. Naturally, Chiba handles his chopsocky duties with characteristic ferocious brio: Sonny breaks limbs, cuts a rapist's offending weapon off and feeds it to a dog (!), and, of course, takes out dozens of opponents all at once. Better still, Chiba even gets to show a more tender and caring side in several touching scenes with both the orphan kids and a down on her luck prostitute. Recommended viewing for Chiba fans.

I won't lie to you. This movie does not contain any great philosophical ideas, ethical didacticisms or original story concepts. But what would be the fun in that? This movie is essentially all about Sonny Chiba rockin' the proverbial mic. The story is roughly this; a dude gets into too many fights, relocates, makes friends by getting into more fights, gets his friends injured in fights (notably arm severage), gets into fights to avenge said friends, is overtly ethical but then kicks some ass, gets in more fights, cuts off a rapist's wienie (then gives it to a dog to eat), learns about love and redemption (care of a token pure-and-innocent-girl-turned-victimised-hooker and a bunch of raggedy ass orphans) but knocks the shiz out of each and every fcuker that comes along and pisses him off nonetheless (especially if they're Chinese or American).Chiba's character, though loosely based on real life Shaolin badass Doshin So, is a little too close to many of Bruce Lee's characters from five years earlier (the overt morality and incorruptibility), but his presence (mean, badass, take-no-sh*t and strongly Nationalistic) and fighting style (Shaolin boxing) are both sufficiently different for that not to matter. Moreover, it's a departure from Chiba's usual character type, notably from the 'Streetfighter' series, where he is more or less completely amoral. This is a Sonny Chiba movie you could watch with your kids... were it not for the brutal violence.If you are looking for a Sonny Chiba film to serve as an introduction to his work, you could do a lot worse. Along with the original 'Streetfighter', 'Killing Machine' is one of his very best.

In the movie master So, has many trials to over come he has to rebuild and try to start a school, the action corresponds with the story real well. He has to learn how to love to truly know what Shaolin kung-fu is all about.it was a good story

In one scene he helps orphans, the next he rips off someones penis and feeds it to a dog. He cries the loss of his love, the prostitute he helped get off the street...then his friend gets his arm cut off with a sword and blood spurts from the stump. All of this with Japanese Nationalist beliefs and hatred against Chinese & Americans. This does star Sonny Chiba and it isn't bad, though the drama seems a little cheesy with the orphans and everybody's fake tears. Not one of his top three films for sure.