Five Element Ninjas

The Shaw Brothers' film Five Element Ninjas combines a Hong Kong setting with Japanese ninjas (it was 1982; everything had ninjas) to tell a wild tale of revenge and betrayal. Rival martial artists Chief Hong and Yuan Zeng fight for supremacy, and when Hong's samurai ringer doesn't win, a ninja clan gets involved to even the score. One of Zeng's students has some ninjitsu training of his own, and he returns to his old teacher to learn more. He picks up his own squad of ninja allies, who can perhaps help him defeat Hong's element-themed heavyweights — Gold, Wood, Earth, Water and Fire. Five Element Ninjas is an extravaganza of martial arts, acrobatics and wire-work stunts. The Strange Brew film series presents the classic flick at 8 p.m. tonight at the Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood; www.schlafly.com). Tickets are $5.