The 36th Chamber of Shaolin The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
1979 ‘Shao Lin san shi liu fang’ Directed by Liu Chia-Liang
Synopsis
The anti-Ching patriots, under the guidance of Ho Kuang-han, have secretly set up their base in Canton, disguised as school masters. During a brutal Manchu attack, Lui manages to escape, and devotes himself to learning the martial arts in order to seek revenge. This film is widely considered to be one of the greatest Kung Fu films ever, and a turning point in its director's and star's careers.
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Part 14 of my Tell Me What To Watch Decembuary - nominated by Aaron.
WOO! YEARGH! UHH! EHH! WAHGH! UNGH! URLGH! OONF!
I say it's the mark of a pretty effective film that you come out of it with snippets of dialogue swimming round your head rather than something from the soundtrack.
Of course, the assorted grunts above hardly count as 'dialogue' but you get my point. I do feel even more incredibly silly writing this, but some of the fights that take place The 36th Chamber of Shaolin had me looking at them in the way that I would look at a wrestling match. For instance, I watched an early fight in this film and found myself thinking, "Well,…
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Even Buddha has to conquer evil!
-San TeIt's often called "the greatest Kung Fu film of all time". While I can't say I totally agree with that, it is the Shaw Bros chef d'oeuvre of Kung Fu classics. It's also a seminal film in the careers of Gordon Liu and Chia-Liang Liu.
The plot will be nothing new to kung fu fans, or film fans in general. It's the commoner who is trained and slowly becomes the master. This has been recycled not only in Kung Fu films, but boxing films, sci fi, basically any film where you can master something. Most of them are not as well done as this though. If you pay attention to the later…
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I just want the RZA to do the commentary for every movie
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Pretty much the ultimate training kung-fu film I assume. I'm gonna try a little experiment. Why don't ya'll recommend to me your favorite kung-fu flicks. Don't have to be limited to Shaw Brothers and all that. I realized while watching this that, for a genre I love so much, I know very little. I'd especially be happy at lesser known stuff. Anyway, my journey continues.
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Possessing dignity, a great extended-training sequence, and a strong narrative, '36th Chamber' lives up to its classic status. This is a serious kung fu piece and the action is appropriately more realistic than in many genre pictures. As a result, I didn't get quite the same thrill as when watching Sammo's flips or Casanova Wong's kicks in 'Warriors Two', but the overall package makes this a definite landmark. A must-see.
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The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is the real deal. A 70s Shaw Brothers Kung-fu extravaganza that, unlike many of its contemporaries/descendants, remains pulpy without trading heavily in the comedic. Set against the backdrop of the Manchu ‘Tartar’ occupation of Canton the film centres on student-rebel turned Buddhist monk San Te (or San Ta if you go by the subs on my borrowed DVD!) and his quest to study the martial arts and bring them to the layman so they might throw off their oppressors.
The bulk of the film showcases the handiwork of Chia Hui Liu (as San Te) and his various teachers as he works his way in record time through the 35 ‘Chambers’ of Shaolin martial training including…
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Pretty much the ultimate training kung-fu film I assume. I'm gonna try a little experiment. Why don't ya'll recommend to me your favorite kung-fu flicks. Don't have to be limited to Shaw Brothers and all that. I realized while watching this that, for a genre I love so much, I know very little. I'd especially be happy at lesser known stuff. Anyway, my journey continues.
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Excellent movie and I really don't have much to add that hasn't been said already. It uses the always cliche sports genre formula, but by using it in a martial arts film they somehow get away with it and the film becomes even better for it.
I watched the Dragon Dynasty Blu Ray release and I have to warn everyone away from it. This release is garbage, I'm not talking 'there's a bit too much blue!' or 'It's too bright!' levels of crap, but that the film incorrectly plays at the wrong speed. I realise that this is a general PAL fault (despite this being a US disc), but even PAL releases are pitch corrected and have other adjustments done…
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Possessing dignity, a great extended-training sequence, and a strong narrative, '36th Chamber' lives up to its classic status. This is a serious kung fu piece and the action is appropriately more realistic than in many genre pictures. As a result, I didn't get quite the same thrill as when watching Sammo's flips or Casanova Wong's kicks in 'Warriors Two', but the overall package makes this a definite landmark. A must-see.
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Right there with Enter the Dragon and Ip Man. Gordon Liu demonstrates some of the most amazing, yet completely realistic, martial arts choreography I've ever seen
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The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is the real deal. A 70s Shaw Brothers Kung-fu extravaganza that, unlike many of its contemporaries/descendants, remains pulpy without trading heavily in the comedic. Set against the backdrop of the Manchu ‘Tartar’ occupation of Canton the film centres on student-rebel turned Buddhist monk San Te (or San Ta if you go by the subs on my borrowed DVD!) and his quest to study the martial arts and bring them to the layman so they might throw off their oppressors.
The bulk of the film showcases the handiwork of Chia Hui Liu (as San Te) and his various teachers as he works his way in record time through the 35 ‘Chambers’ of Shaolin martial training including…
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Kids, if I've learned anything from the Shaw Brothers, it's this: fighting is ALWAYS the answer. Even if it means you have to shave your head, live with dudes, and study for several years. Don't worry-your enemies will wait. And if you're really determined to beat someone's ass, the Shaolin monks have an accelerated program since they'd rather someone else risk their skin against an oppressive regime. Just don't ask to start at the 35th chamber which apparently involves turning men into the Chinese Professor X.
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Colorista y cuidada producción de la Shaw, primera de la saga de Saholin en las que seguimos las aventuras del mítico monje San Te y sus discípulos contra los malvados manchues. Alejada del sudoroso musculo que terminaría imponiéndose en las producciones de artes marciales posteriores y contemporáneas, La Saga de Shaolin sirve como ejemplo de que ni Zhang Yimou ni Ang Lee inventaron nada en sus operísticas recuperaciones del pasado mas mitológico de China.
Por cierto que siempre que las veo me acuerdo de lo que decía un amigo, al que también le gustaban: "sabe Dios la de chinos que habrán muerto haciendo esto"
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A martial arts film in which the training manages to be as thrilling, maybe even more so, as the climactic fights.
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I'm trying to understand and enjoy kung-fu films. I watch a kung-fu film once in a while in hope of getting into them. They are just not my cup of tea. This was a good film though. The story is rather predictable but it does have some nice scenes. So, while this film did not convert me it did give me some hope.