Directed by Chia-Liang Liu. Starring Gordon Liu.
This was a fun film for me... an adventure into a new genre. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin appealed to me because, though it is not Hollywood and thus not what I'm used to, it still falls within the realm of "popular" cinema (as opposed to art/experimental/avant-garde film), and those are the kinds of movies I always enjoy. This is a classic example of a kung fu film from Hong Kong, a major national film industry and a beloved genre.
The movie is a period piece, telling of a land under a horrible oppressive leader. One man, fleeing the deaths of his family and friends, takes shelter in the famous Shaolin Temple, where he spends years mastering the 35 Chambers (aka levels) of kung fu training. Only when he has become a great master of kung fu does he propose starting a 36th Chamber -- one in which they will train the laymen so they too can fight oppression. This is a useful narrative hook that carries the film along, making you invested in the hero's development and providing ample opportunities to show off the main actor's impressive kung fu skills.
This film was the first for both its director/choreographer and star, and Gordon Liu at least went on to be massive star. Interestingly, he can also be seen in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1, a massive homage to HK cinema -- review coming soon! Liu, though certainly not an expressive actor, is a good fit for this role.
An interesting note on the history... these films had to appeal to multiple audiences: those that spoke Cantonese, Mandarin, and, yes, English. Thus, in the interest of being historically faithful, our teacher had us watch it in dubbed English, which was hilariously bad. Every character had an accent that sounded oddly like John Wayne. Bad, but well worth the experience!
This is a film that is well off the beaten track, but well worth watching for anyone who likes action/adventure films. Particularly if you're a fan of Tarantino, Jackie Chan, or any such modern film figures, it's great to see a film from Hong Kong with someone like Gordon Liu to go back to cinema's roots!
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