It's also a film surprisingly tame, both in the plotting and in the action sequences. Description: Fong Sai Yuk's uninhibited arrogance toward a Manchu lord forces him to seek refuge in a Shaolin temple. The third and final entry in the thrilling 36th Chambers of the Shaolin series of kung-fu films. Hsiao Hou is something of a disappointment. Although abundantly trained in the martial arts, he is no match for Master San Te, the creator of the 36th Chamber of Shaolin, who constantly overpowers his younger, more agile disciples in matters of both body and mind. Written by Disciples of the 36th Chamber is the third in a trilogy of Shaolin temple films and one of the last ever movies from the acclaimed Shaw Brothers studio. Instead, this is a light-hearted romp, focusing on hijinks and character-building throughout.
Although abundantly trained in the martial arts, he is no match for Master San Te, the creator of the 36th Chamber of Shaolin, who constantly overpowers his younger, more agile disciples in matters of both body and mind. Sure, Hou is exceptional in the athletic fighting scenes, but I was expecting that seeing as how Shaw always got the best from their actors. Will Fong feed his foolish ego and betray the Shaolin Temple? The usual Shaw Brothers staples are present here, with no noticeable decline in quality: sumptuous sets, colourful costumes and a great supporting cast of notable faces like Lily Li and Chan Shen. It's also fun to see director Liu Chia-Liang in a small role as a Manchu villain. The plot I found overly predictable and repetitive and aside from the lavish climax, the action scenes just didn't deliver as much as in the past, although the climax at the spectacle helps to make up for earlier disappoints.
Fong Sai Yuk's uninhibited arrogance toward a Manchu lord forces him to seek refuge in a Shaolin temple. I just kept waiting for Gordon Liu to appear back on screen. But what are the governor's true intentions? I was watching this waiting for a nice fight scene to play out and I was kept waiting right up until the admittedly impressive climax. . Jason Pai Piao bags the role of the chief villain and fills it with effortless ease.
With few other places or people to turn to, the Shaolin school turns to the powerful but ill-tempered San Te, who happens to have a bone to pick with the Manchus himself. He's playing the same legendary character, Fong Sai-Yuk, that Jet Li went on to play time and again in the 1990s, but I didn't find myself warming to his portrayal as I did Li's. Will Fong feed his foolish ego and betray the Shaolin Temple? Exhausted by his frequent defeats, Fong seeks to escape his prison and crosses paths with a governor, who rewards him with a yellow robe granting immunity from any Manchu. When Fong Sai-Yuk, the son of the owner of the school, picks a fight with the Manchus, events take a turn for the worse. But what are the governor's true intentions? The film marks a notable move away from the blood-drenched, vengeance-fuelled Shaw classics like those directed by Chang Cheh and it's also the tamest Shaw film I've seen Gordon Liu appear in. Powerful Manchu warlords are threatening to shut down the Shaolin school due to a lack of funds and interest. My favourite character is Gordon Liu's noble monk: Liu is a real scene stealer in this film and bags the best character, too.
Exhausted by his frequent defeats, Fong seeks to escape his prison and crosses paths with a governor, who rewards him with a yellow robe granting immunity from any Manchu. . . . .
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