Customer Reviews

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

As usual, because this is an English/French version some compromises have been made. In this case on the audio track

As an English speaker, I can handle the English track being in mono, while the French version is in 2.0 'surround'.. but why is the Cantonese version also in mono at the expense of a larger French soundtrack? Surely the Cantonese version should be in 2.0 (or even better presented in 2.0 'surround' and mono), and the French and English versions should both be in mono

To make matters worse the Mandarin soundtrack, which I believe to be the original, has gone completely which is ridiculous

It annoys me that the French soundtrack has been given preferential treatment when this is a Hong Kong movie. Maybe next time let's all compromise on video quality so there can be a special high quality French version of a HK martial arts movie?!

The movie's awesome but the horrible sound quality makes it hard to sit through. You can't hear any of the dialogue unless you turn up the volume real high, but then all the sound effects become deafening. Buy it because it's a classic, but know you will be disappointed.

Movies like this makes you appreciate the amazing talents of the martial actors of years past. People like Jackie Chan, Gordon Liu, Phil Kwok, TI Lung and many others of that time will never be seen again. Only by owning these wonderful DVD's, will we preserve there amazing talents. This is one of the best. This Work of art is more amazing than any CGI movies out today. Movies back then had heart. This movies kicks butt, one the best of all time. You cant go wrong with this DVD.

The only reason I give this movie four stars is because of the poor sound quality. Gordon Liu is phenominal and was truly ahead of his time when he made these films in the late 70's. For those who don't know Gordon Liu, he was in the Kill Bill movies. Most notibly in Volume 2 when he trained Uma Thurman. I have heard from many people that say Gordon Liu picked up the torch that Bruce Lee left behind when he passed away. After watching this movie, I see what they mean. In a nutshell, at least half of this movie involves Shaolin training, the other half invloves storytelling / fighting. The Karate Kid is totally based on this film. And Terantino had all the reason in the world to pay homage to this man in his Kill Bill films. This is my favourite kung fu film simply because it has a sense of real history behind it...and it wans't "as" hokey as most kung fu films.
If you like fun, hokey kung fu films...Five Deadley Venoms is a must buy too.

I'm 37, saw back in 70's, have watched and studied since. This was back in the days of "grasshoppers" big fight scene being a punch followed with kick...hy-ya. Boy, I was truely inspired by this film as a child, leading the way for my pre-training in White Tiger. I set up head bags, long poles, and held my head still while watching tennis. While working, I carried things arms length and even tried to jump over floating things by running atop them. I have yet to see another flick that shows off the skills of such an artist as Mr Liu. His fight scene with master yul-ya, using 3 sec staff, is incredible to slow down and watch. I cant even tell you how many times I did this with the night group fight. there are no cuts, special effects, or fast blurred scenes, only coreagraphed moves that no one less than Mr Liu could perform...dont believe me?..try it!

Now I know why the training scenes in this movie are a thing of legend. For those of you who are wondering, this IS "Enter the 36th Chamber of Shaolin," and it IS a must-see for kung fu fans of all ages.

The dubbing was acceptable. The visual quality was decent (especially considering the age of the film). According to my folks, there are a couple scenes missing here and there in the DVD, but, nonetheless, I didn't miss a thing. All the classic scenes were all still in place -- including San Te's getting sent flying backward in the 35th chamber by the single hand-wave and firm "Get out!" of an old man sitting cross-legged a few yards away.

Go for it, and enjoy!

This is, bar none, the best Kung Fu movie ever made. It is great for the view of the training inside Shaolin as every strip mall Karate student would dream it to be. There is a good moral lesson in this movie to make the most of any task and do it with excellence. Part of this idea was edited out. There was a scene where Gordon Liu first starts his training in the kitchen washing rice bowls! A far cry from learning to fight. Nevertheless he develops the craft of washing dishes into an efficient system of flipping and tossing the bowls into perfect stacks. You poor suckers who didn't see the original VHS at Blockbuster will never see this. Another lesson is that there are people everywhere that will be working beside you and rise, quite naturally, to the elevated status to which they were born to fulfill. They are more beautiful, smarter, and stronger than you. Don't be jealous of them. Try to emulate them with humility. Find your 36th chamber - but start by buying this movie!

Ever wondered how you can become a master @ The Shaolin Temple?

This film shows wonderful training sequences. They were so interesting, I found myself eagerly awaiting to see the next chamber, and what San Te would learn next. You really root for him through the movie. One of the coolest things about Hong Kong cinema is that they show how the hero has learned from the training. While fighting, San Te will use what he has learned to win. Something that American cinema has yet to pick up on(At least with hand to hand combat).

The action: Due to the fact that it was done by Lau Kar Liang(Lau something), means artistic bliss. The Lau brothers then went on to do Shaolin Drunken Monk, Warrior From Shaolin, and Fists And Guts. These films are a continuation of the character San Te. Although, sadly, they are not up to par with the energy of the film "Master Killer" as a whole, the action of these other three San Te movies is just a little more enjoyable, and there's more of it.

Like other reviews have stated, this is a movie for non-kung fu fans as well. For me, this is a favorite, and if dust shall gather on top of the case of this DVD, it won't be there for long.... Peace.

The classic Gordon Liu flick is by far shaolin master killer, aka 36th chamber of shaolin. The training sequences are by far the deepest and most copied scenes in martial arts movie history. Amazing story, amazing acting, and lets not forget the amazing dubbed track, such classic elements make this the must have kung fu dvd in everyone's collection

In the UK this goes under the title '36 Chambers of Shaolin' which is a pretty good description of the film. A young man flees his local village after the Manchu take over, and stows away into the Shaolin Temple. The monks take pity on him and he slowly begins a rigorous training programme at the different chambers of the temple- each one designed to strengthen individual parts of the body.

The film excels in showing us his dedicated training as he progresses through these chambers, learning to fight like a Shaolin monk.

He asks for a new chamber to be created - a '36th Chamber' whereby he can train outsiders in the skills of Shaolin kung fu but is banned from the Temple for the idea. He inevitably goes back to his own village to seek vengeance on those that killed his family.

The film is both absorbing and exciting and also endlessly watchable. It's a great shame that it's not available on DVD either in the US or UK, but it's a definite must-have for any kung fu fan, seasoned or otherwise.