Die Erben der 36 Kammern der Shaolin

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. 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. Instead, this is a light-hearted romp, focusing on hijinks and character-building throughout. It's also a film surprisingly tame, both in the plotting and in the action sequences. 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.

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. My favourite character is Gordon Liu's noble monk: Liu is a real scene stealer in this film and bags the best character, too. It's also fun to see director Liu Chia-Liang in a small role as a Manchu villain. Jason Pai Piao bags the role of the chief villain and fills it with effortless ease.

Hsiao Hou is something of a disappointment. 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. 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. I just kept waiting for Gordon Liu to appear back on screen. 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.

This is the second film where Lui Chia Hui plays San Te. He, however, is not the focus of the film. Fong Sai Yuk, played by Hsiou Hou, is the main character and occupies most of the screen time. Fong Sai Yuk is portrayed as a brash, young super fighter who can't stop getting into fights. He's a bragging, annoying character whose sole redeeming quality is that he can back up his boasts.

One of the last Shaw films before they shut down the studio, the film is set bound and looks like it could have been done ten years earlier. The plot is just decent with a back story that is slightly unexplained. The actors all do a good job. The music is very canned. The highlight is the fighting and there's plenty of it. A moderate amount of wire-fu doesn't detract from some excellent choreography. Liu Chia Liang really got into mass fight scenes towards the end of his time at the Shaw Bros. The final scene at the governor's palace is a small masterpiece of mass fighting.

A good kung fu film.

So, I liked the film, but it was a very frustrating experience. I love Liu Chia-Liang, I really do. And I liked Gordon Liu returning to the role from the first film. And Lily Li is always good. But I HATED the main character of Fang Shiyu. I get that a lot of these movies had that wild, uncontrollable, disobedient young hero, but this one went too far and I was actively rooting for his death. I'm not going to say this was actor Hou Hsiao's fault. Good lord was he a great fighter. I just think it's hard for a character like that to be likable to me. You know who always did it just right for me? Alexander Fu Sheng. He mastered that kind of role. And I guess since I liked the two early 90s Fong Sai-Yuk movies with Jet Li, I thought he did that particular character well. But I just wanted to rip my hair out here! AHHHHHHH!!!! But, some super smooth action, some great group fighting scenes towards the end, and I always feel it's a treat when Liu Chia-Liang gets in front of the camera for one of his own movies. So I'd still recommend this for fans of the genre/era.

Gordon Liu Chia-hui reprises his famous Monk San Te role as he tries to support and protect Shaolin her Fang Shih-yu who purposely attacks corrupt Ching officials. Fights by legendary action director Liu Chia-liang are to die for.

I am not knowledgeable enough to properly critique kung fu films. Many seem the same to me. I don't hold this against them, as this is really my fault and not theirs. (As a fan of the slasher film, I would not be surprised to hear someone say they're all the same... few people would want to get to know them like I have.) One thing I do know, however: this film is ground-breaking. It is a Shaw Brothers film at a time that looks to be a transitional state. We still have the great choreography and fights of the Chang Cheh films, but we have what appears to be a much higher production value, something that will really be apparent in "Martial Arts of Shaolin" a year or two later.

The most boring and boring of the trilogy, the protagonist, smart ass (in the worst context of the word) too, in others these acts are redeemed by the effort and will to fight for the oppressed, here we see him fighting for ambition, ease and fun, without redemption, inflicting suffering on the family and especially the mother, who almost sold herself for him, unpleasant...