Shao Lin san shi liu zhu

36 Shaolin Beads is an interesting old school wu xia movie. It never quite reaches the peak it hopes to with its surprises, twists and storyline - but it also never lacks entertainment with its blend of spooky going-on's and swordplay action.

I was a little confused overall with the storyline as the main monk (played by Mark Long) and his colleague Pai Ying (the main bad guy in Royal Warriors) go in search of - a bad general rebel who is recognisable because of his large head tumour, and some stolen dragon needle guns. Along the way they encounter ghosts, swordsmen, prostitutes and ninjas until they arrive at a mansion filled with skeletons and spooky traps for the (first) grand battle.

The fights aren't amazing, but at the same time far from terrible. They film's fight choreographer is Wong Wing Sang, an actor and action director with an extensive career who would be best known for his role as the Indian fighter in Jimmy Wang Yu's - Master Of The Flying Guillotine. In 36 Shaolin Beads, his main focus is on blade work and weapons with Mark Long's monk character dishing out most of the hand-to-hand combat!

There is some wire-fu of course, but the most of the fighting is pretty grounded. The last lot of fights are pretty lengthy, and as I say with all of these washed out classics - I'm sure it would look even more impressive cleaned up in HD and in widescreen. There is an obvious amount missing in its 4:3 ratio cut, and while the overall video quality is poor, its still very watchable.

Overall: Not boring by any means, 36 Shaolin Beads has some interesting moments and good fight scenes, but it just misses out on being a memorable classic!

I just wanted to do a short review to point out the other reviewer is wrong. That reviewer seems to be reviewing 36th Chamber with Gordon Liu. 36 Shaolin Beads is a below average kung fu movie. I can't really say much about it. It's boring and the fight scenes aren't very good. The final fight is the only decent thing I remember. Mark Long, Champ Wang and a woman take on Lung Fei in a fight that involves more smoke bombs than kung fu exchanges. The rest of these words I am typing are to make the review long enough so it posts. type type type. geesh come on. please post this time. THis is taking too long. hjshdksjdsdshghghgjhgjhgf

sorry for my English... The ones who have loved Kill Bill (especially the vol.1) will appreciate one of the first Kung-Fu movies directed by the Shaw Brothers. The quick zooms are numerous, the Shaolin Kung Fu technique well shown. The Kung-Fu movies fans will adore this film (released in 1978).

The scenario is quite simple, it's about the initiation of a young man to the art of Shaolin Kung-Fu. Liu San-De is a student and his town is settled by the tartars. After having being part of a rebellion he is wanted by these latest and flees with a friend. But he encounters a general and his friend is killed. He decides to go into a Shaolin Temple to learn Kung-Fu. But the learning is supposed to be long and he will have to pass the 35 beads to become a real Shaolin fighter.

Something strange goes on at Dragon Town. It starts with a girl killing a traveler trying to cross a bridge. She uses a nonsense weapon called a needle gun. A few more men are killed and everyone speaks of ghosts. Enter Pai Ying and a monk. Pai Ying is proud to say he is looking for ghosts, specifically naked female ghosts. What happens next is confusing for two reasons. The action abruptly switches between Pai Ying and the other lead Wong Goon-Hung. Also there are two girls and from the poor resolution (VHS quality) and that they all wear all white costumes one can't tell them apart. Eventually Wong Goon-Hung and his girl find a tunnel. If you manage to hang in there for about an hour you will get your explanation or spoiler - whatever you want to call it. The ghost business is just to scare people away from a tunnel some rebels dug to get to the emperor and kill him. The alternate titles in involving 36 Shaolin beads concern the beads that Pai Ying wears. They are magnetic and make the anti-weapon against the girl's needle gun. Overall I can't rate the movie any higher than average for the year and genre. The fights were the same old thing over and over again and most seemed to happen in the dark and were hard to see.