Shao Lin yu Wu Dang

I liked the classic plot of this one and didn't find it too convoluted or forced. There's not much elaborate choreographed kung-fu through most of the movie (you get little snippets and teases throughout), but the end fight sequence is elaborate (they saved all their choreography for here) and quite good and exciting to see the two styles get combined to overcome the main baddie. You can really feel the chemistry between the two opposing stars, friends with conflict, and when they fight, it's a lot of fun.

I'd love to see a better print of this, as I watched an old VHS copy with lots of scanlines and cropping that I'm sure take away from it all.

Grab it and see it if you have the chance and like kung fu movies.

5.7 stars!

It's safe to say that almost any movie Gordon Liu has ever appeared in is a classic. You can probably watch the intro of this movie (about four minutes) over and over and over and never get bored, it's that good. The movie itself is about two people from two different groups (the Shaolin and the Wu-Tang) and how they must unite to fight for one common cause. The fighting sequences are great, the storyline is easy to follow, and... well, just go out and see it.

Shaolin and Wu Tang is pretty good, and fairly entertaining overall. It's a movie that's stuffed with so many martial arts movie narrative conventions it almost feels like a parody. It's got rival martial arts schools, spies, a shadowy villain, revenge, and intensive training scenes playing a part at just the point you'd expect them to be. It crams it all into a runtime of under 90 minutes, but doesn't feel silly enough to be a parody. It's more like a greatest hits compilation; all the good stuff you'd want from a martial arts story (arguably too much).

The action's really good, which is the main thing. It's not as frequently peppered with big scenes as some other martial arts movies, but there's enough. The less action-focused parts of Shaolin and Wu Tang are just fine. It doesn't waste time, and throws enough at you to make sure it's always interesting. The story isn't always charging forward, but non-action scenes tend to be brief in duration, which I think helps with the pacing.

Gordon Liu is also great here, as always. Some sites say he directed this, and some don't, so maybe he co-directed? Or did some scenes? There's not as much reliable info as there should be for a movie this solid, and similarly disappointing is how bad all the versions of it seem to be. This could really do with a remaster, and would deserve it.

Also, goes without saying, but it's definitely easy to recommend for anyone who likes Wu-Tang Clan's music.

This 1983 actioner marks kung fu superstar Gordon Liu's directorial debut. Unfortunately, it also commemorates the moment at which the Shaolin trend in Hong Kong cinema became a schtick. Several of the training sequences from "The Thirty-Sixth Chamber of Shaolin" are re-enacted (Li Hai-sheng even returns as the contentious monk who, with his butterfly swords, challenges Gordon Liu's character), but they're divorced from the emotional impact they had in the earlier film. "Thirty-Sixth Chamber" was a martial arts movie, yes, but also a story about the triumph of the human spirit; "Shaolin and Wu Tang" is just a series of fight scenes woven together by a thin plot. Great fight scenes, certainly, but only that.

Gordon Liu plays the senior pupil of a Shaolin-style master. His best friend, the senior pupil of a master of the Wu Tang sword, is portrayed by Adam Cheng. A treacherous Manchu lord (Wang Lung-wei) pits the young friends against one another: Liu's resolve takes him to Shaolin Temple, where he becomes a monk, trains in the Buddhist fighting arts (first-hand this time) and vows to wipe out the Wu Tang school; Cheng, meanwhile, is detained at a Taoist monastery and learns the finer points of his sword style from the priests there. Will the two friends realize that they have been manipulated by the Manchu lord before they injure or even kill each other?

Characterization is sketchy, the drama almost entirely unconvincing. People die, but no one ever seems particularly distraught about it. Because the tragic events in the film are handled so awkwardly, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was watching mediocre community theatre. Granted, this isn't going to bother most viewers...but, on the basis of its reputation, I expected something more from "Shaolin and Wu Tang." Six stars for the fight scenes, dazzlingly choreographed by Liu Chia-liang.

I brought this movie because it starred Gordon Lui.He is one of the best Old School fighters no second thoughts.I loved this movie from the moment it started to the end.I wish the movie never ended.Like many of Gordon's movies (Master Killers)for one which was a big hit when it came out.. Shaolin Vrs Wu Tang I think is the kept secret behind Master Killers.It does not ask Master Killers for help in kung fu movie ranking.I loved the great show down on the two schools Wu Tang and Shaolin showing their respective fierce fighting styles and traditions.Many great foot,leg,swords,training scenes from the both clans comparing their styles to each other.Without spoiling it here now the movie has a great plot that keeps you thinking and your eyes wide open.Gordon Lui & Adam Cheng are best friends only thing is that both of them come from rival clans the Shaolin and Wu Tang.The evil prince played by (Wong Lung Wie) tries to get the two friends to fight each other til death in a true battle both schools stand aside at the end to watch a battle that means more than friends!.Is friendship thicker than honor?Find out and watch!!!!