American Shaolin

This was a great martial arts film. The action sequences are exciting and fast paced. The Shaolin training sequences was a highlight, especially when the new monks demonstrated with weapons. Reese Madigan was a bit annoying, but he still can prove he is a tough fighter on screen. I don't know how they did it, but they made non-martial artist Trent Bushy look great as the evil Trevor. A must-see for all fans of martial arts films.

Producer and director Ng See Yuen (Secret Rivals) presents another Keith Strandberg penned production that is pretty much, just a Chinese take on The Karate Kid and his very own - No Retreat, No Surrender...

While far from being a classic, with basic production values and comedy that only Keith himself probably found hilarious (including a campy Shaolin take on classic rock song, 'Summertime Blues' retitled 'The Shaolin Temple Blues'), American Shaolin can only best be described as a kung fu comedy with a good cast, decent acting, and poor script only to be saved by some nice martial arts action under the watchful eyes of Peking Opera School brothers Corey Yuen Kwai and Yuen Tak!

I loved the nod to Kwai's very own film, Righting Wrongs (Above The Law) as he makes a fight between the drill sargent monk and some hoodlums a remake of the one featuring Rothrock in a gambling den - exchanging her handcuffs for his beads. Along with that, the scene at the disco reminded me very much of a similar one in Painted Faces, a film actually about the two Yuen's where all the students get into bother on a night out.

For his first ever role, Reese Madigan isn't too terrible in this role as Drew Carson - an all American boy who let his master (Kim Chan from Lethal Weapon 4) down in a martial arts tournament in his home town, after being ridiculously humiliated. He's a good looking guy with decent moves and it would have been nice to see him continue in more martial arts, action films whether with Seasonal Films, or not. In Shaolin, his master is the wonderful Henry O (Master Yu in Rush Hour 3) who sees potential in Drew and helps him on his journey.

Popular American/Korean actor Daniel Dae Kim (24, Lost, Hawaii Five-0) plays Drew's temple adversary who, much like the film itself, get better as time passes. The big Cliff Lenderman is great as their 'drill sarge' and joined Ng See Yuen a few years later for another Strandberg penned production, Superfights...

As expected, the finale of American Shaolin is all about good versus evil, and of course, showing that Drew's training in Shaolin Temple can help him beat smart ass and dirty fighter Trevor Gottitall (played by the gorgeous Trent Bushey in his only feature film and action role), in a fun end fight that has shades of No Retreat, No Surrender written all over it!

Just shy of a 2 hour running time and packed with Strandberg cheesiness, the film was clearly made for the American audience from its rock songs to its sports, as well as its attempt at humour. It's far from the 18 Bronzemen Of Shaolin or 36th Chamber Of Shaolin, but it director Lucas Lowe (No Retreat, No Surrender 3; King Of The Kickboxers) passes the time okay and entertains enough to warrant a watch.

Overall: I've seen worse. The Seasonal/Strandberg films are never amazing, but there is a certain charm that keeps you watching..!

American Shaolin is a virtuosic display of the drama of martial arts combat, intertwined with the wisdom and lore of the Eastern Buddhist Tradition (Shaolin). After a humilating incident in which his pants are pulled down by martial arts "bad guy" Trevor Gottiall, revealing his panties to a crowd of about 75 people in a high school gymnasium, Drew Carson escapes to the rural countryside of Communist China to learn the secrets of Oriental Martial Arts (Shaolin Fighting). While there Drew must master the arts of manual labor (viz. "latrine cleaning") and fighting wooden golems; but he also manages to impart a little "wisdom" on his Chinese captors: he breaks up the monotony of another day of hard labor in the prison camp with a rendition of "The Shaolin Temple Blues" -- with eerily reminiscent of Buddy Holly's 1956 hit "Summertime Blues" -- and in the process teaches his Oriental associates how to sing and dance "American"-style.

Except for some unnecessary (albeit, brief) digressions into Avant-Garde Symbolism -- mainly in the form of a trip to the mountain to visit the Zarathustra-esque Purple Magician (portrayed with fantastic charisma by Noriyuku "Pat" Morita of Karate Kid fame) and a panty-raid at the local high school dance -- American Shaolin is a film to be enjoyed over and over. A veritable tour-de-force realized through the sheer acting-magnificence of its ensemble cast, that culminates with a breathtaking transition from the final test that requires Drew to destroy Wooden Golems in the basement of the Shaolin Temple to the final fight "all-out" bare-knuckle fight at the International Karate Expo where Drew must put his skillz to their ultimate test in mortal kombat with Trevor. And let's just say that Drew doesn't "drop his pants" this time!!!

Keep on Shaolin-Fighting, Drew

If you've ever seen a movie about the Shaolin Temple, then you've seen half of this, what sets 'King of the Kickboxers II' apart from the rest is the inability of the hero to keep his pants up, and air-guitar styling of the Shaolin disciples. Awesome.

'King of the Kickboxers II' opens with our hero, Drew Carson, facing a bad-dude known as Trevor (what an evil name) in a martial arts tournament. Trevor beats Drew by pulling his pants down (just how does he untie Drew's belt whilst wearing gentlemen's sport gloves?). The obvious solution for Drew is to go the Shaolin Temple, so its off to China and good-bye to Trevor for most of the movie. Somehow, Drew doesn't have any communication troubles in China, because everyone at the Shaolin Temple speaks English, even when in the villagers talking to people speaking Chinese.

Anyway, most of the movie is your standard Shaolin Temple stuff - training sequences and fights, but all from the perspective of a loud-mouthed American who constantly gets in trouble. The fights are good, but nothing special. If you're looking for Shaolin action ala 'Shaolin Temple', you will be disappointed, but if you just want some martial arts fun, then this is for you.

5/10

American Shaolin is undoubtibly one of the best film ever made. It is a brilliant concoction of humour, action and excitement. I was mezmerised whilst watching it, at its greatness and anticipated eagerly for the outcome of events. It is an utter masterpiece in movie making and hasn't got the credit it deserves. It is an excellently made film and is exciting all the way through. I watch it at least once everyday, sometimes twice. Thats how brilliant it is. Well done Lucas Lowe for creating such a magnificent piece of work!! "the tiger grasps the pearls."