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Shaolin Master Killer (Widescreen Edition)

Shaolin Master Killer (Widescreen Edition)

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: VERY DATED BUT WELL WORTH THE MONEY
Review: The Master Killer is (sort of) a martial arts version of Tom Browns "School Days." Essentially a revenge story, the bulk of the film takes place in Shaolin Temple where the protagonist trains himself in Kung Fu in order to take revenge against those evil Manchus who butchered dear old dad. Unfortunately, the training sequences are so emphasized that they eclipse the fight scenes that theoretcially should be the climax. Still, the movie is definately a mouldy oldy and should be viewed if you're serious about kick flicks. I wouldn't advise it for those who have just "discovered" Hong Kong Cinema after seeng Crouching Tiger, because it's obviously not meant for the self-styled high brows that make up the art house crowd, but for for martial arts fans, it's worth your time. On a more personal note.....although I've heard all the arguments about why Shaolin monks train in martial arts, I never really understood how Buddhism can be reconciled with killing people. Well, it's a martial arts film, not a debate on practical theology.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Terrible sound ruins movie!
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The "Gone with the Wind" of the Martial Arts Movie Genre
Review: This 1970s classic is a must-have for action/martial-arts movie lovers. The story centers around a young scholar (Gordon Liu) who enlists as an underground rebel seeking to overthrow the Manchu rulers that have taken over China. The evil local Manchu warlord, played by Lo Lieh (the Shaw Brothers' favorite villain!), discovers the plot and slaughters Liu's family. Liu flees to the Shaolin Temple, where he becomes a monk, adopts the name "San Te", and learns the secrets of Shaolin kung-fu (because the dubbing is weak, the character's pre-Shaolin name is difficult to make out). This is when the movie shines! The training sequences, though dramatized at times, are the most amazing ever caught on film and highlight the excruciating pain the monks endure. Seven years later, San Te leaves the Temple and returns to his old village to take revenge on the Manchus.

Unlike many HK martial arts films, this one does not have "wire-fu" and ridiculous side antics and comedy that distract from the plot. The fighting sequences are fast, hard, and clean- pure old school heaven! The story and dialogue are simple; the dubbing could use improvement, but one should understand most of the words. Pay close attention to the skills San Te learns at Shaolin, and then seeing them applied when San Te battles the Manchus! When you se this, you really appreciate the attention to detail that the makers of the film put forth.

Overall, a gem of a movie. They don't make them like this anymore!!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: IT AIN'T A CELESTIAL PICTURES RELEASE !!!!
Review: THIS DVD LIKE SO MANY OTHERS RELATED TO THE SHAW BROTHERS COLLECTION, THAT ARE NOT RELEASED BY CELESTIAL PICTURES ARE A SHAM !!! I WILL NOT SUPPORT SOME LOW DOWN PIRATES LOOKING TO MAKE A QUICK BUCK !!! IF IT AIN'T A CELESTIAL RELEASE IT AIN'T WORTH A DIME !!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Gordon Liu: "Shaolin Master Killer"
Review: This is a great old school kung-fu flick. It's a little slow at the beginning (hence my 4 stars instead of 5) but by the halfway point you just can't take your eyes off the tv. Excellent training sequences, some of the best I've ever seen anywhere. And by the end of the movie, Gordon Liu is a solid fighter. His kung-fu is excellent and there is some good history in the shaolin training methods. There could have been a little more in the fight scene department, but definetly a classic for the training scenes alone. The fight scenes are great, it's just that they are a little short. Gordon Liu has become one of my favorite martial artists and if you really want to see him shine, pick up: "Fists of the White Lotus" and "Shaolin Challenges Ninja" 5 stars each and 2 of the best kung-fu movies ever. This one is a must have too for any real kung-fu fan.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic...Epic...Must have, for true oldschool collection!!
Review: This is one of my top 5 favorites!!!!! Because of it's storyline, training and fighting. Many get away from the true essence of traing, expecially Shaolin style, and forget to give your the ethic in developing the master skills of the art. This one is one of the best classics. Not to mention the wonderful remasteing into DVD. I Love it and if you watched Kung Fu Matinee like I did as a kid (in BK N.Y.), you must get this one. Hope it is truely enjoyed by others as I enjoyed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Six Stars
Review: 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!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Roots of the Wu Tang
Review: This movie narrowed down for me where the WU got some of their material from. This movie shows the master of the Kung FU Gordon Liu. Awesome flick if you like the Wu Tang and if your a true Kung Fu fan.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The 36th chamber of Shaolin
Review: This movie was released in English in India as "The 36th chamber of Shaolin" around 10 years back. Good martial arts, classic story of difficulties of learning and definitely worth a look.
Reasonable video quality not on par with the best, still pretty good, english dubbing is reasonable.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: .......booyah........
Review: unreal...
trippy...
unbelivable...
awesome...
miraculous...
sofreakingphatdopeanddeafthatthelasttimeiwatcheditithoughtiwasgoingtoexplodeifididn'tbustoutmyvirtua
fightergameonplaystation2andusetheshaolinmonktowastealltheotherfightersasses!!!!!!!!!!


now for the review...

sang te is a young rebel of some sort, way back in the old days of china. we are never told what kind of rebel he is and if you're just trying to watch a cool beat'em-up flick without pulling out a textbook on chinese history, blow off the whole concept. just remember that the government is out to do this guy in for refusing to kiss their butts. he barely escapes with his life and finds refuge in a shaolin monastary. there, he goes through a RIDICULOUSLY GRUELING seven years of kung fu training and becomes a complete badass! Gordon Liu is so nice with his hands, feet and weapons, your jaw is going to drop so far down to the floor that your woman could roll watermelons into your mouth!

keep an eye out for the generic voices that you hear in almost all the other kung fu flicks. aside from that and a few steals from stock plots (impossibly hard training, a loser comes to learn from the master(s) so he can take revenge on some jerks, etc) this is a top of the line piece of moviemaking, acting and beatdowns. gordon liu would be god if the job wasn't already taken.


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