Rating: 
Summary: Guy above was 100% right about the sound quality
Review: Awesome movie...this was one of the regulars on Channel 26 Kung Fu Theater here in Houston. Fight scenes can sometimes get a little slow, but the Shaolin training aspect of it was really cool. Main hero's father and business are destroyed by bloodthirsty Manchus. Hero escapes and joins Shaolin Temple...he completes all 35 chambers of Shaolin training and creates the 36th to teach Shaolin fighting techniques to the common man so that they can drive the Manchus from China. The guy who wrote the previous review was right, tho, you have to crank the volume to hear what they are saying...fortunately, the sound effects are mixed at the same low volume...sound still isn't very crisp. Unfortunately, this is probably the only DVD version that will be released. :( My rating of 3 is on the quality of the DVD...definately not on the movie!
Rating: 
Summary: Classic
Review: Considered one of the finest martial arts films ever made, Shaolin Master Killer stars popular old school kung fu badass Chia Hui (Gordon) Liu as San Te, a young man who becomes involved in the struggle against the malevolent Manchus, seditious anti-Ching patriots. Steered by Ho Kuang-han, the Manchus have surreptitiously set up a headquarters in Canton. When his family is murdered for being linked with rebels, San Tse narrowly escapes and eventually makes his way to the Shaolin monastery. Here he requests to stay and learn the fighting techniques of the Shaolin, and after brief discussion among the elders, he is allowed to remain.
The better part of the film is dedicated to the painstaking and exhaustive training San Te undergoes. San Te hones his skills over several years, and the tasks he must complete are within an arduous, and sometimes torturous, series of thirty-five distinct chambers (or phases) of instruction - ordeals intended to develop strength and agility. San Te?s initial failures are amusing (such as attempting in vain to balance on bound wooden logs in the water while also trying to eat lunch from a bowl), but when he finally begins to grasp the Shaolin techniques, he progresses past the other pupils and becomes the greatest student the temple has ever seen. Though there are only thirty-five chambers, Liu's character argues for the creation of a new one. This "36th chamber" in the temple would teach Shaolin kung fu to the general population so that they might effectively fight the Manchus. This idea doesn?t go over at all, and San Te is sent back into the world as a beggar monk. However, San Te has already learned what he needs in order to whip some severe amounts of Manchu ass.
Shaolin Master Killer is the epitome of the classic post-Bruce Lee kung fu flick. While background story concerns revenge, the true focus of the film is San Te?s training at the Shaolin temple. These sequences were under the direction of Lau Kar Leung (who also directed Jackie Chan in Drunken Master 2), and their scope and perfection take martial arts filmmaking to new heights. The training scenes not only serve the purpose of furthering the story, but also allow the viewer to learn about and care for the protagonist before the climactic showdown. There aren't as many fights as one might expect from a Shaw Brothers film, but this does not detract from the overall story in the least. As a matter of fact, the occasionally languorous pace helps to enhance the mood of the film as a whole.
Gordon Liu was a mainstay for more than a decade at legendary Shaw Brothers studio in Hong Kong. His first major role was in director Chang Cheh's Shaolin Martial Arts. The success of Shaolin Master Killer (the original title was 36th Chamber of Shaolin) propelled him to stardom. Liu can be seen in the high-profile role of Pai Mei in Kill Bill: Vol. 2, and in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 as the gangster Johnny Mo - dual roles in the same film showing the esteem Quentin Tarantino holds for this veteran actor.
Shaolin Master Killer is dubbed in that oft-maligned and mocked kung fu movie manner (the lips don?t match the mouth), but most of the translation seems to be precise. The choreography is superlative and demonstrates why Liu is inarguably one of cinema?s greatest martial arts stars. Better than Bruce Lee? Well, that?s a fan-boy debate for another time and place. Shaolin Master Killer is definitely not-to-be-missed by kung fu, cult film, and action flick aficionados for any reason.
Rating:
Summary: Dated, Old School, but a Classic nonetheless
Review: Dated, Old School, but a Classic nonetheless. This was the second martial arts film I originally saw in the 1970's (Jackie Chan's Snake In The Eagle's Shadow was the first) and it was played on regular TV. For the time, it was large in scope and had a lot of heart. This was Gordon Liu's breakthrough leading role. Many people not usually interested in martial arts also seem to enjoy this as well. Lo Lieh's best line: "I've killed many men, but never a monk...not yet." Most memorable scenes: training sequences.
Rating: 
Summary: OLD SCHOOL COOL ! ! ! TOTALLY TUBULAR ! ! !
Review: Dude, I was so stoked when I saw this was available on DVD! I remember staying up late in the mid-eighties to catch this flick on Kung-Fu Theater. The original title was "Master Killer". Why they decided to add "Shaolin" to the DVD release title is beyond me. I wasn't even sure it was the same movie when I ordered it, but when I saw the opening credits I knew I had struck gold! It was a stand out then and still is today. All of the fighting sequences are awesome, and the training sequences will probably never be matched. The acting, directing, cinematography, and fight choreography are all first rate. This Kung-Fu movie has it all! I don't understand why Gordon Liu is not widely recognized as one of the greats. His speed and skill are as impressive as anyone around today. I'm really looking forward to more of his movies being released on DVD. Don't expect high-flying Hong Kong action; this is strictly old school Shaolin ass-kicking action. The down side: I would have given this DVD 5 stars except for one thing: Damage to the original print used to make this DVD is pretty bad in some places; with dirt and "hair" on the frames, and some of the night scenes a little too dark because of the age of the print. It does not interfere with the action sequences, and was only really distracting two times throughout the entire film. The owner of the distribution rights to this movie needs do it justice and have it digitally remastered frame by frame. A classic like this should be cleaned up and released as beautiful as the day it graced the screen. The sound for the dailogue is a little too soft in a few places, but overall it's okey and the musical score is very good. The punching and kicking sounds don't suffer one bit. The "bonus feature" interview with an actual 34th generation Shaolin monk was boring and totally worthless- skip streight to the movie. I HIGHLY recomend this DVD for any Kung Fu movie lover. You won't be disappointed. With a running time of an hour and 55 minutes this Kung-Fu masterpiece is worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Simply put: A good film.....
Review: Ever wondered how you can become a master @ The Shaolin Temple? This film shows wonderful training sequences. They were so interesting, I found myself eagerly awaiting to see the next chamber, and what San Te would learn next. You really root for him through the movie. One of the coolest things about Hong Kong cinema is that they show how the hero has learned from the training. While fighting, San Te will use what he has learned to win. Something that American cinema has yet to pick up on(At least with hand to hand combat). The action: Due to the fact that it was done by Lau Kar Liang(Lau something), means artistic bliss. The Lau brothers then went on to do Shaolin Drunken Monk, Warrior From Shaolin, and Fists And Guts. These films are a continuation of the character San Te. Although, sadly, they are not up to par with the energy of the film "Master Killer" as a whole, the action of these other three San Te movies is just a little more enjoyable, and there's more of it. Like other reviews have stated, this is a movie for non-kung fu fans as well. For me, this is a favorite, and if dust shall gather on top of the case of this DVD, it won't be there for long.... Peace.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring training movie
Review: From all the great reviews for this movie, I was expecting a classic movie. This movie is very boring. I slept in three different occassions throughout the movie. If you want to see a martial arts training movie, then pick this up. If you are looking for some good kung fu ass kicking, look elsewhere because this movie has virtually no kung fu action! It's all training in some fake shaolin temple in Hong Kong. If you want great kung fu flicks check out Fist of the White Lotus and Mystery of Chess Boxing.
Rating:
Summary: We must put down evil, and you're evil
Review: Gordon Liu delivers, as anyone would expect. Anything that has Gordon Liu as the feature character you know is going to be a quality movie. This role for Gordon Liu is very similar to his role in Shoalin and Wu-Tang. I was hoping while watching Shoalin Master Killer to see Gordon Liu focused in a way he wasn't in Shoalin and Wu-Tang. I was disappointed to say Shoalin Master Killer and Shoalin and Wu-Tang delivers about the same dosage of Gordon Liu.
Chia-Liang Liu directs this classic/masterpiece. Chia-Liang Liu is also known for starring and directing Drunken Monkey, as well as directing Drunken Master II, Return of the Master Killer, and Dirty Ho (love this movie, another Gordon Liu classic). Chia-Liang Liu is a classic martial arts movie icon that you have to have a lot of respect for. He doesn't get the respect of Woo-ping Yuen, however, he deserves it.
Shoalin Master Killer has a very strait line story, revenge plot, old school training movie, followed by dramatic final fight sequence. Everything you should expect to see in a Shaw Brothers martial arts film. The chorography was very nice, however, scarce. This is not a martial arts film where every 15 minutes a 20 minute fight breaks out (like a Venoms flick). This is a training movie, with a few nice fight scenes at the end (the best fight sequence in my opinion occurs when Gordon Liu tries to prove he has mastered all 35 chambers by defeating a fellow senior staff monk).
Nevertheless, this is a very nice movie to have in your martial arts DVD collection. I would place Shoalin Master Killer in the second tier of old school martial arts movies you need to have in your collection along with Buddhist Fist and Magnificent Butcher. I would recommend 7 Grandmasters, Shoalin and Wu-Tang. Kid with the Golden Arms, Crippled Avengers (Return of the Five Deadly Venoms), Five Deadly Venoms, and Dirty Ho slightly better then Shoalin Master Killer. Shoalin Master Killer is still a very, very good movie.
Grade: B
Rating:
Summary: 5 STARS FOR THE MOVIE 3 FOR THE DVD!
Review: Great movie, one of the best because of the training scenes, story, and fighting, but I rather wait for a better DVD. If it's not 16x9 Anamorphicly enhanced or Remasterd print with remasterd sound because the sound is awful! You have to crank up the volume full blast to hear what they are talking about! You might think I'm picky now, but in a few years Widescreen TVs will cost as much as the normal 4:3 TVs and then I'll have to throw away all these Kung Fu movies that are not Remasterd and Anamorphic because if you can see the specs and lines now, wait till you zoom it in to your Widscreen TV! Furthermore these movies deserve a SPECIAL REMASTERD ADDITION just read the reviews and ask any Kung Fu movie fan what they think about MASTER KILLER.
Rating:
Summary: A Complete Martial Arts Film
Review: I remembered this movie from when I first saw it in the Late 80's on TV one saturday afternoon. It was called "The 36th Chamber" then. I rank this film amoung my top 2 Shaw Brothers releases (I can't decide if it's better then 5 Deadly Venoms). Master Killer has an excellent story and the fighting sequences are enthrawling. However, the main reason I love this movie is because of the training scenes within the Shaolin Temple. It was the aspect of the movie that captivated me when I first saw it years ago. Gorden Liu is the perfect fit for the role. Purchase this film if you don't have it. You wont be upset.
Rating:
Summary: (dont) Try this at home!
Review: I'm 37, saw back in 70's, have watched and studied since. This was back in the days of "grasshoppers" big fight scene being a punch followed with kick...hy-ya. Boy, I was truely inspired by this film as a child, leading the way for my pre-training in White Tiger. I set up head bags, long poles, and held my head still while watching tennis. While working, I carried things arms length and even tried to jump over floating things by running atop them. I have yet to see another flick that shows off the skills of such an artist as Mr Liu. His fight scene with master yul-ya, using 3 sec staff, is incredible to slow down and watch. I cant even tell you how many times I did this with the night group fight. there are no cuts, special effects, or fast blurred scenes, only coreagraphed moves that no one less than Mr Liu could perform...dont believe me?..try it!
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