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The Shaolin Temple

The Shaolin Temple

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Standard Bearer
Review: The Shaolin Temple was the first Chinese martial arts film to use real gongfu practitioners as actors (Bruce Lee's films are exempt because he did not use Chinese gongfu in his films; his style, which died with him, was primarily western martial arts with Asian kicking). These actors were the best martial artists in China. The film was funded by Japanese investors and took about two years to film due to the injuries the cast received doing their own stunts (the contact was real). According to the credits, Pan Qingfu choreographed the film. This is not so. All the actors choreographed their own parts. It is also not true that Jet Li was the reigning Chinese National Versatile Champion at the time this film was made (although he did hold the title for five years). That honor goes to Hu Jianqiang, who played the leader of the young monks. He is one of the few masters of both Northern and Southern styles, and Jet Li's friend and senior. This film is leaps and bounds above the earlier Hong Kong films.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good Film, Poor Quality
Review: The story element in this movie is good, the fight scenes are typical Jet Li quality (amazing), but the picture quality is so poor it is ridiculous. The picture is never clear, the colors appear as if they were applied with a big crayon, almost pastel in texture and color. The subtitles were just plain terrible. There is a good 3 to 5 minute narrative at the begining of the film that is not subtitled at all, so if you don't happen to speak Cantonese (which I don't) you have to switch the language, this also happens during the film itself, especially during one of the last fight scenes, sure they are talking but there are no subtitles.

For some obsqure reason though the sound quality is better than most films of it's age. I've seen a lot of cantonese films from the 70's and 80's in the past few years, and typically it is almost impossible to understand any of what they are saying even if you do speak the language. This has been one of the clearest audio tracks I have heard in a while... I acctually even picked up a few new words (that I will promptly forget before I get the chance to use them).

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Shoalin temple
Review: The video shut down 5 times the last 1/4 part of the movie ,had
to restart it each time .Then when I went to rewind the reel tape inside went out of round couldn't even rewind it. Yes the VCR IS 3 MONTHS OLD. QUALITY ?? Junk , it didn't last one showing

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Horrible transfer
Review: This DVD has a horrible pan and scan transfer which ruins most of the scenes in the movie. In particular, any involving what look to be excellent martial arts, but also many scenes that simply include than one person. There are the usual discrepencies between the dubbed and subtitled english translations. I have seen worse, so they're only mildly annoying. The images are often blurry and have lots of noise, as if from a bad original. I can't even recommend this on VHS. It's a pity that Jet Li's first movie couldn't have had a better transfer. I was very disappointed, and I consider myself a fan of the genre and Jet Li.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A very good kick-ass movie
Review: This is a Jet Li classic. If you enjoy watching martial arts this is the movie for you. There is great kung-fu action. Better that Lethal Weapons! Jet Li launched his career with this movie. Yea it's plot is kinda old but it goes past the plot. You watch how traditional kung-fu is done in the Shoalin Temples. Not many movie contain this.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: pretty cool flick
Review: this is cool flick, but slow at times. if you just want see Jet when he's young and lightning fast, check this out. i love the shaolin training as well. i just didnt like the pace of the film, something. anyway, buy it because if your reading this review your probably already a Jet Li fan and your going to want to add this to your collection.
if your just starting out with Jet Li movies, get HERO, The Tai Chi Master, Fist of Legend (orginal, not the US version! ) or Kung Fu Colt Master(its a fantasy swordplay flick, confusing but great!)& Fong Sai Yuk.
enjoy!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Definately one of the best!
Review: This is definatly one of Jet Li's best films. It contains some of the best martial arts ever caught on film. All of the monks in the movie are real life world wushu champions. You will not believe your eyes. Jet Li is definately not the only great martial artist in this movie, but he is the best. In this film you will get to see what Jet Li is really made of.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Jet Li, always good
Review: This is very first Jet Li movies... It is kind of old style(Bruce Lee)KungFu movie. It is a more serious film than the bulk of Li's work, it shines in both story and action. Although it is no better than Fist of Legend, it is still in my list of recommendations......

By the way, there is no wire stuff at all. The fighting scenes is so real and absolutely breathtaking. As a pure martial arts fun, you cannot miss it

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Really Kungfu
Review: This movie is the first Kungfu movie made in the mainland of China. Most of the actors have won national champions. Maybe it is not as fancy as many of the current Kungfu movies, but everything you watch in the movie, the actors really did it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: As always, Jet Li rocks!
Review: This movie rocks, especially for being Jet Li's first! You could see that he would be a star right away. I've seen all of his others and I wanted to see his very first and it definitely did not disappoint. All the wonderful Shaolin fighters and their Wushu, man if I knew how to do that stuff, I'd be a dangerous fool! I liked the letterbox format for this video and that most of the subtitles were in the black parts, not blocking the action. You got to check this out and see a young Jet Li whoop some tail! Plus, don't forget to check out Romeo Must Die!


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