KUNG FU KORNER: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

Shaolin Kung Fu is a way better workout than P 90X.

Submitted by Rajorajorajo, 12/15/09 12:59 PM

How awesome would it be if the Gregorian Chanting Monks also happened to be expert skateboard shred artistes? You know, performing backside half-jammies on the twister tube to honour the Jesus, or something. Answer: it would be pretty friggin' awesome.

Thankfully, on the exact same level of awesomeness we've got the real-life Shaolin Monks of of the Henan province in China: intensely private and ever-dedicated to the teachings of the Buddha and the pursuit of enlightenment, which somehow involves practicing some wicked-awesome, practically unstoppable Kung Fu. Their training essentially turns one into a superhero, as attaining a complete balance of mind, body and spirit allows one to basically walk on water and take on 40 guys at once (which can come in handy when you're out for revenge against your family's killers). It's the stuff of legend, and it's no wonder why Shaolin has achieved the popularity it has among Kung Fu enthusiasts - If living well is the best revenge, then you can't really beat living a peaceful life as a Shaolin monk, training your body to be an unstoppable killing machine that nobody would dare fuck with.

The desire to train at the Shaolin Temple is basically the set up for like, 99% of Shaw Bros. films of the 70's, including of course the big daddy of all classic Kung Fu flicks, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (a.k.a. Master Killer, Shaolin Master Killer). This is the one that everybody talks about, from Quentin Tarantino to the Wu Tang Clan. The super-quick and agile Gordon Liu plays famed Shaolin monk San Ta, who starts out life as a guy who's had it with the oppressive Manchus killing his family and friends. He ends up at the Shaolin Temple, begging the monks to teach him their exclusive, legendary brand of Kung Fu. He soon learns that to complete the training, he'll have to progress through the 35 'chambers' - each one designed to strengthen and train specific body parts, each one approaching the training from an unusual angle, much like Mr. Miyagi's manual labour exercises in Karate Kid (trainees must bang a gong by using a heavy bamboo pole with a hammer at the end from twelve feet away.  You know, to increase wrist strength). San Ta's progression through the chambers is one of cinema's best examples of genre film's best cliche: the training sequence.  And San Ta's training sequence is about as good as it gets, second only to the one in Rocky, perhaps. It's stunning, and epically cool, and it's way more than just a training montage: the singular sequence, about 30 minutes or so of screen time, is the anchor of the film, its awesome heart, and it clearly leaps out as a stand-alone piece so brilliantly constructed that it alone could convert anyone into a Kung Fu fan.

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is beautifully directed by my favourite Shaw Bros. director, Lau Kar Leung (Disciples of Shaolin), and it's easily his best film.  Besides being one of the greatest action choreographers in Kung Fu film history, the guy had a strong eye for composition and a razor-sharp sense of rhythm and timing when it came to editing. Watching even the most boring scenes of this film is an engaging experience. The camera always works just as hard as the actors do to confidently take you through the story, lovingly framing each shot with a warm depth and employing perfectly choreographed camera moves to help punctuate the action. In terms of visuals alone, it's impressive to see the level of planning that must have gone into the shooting and editing of this film. Lau is in complete control here, cutting complex series' of shots together that could only ever conceivably work in the sequence they appear. This is visual story-telling at its most potent (and seamless!), the work of a true artist in complete control of his medium crafting not just a story with people and conflicts, but crafting an experience. Lau kar Leung's 36th Chamber rises above as a superior example of filmmaking, no matter the genre.  It's really kind of an incredible film.

And instead of talking at length about the stoic Godon Liu's impeccable skills as an expert, 'holy-shit'-level Kung Fu fighter, let me just point you towards this YouTube video... Truly some of the most advanced Kung Fu choreography on display, featuring one of the absolute greatest performers of all time. Nothing more to be said, really.

If you're going to watch one Kung Fu flick in your life, and you haven't seen it already, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin really, really is the one. It is practically mandatory viewing for anyone calling themselves a fan of action and martial arts.  Featuring some of the most impressive and tightly choreographed Kung Fu fighting you'll see, and serving as the pop culture ambassador of the real-life Shaolin Monestary (now a bit of a tourist trap as a result), this film is one of those instant classics that will at the very least give you something to talk about with Quentin Tarantino and the RZA at your next Christmas party. 5 clenched fists out of 5.

-Rajo