SHAOLIN TEMPLE

RELEASED
1982

DIRECTOR
Cheung Kam-Yim

ACTION DIRECTOR
Ma Yin-Tat, Yu Hoi, Poon Ching-Fuk, Wong Seung-Hoi

SCREENWRITER
Lo Siu-Cheung, Sit Hau

CAST
Jet Li, Yu Hoi, Yu Sing-Wai, Ting Nam, Wu Yin-Keung, Suen Lin-Fui, Lau Wai-Leung, Kai Chun-Wah, Cheung Kin-Man, Yim Dik-Wah, Wong Kwong-Kuen, Wong Yuk, To Chuen-Yeung, Chui Chi-Keung, Sau Fung, Henry Fong Ping, Cheung Hung-Boh, San Kei Chuen Tung, Poon Ching-Fuk, So Fei, Chan Kwok-On, Bin Lap-Cheung, Wong Kwok-Yi, Suen Sing-Kwan


REVIEW

Shaolin Temple, Jet Li's first starring role, is a superb movie showing how the skills of excellent wushu players can translate into phenomenal film fights without the assistance of the Shaw Brothers staple of "wire-fu". The film begins with Jet's father being murdered by the current government's soldiers and Jet being wounded. He escapes and is nursed back to health by Shaolin monks. After joining them so that he may learn kung-fu, he leaves the Temple to take revenge on the general who killed his father. He fails and, realizing his martial skill is not enough, goes back to Shaolin. Eventually, the army arrives threatening Shaolin and Jet and the monks defend the Temple at the risk of their own lives. The film demonstrates many different forms of martial arts, including mantis, drunken, and of course, shaolin chuan-fa. The story, while not up to the standards of today's Hollywood fare, is perfect for Jet's initial role in Hong Kong film and is more than made up for by the complexity and dynamicism of the fight scenes. An excellent movie worthy of consideration for the coveted title of "classic"!

Rating : 8/10 The fight scenes were well choreographed but not as nicely done as by HK directors. Nevertheless it is real kung-fu demonstrated by real martial artists here. You will see Jet Li doing solo demo with the broad sword, the lance, and the 3 sectional staff. And he also demonstrates empty hand forms as well. These footages were taken and put in Shaolin Kung-fu, a documentary with Jet Li as the host done in 1993 I think. It is Jet's film debut and he performed brilliantly. The story was no big deal and there weren't any lavashing fight scenes. People went to watch it because it was refreshing that there still exist people who can do real martial arts. Because of this film, restoration of the Shaolin Temple was started and children and adults were flocking to the temple to train where Jet Li trained in the movie.