This movie is available for purchase at www.sensasian.com

Rating:

6

AKA: Kung Fu Master

Year of release: 1985

Genre: kung fu

Director: Yau Ka-Hung

Stars: Wong Yu, Lo Meng, Chin Siu Ho, Lo Lieh, Hsiao Ho, Kan Chia Fong, Chan Shen, Wong Lik, Phillip Kwok, Lee Hoi Sang

Not rated; contains II-level violence

VCD Information

Company: Celestial

Format: widescreen

Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin

Subtitles: Chinese/English (electronic on lower black bar)

Extras: trailers

Notes: Like Celestial's other releases of Shaw Bros. material, this is good stuff.

Related links:

Movie Review index
Main Page

Crazy Shaolin Disciples

In perusing online reviews for Crazy Shaolin Disciples (one of the last films to come out of the legendary Shaw Brothers movie studio), many people seem to dislike it for the broad comedy. I will grant that there are heaping doses of dopey humor (as well as a plot that really doesn't make much sense), but it does have ass kicking and lots of it. Granted, this movie is nowhere near the top of the sizeable heap of kung fu movies Hong Kong has produced over the years, but if you're looking for a good way to kill off ninety minutes, Crazy Shaolin Disciples fits the bill nicely.

Honestly, I didn't really get what was going on, even though Celestial did their usual good job in providing legible subtitles. There's a family who has some sort of gold medallion which for some reason will control China if it falls into the wrong hands (in this case, that's Lo Lieh). The mom is worried about the kid, so she sends him to hide out in the Shaolin temple. Of course, he doesn't want to follow the temple's rules and "hilarity" ensues as he run afoul of the monks (particularly Gordon Liu, who doesn't like "outsiders" coming into the temple). But, of course, he manages to patch things up with them just as Lo Lieh comes looking for the medallion.

So the plot isn't anything special, and the acting is average (I'm being kind there). But, as I said before, there is a lot of action, and most of it is done well. Disappointingly, the blood-soaked finale is dimly lit (probably to cover up the doubling of the aging Lo Lieh), but otherwise the fights are solid. As with many other movies of the genre, the training sequences are of particular note, and help elevate this film. If you're willing to forgive Crazy Shaolin Disciples's shortcomings, there's a nice dose of old-school goodness to be found here.