If the majority of the early Shaolin monks had their way, kung fu would still be practiced in secret and the congregations of those involved with it would be enshrouded in as much secrecy as a Mason’s induction ceremony. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, also known as Shaolin Master Killer, is the story of how the art was introduced to the general populace.

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (36COS hereon for brevity) follows Lin Yu-te, a commoner in Manchu-ruled China. When Yu-te tries to become part of a revolution aimed at overthrowing the Manchu invaders, he is run out of town and ends up at a Shaolin temple. Seeing this as a perfect opportunity to be able to get revenge on the Manchu officials, he asks to stay at the temple with the hopes of becoming a martial arts master. He is taken in, but instead of learning kung fu, he performs menial tasks for the monks. Only a year later, when he realizes that he should perhaps ask to learn kung fu and does so, does he begin his actual training.

What follows is Yu-te (now renamed San Te, a name that should be familiar to those versed in Chinese history) progressing through and mastering each of the 35 chambers of the temple. The chambers provide different challenges, each working in its own way to test, then strengthen a specific attribute or ability of a fighter. After completing the final chamber, San Te suggests that a 36th chamber be introduced that would provide kung fu training for the general public. He is cast out as a result.

So after returning to his town to get revenge on the Manchu officials that banished him earlier, he is able to establish his own public forum for the teaching of Shaolin kung fu.

The main appeal of this movie is the training sequences, which take up the bulk of the running time. In fact, San Te’s revenge is almost an afterthought, because the fight isn’t particularly long, and we know that he didn’t master the 35 chambers of the Shaolin temple just to go back and be defeated. We know exactly where this movie is going. How it gets there is the key.

The role of Lin Yu-te/San Te is played by legend Gordon Liu. Now, if you’ve read my other martial arts reviews, you’ve seen me use the term “legendary” to describe Phillip Ko. Ko is, in fact, a legend, but Liu is legendary on a different level. Consider Rakim, an MC who many assign the title “Greatest of All Time.” Rakim is, indeed, a legend, but his legacy is reserved for “those in the know.” Ask someone who watches MTV exclusively about Rakim, and the response will likely be “Who?” That’s how kung fu enthusiasts perceive Ko: ill, but getting nowhere near the mainstream respect he deserves. Gordon Liu is like the Tupac of this kung fu sh!t. He receives acclaim from pundits and casual fans alike. His portrayal of San Te here gives hints as to why.

In 36 COS, Gordon Liu does continuously what many actors do sparingly in martial arts movies: he acts. And he does a damn good job of it. While a martial artist’s acting is generally confined to pained grimaces and wide-eyed looks of shock, Liu’s acting (and his facial expressions in particular) runs the gamut from fear, to anger, to frustration, to reserved joy. He makes the training sequences work, with his ability to make the viewer share his frustration with himself as he struggles to complete his tasks. There is even a part where his frustration and determination cause him to train in his sleep, a scene that is paid homage to in Kill Bill 2 when The Bride awakens and punches a wall. In fact, her master, Pai Mei, is played by Gordon Liu in white beard.

I’m not sure if 36 COS introduced the idea of having more than just a cursory exhibition of martial arts training, but it surely popularized the practice. You can probably attribute the abundance of rigorous training scenes being so prevalent in kung fu movies to the acclaim heaped upon 36 COS.

There are very little flaws to be found in this movie. The only major gripe I can see someone having with it, is the lack of focus on actual combat. This might, and probably will, turn off those looking for an introduction to the genre, because the repetition of some of the scenes (in particular, there is a scene where San Te tries to run across logs in a shallow pool of water, which is basically just him running back and forth) could bore some. Nitpicking.

36 COS is considered by some to be the greatest martial arts movie of all time, a point that I will concede is arguable, but that I don’t necessarily agree with. It is definitely on my top ten list and is one of the more unique kung fu releases, but consequently one with little accessibility: its gift and its curse.

5 stars


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV