36th Chamber of Shaolin

Hardcore attitude and kick-ass kung fu combined with a touch of self-distance and humour - this Shaw Brothers classic from 1978 has influenced more than its own genre, with its theme of the naive, young man going through different stages of mental and physical maturity.
Set in a time when Manchu forces are oppressing the Chinese people, youllg liu (legendary kung fu star, pretty-boy Gordon Liu) gets involved in a tiny underground movement
of rebellion. Their efforts do not pass unnoticed, and Liu's teacher and father are killed by the Manchu. Seeking shelter in a Shaolin temple, Liu soon discovers that the monks practice in advanced kung fu training and persuades the Shaoilin abbots to let him participate. He starts at the very
first chamber of Shaolin, but is a raw talent and quickly advances, at the same time growing into a true leader prepared to fight back the villains.
Although there had been other martial-art films before
36th Chamber of Shaolin, it was the one film that completely brought the whole genre to new levels. Not just a piece
of film history - the film actually stands out yet today as
a highly entertaining and compelling action-flick with its clean choreography and intensive fight scenes. A perfect introduction to the genre for firsttimers, but definitely entertaining also for genre fan. This legendary Shaw Brothers film is definitely more than the average kung fu movie.
ELIN LARSSON