THE SOUTH SHAOLIN MASTER.
Starring - Chiu Jian Guo - Zhong Xiao Zhen - Lee Yan Long - Sun Gen Fa.
Director - Xiao Long.
1984.
The travelling Hud Jing Siu troupe arrive ready to perform at Chen’s manor to the great annoyance of Zhao Shi Xiong. He wants the troupe to perform at his own venue but finds money is not enough to persuade the troupe so he sends his thugs to try and impose his will. Unfortunately for the two henchmen, after overcoming the troupe managers son they are defeated by a passing busybody, who just happens to be a South Shaolin master. It soon transpires that the interfering busybody Lin Hai Nan is in actual fact a secret agent delivering a donation to aid the Tai Peng movement. An organisation intent on bringing about the demise of the Ching dynasty. Lin Hai Nan’s meets with the abbot Pi Yun to donate the money, but Pi Yun is not what he seems. After the ensuing scuffle he reveals himself as an impostor working for his Excellency Cui Zuo Bang. Who also just happens to be the uncle of Zhao. Injured but alive, Lin Hai Nan escapes with the aid of a mad monk and stumbles across the travelling troupe’s showboat ‘The red junk’. The troupe assist in aiding Lin Hai Nan’s recovery but in doing so also determine their own fate at the hands of Zhao Shi Xiong, Cui Zuo Bang and the evil emissary of the emperor Ha Er Ci.
Despite the over elaborate story elements this is quite a simple movie focussing on the attempts to eradicate the enemies of the Ching dynasty. If you are watching this movie for a stunning account of period history and sizzling acting performances from the cast then you will be disappointed. This is a period Kung Fu flik with the emphasis being on Kung Fu. The choreography is impressive and the numerous fight sequences are all well staged. The most memorable being when the daughter of the troupe’s master along with her three female colleagues display some dazzling swordplay akin to the Michelle Yeoh / Ziang Zi Yi ‘Crouching Tiger' scenes. The array of weapons used by the cast is also a joy to behold with everything from poles to stools being used in both offence and defence. I wont really go into the cast and acting as apart from Chiu Jian Go as the South Shaolin Master none of the characters are really focussed upon. As I said earlier this movie is primarily a Kung Fu flik and really will only appeal to fight fans, of which I am. I enjoyed SSM intensely but found the story to be weak and merely a hindrance in the progress to the next fight sequence.
7*******stars. |
