modern martial arts classics compared to older films from the '70s and the elements or themes that can get lost in translation for Western audiences, it would be a lie to say that martial arts movies have as wide an appeal as other genres.
For the most part, there are comparatively few martial arts movies that the average person might be able to name off the top of their head, with standouts like Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon coming to mind right away. Beyond this, personal mileage may vary greatly, as some familiar with the movies of Jackie Chan might mention Drunken Master or Police Story, while Western audiences that don't do much branching out might be tempted to name Kill Bill or Ip Man.
The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin Is The Best Kung Fu Revenge Movie Ever Made
Which Is Truly Saying Something, Considering The Volume Of Them
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin tells the story of San Te, a rebel going up against the corrupt Manchu government of the Qing Dynasty in 17th-century China. After the government stamps out the rebellion by brutally massacring San Te's friends and family, he swears revenge, traveling to an isolated Shaolin temple to learn the powerful martial arts of the monks within. It's there that San Te begins a brutal training regimen, progressing through each of the temple's 35 chambers, eventually adding a 36th in his effort to teach Shaolin kung fu to the masses for use against the Manchu oppressors.
So many martial arts movies have been made about revenge that the idea is practically a subgenre, from Fist of the White Lotus (also featuring Gordon Liu) to Bruce Lee's Fists of Fury. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin might not be the first one to ever do it, but it's still arguably the best, forever reigning supreme over every other kung fu flick attempting to inspire the same level of righteous vengeful fury both before and after. There are several key factors that set the film apart as a particularly great revenge story.
10 Best Revenge Movies Of All Time
Revenge is one of the most compelling character motivations a character can have, leading to some truly incredible movie-viewing experiences.
For one, the scale of San Te's vengeance goes far beyond just a single evil person. The insidious General Tien Ta is a despicable antagonist, to be sure, but it's really the entire Manchu government that San rallies against, inspiring other common people to him in his fight. The film also makes some good points about the selfish nature of hoarding knowledge of fighting for oneself without contributing to a greater cause while innocent people suffer, drawing some interesting political themes that are quite heady for a seemingly-simple beat-em-up.
The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin's Martial Arts Movie Legacy Should Be Even Bigger
Gordon Liu's Epic Needs To Be A Household Name
Among fans of kung fu movies, or even those with more than a ing knowledge of the genre, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is something of a venerated title, not exactly obscure in the world of martial arts filmmaking. But sitting at a lowly number 26 on IMDb's ratings for the greatest martial arts films, lagging behind the likes of Kung Fu Hustle and John Wick: Chapter 4, it's unjust just how seldom-known or appreciated the movie is for its influence. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin deserves to be a household name on the level of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
It's unjust just how seldom-known or appreciated the movie is for its influence.
Not only did The 36th Chamber of Shaolin launch the movie career of Gordon Liu, but it inspired so many other films to follow suit with its tone and editing choices. Lengthy training sequences reminiscent of San Te's trip through the grueling 36 chambers and political themes linking martial arts' historic connection to standing up against hopelessly outmatched opponents all arguably stem from this single film. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin gets a fair amount of respect from martial arts enthusiasts, but deserves the acknowledgment of laypeople as well.
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
- Release Date
- February 2, 1978
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
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