Return to The 36th Chamber mini-review

Gordon Liu returns to the Shaolin Temple again, but this time rather than playing the legendary monk San Te he plays a con-man trying to impersonate him.  This works to great success when he conspires with the workers at a dye factory to get their pay back from an oppressive boss.  Of course it backfires and our hero must learn how to become a man of substance.  He travels to Shaolin and starts the task of persuading the monks to train him.

There is a more comical theme to this than other Liu films I’ve seen and the Kung-fu is not exactly prompt in making it’s appearance.  Your patience will of course be rewarded though.  When it comes in a Mr. Miyagi style revelation the kung-fu is fantastically entertaining and you can be sure that “scaffolding kung-fu” is unlike any style you’re familiar with.

A touch more original (if in tone and style rather than plot) than many of it’s peers this is an impressive classic.
8/10