The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
Reviewed by: hkcinema on 1999-12-08
Gordon Liu plays a student who's friends and family are killed by the Ching dynasty during the time when the Chings regarded the learned as rebels. He is found half dead by villagers and come to rest in a Shaolin monastry where he learns Kung-fu and eventually makes the decision to leave and avenge his friends. An absolute classic. Director Liu Chia Liang sets the standard for all revenge movies at a time when Chang Cheh seemed to have tired the theme. The training that Liu has to undertake is brilliantly sadistic and painstaking. Liu Chia Hui is never better than when playing the irrepressable hero and his physical ability and skill is second to none. Liu Chia liang is a law unto himself and always leaves you with something despite being a studio director with very little time or budget to work with ever. Liu Chia Hui's character creates a new chamber (the 36th) in order to teach his skills to non-monks, this propagates the spread of knowledge for the benefit of the collective very clearly. Outstanding.

[Reviewed by Andrew Best]