Movie Review: Shaolin
By Joe Bendel Created: Sep 6, 2011 Last Updated: Sep 6, 2011
Respect These Monks
A scene from the action-drama film "Shaolin." (Variance Films Inc.)
The Shaolin monks of the early 20th century Chinese Republic were highly skilled practitioners of the martial arts. Brothers of charitable mercy, they believed in turning the other cheek. However, they could only be pushed so far, as one power-mad warlord learns in Benny Chan’s “Shaolin.”
When Hou Jie’s vanquished rival took refuge in the Shaolin monastery, the warlord went in after him. Hou Jie’s hubris told him he was on the brink of permanently consolidating his control over the region, but karma will say otherwise.
A scene from the action-drama film "Shaolin." (Variance Films Inc.)
Expecting to betray a key ally at the dinner celebrating their young children’s arranged marriage, Hou Jie finds himself triple-crossed by his lieutenant, Cao Man. Escaping with his life, the fallen warlord finds sanctuary with the very monks he so lately dissed.
Mourning his daughter, Hou Jie shaves his head, finding solace in the life of a novice. Of course, his former “little brother” is still out for his head, but Cao Man is also busy colluding with the evil Westerners, using up and discarding desperate workers in their malevolent public works projects, which at least have the merit of being “shovel-ready.” A spectacular showdown is inevitable, especially considering the monks’ Robin Hood relief work.
A scene from the action-drama film "Shaolin." (Variance Films Inc.)
A richly detailed period production, Yee Chung-man’s design team meticulously recreated the imposing Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, for the express purpose of watching it all eventually come crashing down. In fact, the audience is so thoroughly immersed in the ancient sets that it is difficult to get an accurate read on the film’s exact timeframe.
Action director Corey Yuen (who served a similar role on little films like “The Expendables,” “X-Men,” and “Red Cliff”) choreographs some impressive fight sequences, including both the sweeping macrobattles and the hand-to-hand combat at the micro level.
Andy Lau is appropriately intense as Hou Jie, convincingly handling the action sequences as well as his character’s transition to Zen-like resignation, if not full enlightenment. As an added bonus, Bingbing Fan is as radiant as ever in portraying his grieving wife Yan Xi.
Aside from the clichéd white-devil imperialist villain (an already tired convention of Chinese popular film), “Shaolin” is quite a rich martial arts morality play. Frankly, it is refreshing to see a film with genuine respect for religious service that also takes themes of redemption profoundly seriously. It also delivers ample spectacle and a generous supply of action.
Enthusiastically recommended, “Shaolin” opens this Friday (9/9) in New York at the Cinema Village.
Shaolin
Director: Benny Chan
Cast: Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Bingbing Fan
Running Time: 131 minutes
Rating: R
In Mandarin and Cantonese with English subtitles
Joe Bendel writes about independent film and jazz and lives in New York. To read his most recent articles, please visit
http://jbspins.blogspot.com.
Rating: 3.5 / 5