Shaolin and Wu Tang – Review

Ready for martial arts mayhem? From the opening seconds, that is just what you get. A group of yellow wearing fighters combats the red donned side. Fits, swords, and bodies fly. As Master Liu (Chiang) emerges from his Shaolin fist style dojo with his top student Chao Fung-wu (Cheng), he runs into Wu Tang sword style Master Law (Hoi-san) and his top student Hung Jun-kit (Liu). When both of these top students showcase their abilities in front of a crowd, most everyone takes note.

The competitor training styles catch the attention of the local Lord (Wang) who wants to become a master of both of these dangerous arts. This leads to all sorts of drama and criminal events of course… The Lord decides to enact a devious plan in order to secure items from the rival dojos. After an assassination attempt, Fung-wu winds up in the clank with the rival Wu Tang Master Law deceased. Uh oh. This sets in motion a conspiracy of kung-fu styles, with double crosses, team ups, unlikely alliances and more. Let the chess games begin!

Shaolin and Wu Tang is an older style kung-fu showcase. Some may find its dialogue and pacing too outdated to enjoy, but for viewers used to this style of film there is plenty to enjoy. The plot isn’t too bad, and the athletic showcases on the screen are fairly impressive. Costumes and sets are quite well done, and the acting has its own type of delivery which was typical for kung-fu flicks of the time. It is exaggerated yet serious, with an attempt at an emotional and meaningful delivery of most every line. Some of this works depending on the type of scene, but modern viewers unused to the style may not vibe with it all. If you can handle high flying fists of fury, check out this older kung-fu adventure.