This review is only for the Blu-Ray version of "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin". If you want a review about the movie itself, there are plenty of review regarding the movie itself.
The quality of the picture on this blu-ray is excellent. I have read some of the other reviews that said that it is not any better than the DVD. I have to disagree on that matter.
In fact the quality of the picture was so much better than the DVD that I even watch the interview with Gordon Liu, which I normally don't, just because the picture quality is so pleasant to the eyes.
And I am glad I took the time to watch the interview as it was a revelation to many of the preconceived notions I had.
For example I always thought that the martial art director Lau Kar Leung was a master of the Lau Gar system of martial art, since his last name is Lau. But when watching the movie, it did not look like any Lau Gar techniques that I have seen in my teen, but it did look familiar to me. And on the opening scene where Gordon Liu practice with the Iron rings on his hand, I thought that it must be an advance techniques of Lau Gar that I have never seen before.
However during the interview, Gordon Liu said that he was a student of the director Lau Kar Leung who was his Hung Gar instructor, everything makes sense. All the techniques in the movie would be consistent with Hung Gar system but modified for the movies. And the opening scene with the Iron Ring would be equivalent to Hung Gar internal strength system "Iron Thread" modified & water down for the movie with the Iron Ring.
Then it has occured to me that I have seen Kung Fu instructor out there who teaches this Iron Ring techniques, I won't mention any name. Could this instructor have copied it from this movie, LOL, since I don't think there is any such system with the Ring, but I could be wrong.
Maybe I should watch more Kung Fu movies and call myself a Kung Fu Master, LOL, from what I watch in these Kung Fu movies. And maybe I can open up a Kung Fu School and teach suckers Kung Fu, oops I mean student, LOL, from what I've seen in these Kung Fu movies and gather from spying on others without understanding the gist of it. As a master salesman once told me, "There is a sucker born every minutes."
But it does not surprise me as I have seen youtube videos of so call Chinese Choy Lay Fut master out there demonstrating the Kwan Do. He just swings the Kwando around and waves his hand meaninglessly. All the observer was impress but I saw nothing. As it did not look anything like the Choy Lay Fut Kwando I saw 20 years ago.
I have also seen youtube videos of a White Choy Lay Fut master teaching his Chinese Student Choy Lay Fut. And when the Chinese Student demonstrate what he learned from his White Choy Lay Fut master, it was all meaningless to me. As it did not look anything like the Choy Lay Fut I have seen 20 years ago. And these Chinese Choy Lay Fut students will probably get beat up by some street thugs when they try to use their fake Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu.
I am not saying that the White Choy Lay Fut master does not know some form of Martial Art, but it is not Choy Lay Fut. And from what I know, Choy Lay Fut is only teaches to members of the four families. And I don't think the White Choy Lay Fut master has one of the four Chinese Last name.
So it would not surprise me if the Iron Ring Techniques that I've seen with the Kung Fu instructor mentioned above is a fraud. And around 10 years ago I heard his weapon of choice is the three sectional staff, just like priest Sante in this movie, LOL. I guess they don't really shows detail techniques of the Kwando, Spear, Straight Sword, Broad Sword, Double Broad Sword, Whip Chain, etc. in this movie so they can't be his weapon of choice. But I could be wrong in my assessment.
And all these informations I got from watching the interview with Gordon Liu. Who know what else a more observant person will get out of the interview and this Blu-Ray.
So this Blu-Ray is very informative, in addition to having excellent quality picture.
I would recommend this Blu-Ray to anyone who are interested in Martial Art Movie. And I would definitely recommend you watch the interview with Gordon Liu on the Blu-Ray. As the interview is very informative and not boring as one would think.
12-3-2016 update
Taken history into consideration, it seems this movie is about Chinese rebels and terrorists fighting against the Qing dynasty.
Prior to the Qing dynasty, they were using tactics like what you see in
We Come as Friends (2014)
and divide and conquer with the Turks Northern Wei dynasty and the Mongol Yuan dynasty. However by the time the Qing dynasty came into power, they have already learned from their other brothers in the Eurasia steppes, especially since the founder of the Manchus was a descendant of Ghengis Khan, and already are aware of all the Chinese tactics.
As such, the Chinese were not able to over throw the Qing dynasty using the tactics they use against the Turks Northern Wei dynasty and the Mongol Yuan dynasty, resulting in them using terrorist tactics.
So when you watch this movie, just keep in mind that it is just the Chinese fantasy of how it was.
| Additional DVD options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
Watch Instantly with 
| Rent | Buy |
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Frequently bought together
$18.41
Get it May 13 - 17
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
+
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
0:51
Click to play video
Honest Review of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
✅ Raikens Reviews ✅
Reviews with images
A Fortune Cookie, With No Content!
Speaking of Fortune Cookies, at least when the random bits of wisdom message enclosed within is viewed, you will get something out of it, even if it only have litter value. Don't expect to get any thing out of the authors dream he could plagiarize and make a few million save a glimpse of the same old/same old/same old. Hee Haw would offer one more of a thrill.
Top reviews from other countries
Daniel Fawcett
The Gateway Flick and the Good Seller
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2021
TCR
there is a rare trailer for SHAOLIN MANTIS on this disc!!!!!
Reviewed in Japan on November 19, 2019
Haunted Nostril
FU 4 U REVIEW #1: THE 36TH CHAMBER OF THE SHAOLIN
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2009