“The South Shaolin Master” DVD Cover
AKA: Red Dragons Of Shaolin
Director: Siao Lung
Cast: Yau Gin Gwok, Li Yan-Long, Zhong Xiao-Zhen, Suen Gen-Fa, Xu Xue-Yi, Dong Li, Li Zhong-Ru, Pan Wei-Xing, Ku Guo-Xing, Xu Qi-Cheng
By Reefer
The absolute best thing about being a movie fanatic is being surprised, caught off guard by something unexpectedly brilliant. Something you dug out of the bargain bin at your local movie store. Something you thought would be a simple time-waster and not something that you would immediately jump onto the computer to write about – Well, The South Shaolin Master has become that kind of film for me.
With a largely unknown cast, wonderful fight choreography, and some very nice photography, The South Shaolin Master exceeded all my expectations. It’s somewhat of a shame that this film really hasn’t achieved much notoriety in this respect.
The story begins as a rebel fighter, with skillful kung fu, comes to the aid of an opera troupe being assaulted by Manchu government thugs. The rebel was in town to deliver funds to colleagues. Unfortunately tricked and injured by other Manchus at the drop, the rebel is taken in by the opera troupe, his identity unknown to some its members. Personal vendettas and political maneuverings abound as the opera troupe and the rebel eventually go to war against the government forces.
Many of the fight scenes are wonderfully electric, full screen duels, filmed with an economy of cuts and camera tricks. These action sequences are the epitome of the way fight scenes should be filmed. If is no surprise that members of the Yuen clan choreographed this film.
The fights feature weapons of all kinds: fists, swords, spears, etc. My favorite of all the weapons used is the metal dart with a rope attached (I don’t know the correct name for the weapon). I saw this weapon used last, in a poorly-staged way, in Jackie Chan’s Shanghai Noon, involving a horse shoe and a rope instead. Nonetheless, it is brilliantly staged here. Other notable scenes feature the three or four women in the opera troupe immersed in a deadly group sword fight. Each girl dresses in a certain solid color like pink, green, and yellow, laughably reminding me of my daughter’s favorite cartoon, The Powerpuff Girls.
This being a larger budget Mainland production, the viewer is also treated to some beautiful landscapes serving as the backdrop to most of the action, as well as some very large scale sets.
In fear of over-hyping this film, let me get to the very major flaw of this film. Character development. Unfortunately, the story unfolds as if none of the characters existed before this film. They are mostly without pasts or any emotional baggage that doesn’t originate within these 95 minutes. Bottom line: These are not well-drawn characters. Consequently, the potential for any changing attitudes or meaningful revelations about one’s lot in life gets lost in all the marvelous punching and kicking action.
I understand that, ultimately, these might be small criticisms for the action genre, but it is also the element that is keeping this film from receiving a score of ten from me. At the same time, the acting is pretty straightforward standard fare. The heroes are likable. The bad guys deserve the beating they get. Justice is served. And another movie fanatic is very satisfied.
I almost regret raving this film up so much because it means that other fans won’t have the opportunity the react to this film in a similar way. So, please, check it out. Sit back. And watch kung fu the way it was meant to be filmed.
Reefer’s Rating: 8.5/10
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