Director: Chia Tang
Notable Cast: Tung-Shing Yee, Jason Pai Piao, Phillip Ko,
Yu-po Lio, Feng Ku
The Shaw Brothers production company might have spread
themselves a little thin by producing such a massive amount of films in a short
time period (most of which are of very similar style and execution), but it
does create a rather wide array of films to choose from when sitting down to
watch one. The choices are vast. It’s almost more fun to just randomly choose a
title and sit down to experience it. This is how I discovered Shaolin
Intruders. I didn’t recognize many of the names attached to it, outside of
a few B-grade actors that appear in a slew of previous films, but I have to say
that in the end I was massively impressed with the fun results of this film.
The clan disputes and vengeance motivation that is used as
the basis for Shaolin Intruders is about as Shaw Brothers basic as they
come. A couple of rogue swordsmen, both played with fantastic charisma by their
respective actors, are drawn into a mystery plot as four major clans are being
assassinated by four very powerful martial artists. With the help of a young
woman, they find themselves at the Shaolin temple and in the middle of a
conspiracy years in the planning.
 |
| Double trouble. |
While it might be all that original, Shaolin Intruders
has a significant amount of fun and charm to make it entertaining as hell. The
narration can be a bit muddled as it spends very little time establishing the
massive amount of characters needed for the film (and a very random flashback
with some awesomely cheesy costumes does seemingly come out of nowhere), but
that never stops the film from moving at a lightning pace and rolling with some
of the more outrageous elements. Some of the characters come off as almost
comical in their over the top mannerisms, including one of our leads and his
addiction to gambling/alcohol, but it only adds to the fun of the film and the
mystery.
On top of that, director Chia Tang and crew slam down some
insane fight choreography to add to the fun. The first third of the film tends
to be a little light on the fights, but when our two heroes have to go through
three tests at the Shaolin Temple things get ridiculous in all of the best
ways. Shaolin Intruders maximizes the wirework kung fu to some awesome
limits that seem less fantasy driven and more choreography driven. At one point
one of our heroes actually spins like a drill to escape being trapped by a cage
of staffs and our two protagonists have to fight an Abbott on top of like forty
benches all stacked up. If there is anything to be said about this film, it’s
that the fight sequences in the latter half are stunningly well put together.
 |
| Road kill. |
Shaolin Intruders isn’t the most complex of martial
arts films nor is it one to leave a profound affect on the viewer, but it’s a
damn entertaining one with some very impressive choreography and two of the
most charming lead characters I’ve seen in some time. Kung fu fans will
definitely want to hunt this one down even if it is one of the cheesier films
in the catalog.
Written By Matt Reifschneider
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