The 36th Chamber of Shaolin was the first in a loose trilogy. The sequels were more in the vein of action comedies (think early Jackie Chan films), where the first film is a straight forward action film.

The film follows the early life of  a student (played by Gordon Liu) that gets involved in a rebellion against the vicious Manchu government (who are masters of the beatdown). After the Manchu warlords unleash some vicious ass-kickery on San Te and his village, he goes in to hiding. Looking to learn Kung Fu so he can avenge the deaths of his friends and family (and get some R&R) he heads to the Shaolin Temple. Oddly enough the Monks at Shaolin temple are not really looking for any new Kung Fu masters, but they do need someone to do some grounds keeping. Eventually Liu joins the temple and works his skinny ass off by going through each of the 35 (not 36) Chambers (think G4’s Ninja Warrior times 10). Eventually Liu becomes the legendary Chinese folk hero, San Te who took Shaolin Kung Fu out of the monastery and to the people. Guess what happens next? San Te rounds up a posse and gets to putting foot to ass, rapidly and prolifically.

This movie was a big hit for actor Gordon Liu (Lau Kar-Fai) and he went on to star in more films as well as direct the crazy dope movie Shaolin and Wu-Tang (best intro sequence ever). If the name Gordon Liu sounds familiar it’s because you saw him in not one but two (count em’), Kill Bill movies. Liu played Johnny Mo in Kill Bill 1 and Pai Mai in Kill Bill 2.

There is one last thing you need to know. 36^th Chamber of Shaolin has been re-released on DVD with crazy extras. In addition three other Shaw Brothers films has been released on DVD; King Boxer, My Young Auntie and One-Armed Swordsmen. The films come with commentary from a variety of people including the RZA, Quentin Tarantino and film critic Elvis Mitchell addition there are interviews with Gordon Liu, Director Chang-Hwa Jeong and Action Director Lau Kar-Wing.

 The DVD’s hit stores on June 19^th. Go cop em’ and protect your neck!