Review of Shaolin (2011) by Tosaka T — 08 Aug 2012

I just, Iâ(TM)m gonâ(TM) let you know right now, Jackie Chan does not do much fighting in this film. In fact his character isnâ(TM)t a fighter, heâ(TM)s a cook.

Okay now if that hasnâ(TM)t turned you away yet, Shaolin is a remake of the 1982 film The Shaolin Temple (Jet Liâ(TM)s debut film). This film is based in the warlord era in the early front of the Republic of China. Andy Lau plays a warlord named Hou Jie. The film opens up with Hou Jieâ(TM)s army hunting down another warlord named Hou Long (donâ(TM)t worry, names will not get confusing) and finds him hiding away in a Shaolin Temple being treated by the monks. Without mercy or decency Hou Jie kills Hou Long in front of his army and the monks and then disgraces the templeâ(TM)s sign as he leaves.

Feeling that his sworn brother is using him, Hou Jie plots against him and plans to kill him at a dinner. However, Hou Jieâ(TM)s deputy Cao Man (played by Nicholas Tse) is plotting against Hou Jie because Cao felt like Hou was using him and he no longer believed in Hou Jieâ(TM)s leadership. After an ambush by Cao Man, Hou Jieâ(TM)s daughter is seriously injured and is on the brink of dying. After running to the monks for help his daughter dies. He quickly curses the monks and swears to kill them all but he cannot fight them off. Meanwhile his wife is sick of him and all heâ(TM)s become and runs off and the monks kick Hou Jie out of the temple.

As fate should have it, Hou Jie falls into a trap meant for a pig and a monk named Wudao (played by Jackie Chan) finds him and takes him in. Hou Jie then decides to become a monk and atone for his sins.

As luck should have it, Cao Man hears that Hou Jie is still alive and hunts him down only to discover he has become the very person he wants dead.

Weâ(TM)ve all seen this before; Itâ(TM)s really cliche. Guy is bad, guy pisses off monks, guy is betrayed, guy goes to monks for help, lesson learned through hard work and punching wood. And even though itâ(TM)s cliche, itâ(TM)s so well done.

The whole time I was watching this film I was thinking about two things, âWhere is Jackie Chan?â? and âPlease tell me these people didnâ(TM)t harm any animals in the making of this movie.â? A lot of horses are tripped and some fall down stairs.

Itâ(TM)s good, for those that follow Asian films for the action this oneâ(TM)s decent. Itâ(TM)s not jam-packed of action but whatâ(TM)s there doesnâ(TM)t disappoint. (Unless youâ(TM)re hoping to watch Jackie Chan fight, donâ(TM)t hold your breath) :(.

I didnâ(TM)t think Nicholas Tse could put on a good show but then again Iâ(TM)ve only seen him in one other movie.

Andy Lau is 50 years old, I want to look that young when Iâ(TM)m 50.

The funniest thing I saw was that the cast list was SO LONG! (thatâ(TM)s what she said!) I think they named off all the monks in the movie, and thatâ(TM)s a lot of monks!

Movie Grade: B.