Shao Lin jiang shi (2004) Reviews

• Not the cult classic it wants to be, but fun and easy to watch

  rickcde2005-09-09

  Throw a low-budget movie together with some Chinese vampires, likable kung-fu master, psychedelic special-effects, a good-looking babe and some funny sidekicks and what do you get? If you're lucky, you end up with a classic like Mr. Vampire. If you're not lucky, you end up with Shaolin vs. Evil Dead. It isn't that the movie is a low-budget piece of garbage that is totally convoluted and incomprehensible (far from it) the problem is that it suffers from the medium budget mediocrity of most straight to video or made for TV fantasy movies. Although it contains all of the aforementioned fun ingredients (kung-fu, zombies, babe etc.), it just doesn't contain enough of these elements in enough exciting or outlandish ways to be considered anything close to a cult classic. (So don't expect anything as funny as a Stephen Chow movie or as over the top as the real Evil Dead movies: both of those are in a class all their own.) With that being said, I can say that I was fairly entertained for 90 minutes (it's always a treat to see Gordon Liu) and it makes for good Saturday Matinée popcorn movie fare: moving fast, and keeping up the comic book imagery. It is a fairly sincere attempt by the small cast and offers good character development if there ever is a part two. And yes, the cut to the credits is ridiculously abrupt for no apparent reason. (Couldn't they have at least finished the current scene?) but other than this goof (which seems to be making many enemies of the film) it *does* come pretty close to delivering what it promises on the cover. It is after all named "Shaolin vs. Evil Dead".

• Would have been better as "Gordon Liu and Zombies vs. Irritating Children"

  wierzbowskisteedman2005-12-10

  Minor spoiler. But really, don't bother with this. To start, I have to point out that this film contains various factors that, once added up, SHOULD result in a masterpiece: Shaolin Monks (including Gordon Liu, which is better), an attractive Asian lady and zombies. The thing is, no film should contain irritating children, inappropriate slapstick humour and HOPPING ZOMBIES. This film had so much potential and blew it; the early fight scene in the tea house suggests the film has promise; but for every five seconds of Gordon Liu smacking a zombie up, you have a minute of his blood-boilingly irritating child sidekick running around screaming. It's all downhill from there, wasting twenty minutes on an ill handled romance, and all the fight scenes seem to steer clear of actual blood and guts, and just consist of Liu sticking what appear to be his dry cleaning receipts on the foreheads of zombies. Plus, an irritating MALE kid GIVING BIRTH to an equally irritating MALE kid covered in shaving foam is NOT OKAY. By the time the end arrives, you've been sat waiting for a massive kung fu zombie fight for so long you feel like beating up a pensioner if the last ten minutes don't deliver. They don't. The big bad zombie leader warrior thing looks like a Chinese rip off of Bruce Campbell's Evil Ash (which it is), and to add insult to injury, the film ends abruptly, but not only that, over the credits outtakes play from what appears to be the massive kung fu zombie fight you were waiting for!!! Why?? Was the film unfinished or something? This film should be avoided, by kung fu fans, by George Romero fans, by Gordon Liu fans, even Army of Darkness fans, which seemed to be the type of style it was aiming for. Oh, and a note to American dubbers; Feug Shui is NOT pronounced "Fung Shooey" and Buddhist monks don't not say "Jesus!" when they get angry!

• good movie, but not what you expect

  ericjs-22006-07-22

  Actually I enjoyed this movie. This film is no gorefest, it's quite mild. Apparently when they imported they decided to market it as a cross between martial arts schlock and horror schlock, which would certainly be enjoyable in its own way, but that's not what it is, so it's not surprising many were disappointed. I found it enjoyable for the authentic cultural touches...combatting evil and undead with a Taoist slant rather than crosses is quite interesting. The abrupt ending with what must be scenes from part II rolled in a small box next to the credits was certainly clumsy and disconcerting though.

• blooouuuddd-section of a gore film

  eminkarakus2005-08-27

  Everybody Is Zombie Fighting! It's Kill Bill meets The Evil Dead in this rousing martial arts horror auctioneer starring the one and only "Master Killer" himself, Gordon Liu (Kill Bill 1, Kill Bill 2, Master Killer) Taoists priests Park (Liu) and Hak (Terry Fan from The Story Of Ricky and Iron Fist) have been competing with each other for leadership of their school by using various sorcerers. But when their battle accidentally awakens the King of the Vampires, who as laid dormant for a thousand years. Pak and Hak must unite and use the 5 Elements Formation to stop the demon and his army of darkness. Will their powers be enough to defeat this invincible immortal? Filled with hopping vampires, exploding zombies, and dazzling fights, Shaolin vs. Evil Dead is a nonstop special-effect kung fu gore fest!

• I'll give it 7 out of 10 for effort...

  isfahani2006-02-28

  But the person here who merely copied over the PR blurb as a review should have it's pointy 'lil head checked :P I wasn't expecting MR VAMPIRE 2004, and that's a good thing. This wasn't as nearly as good as it should have, even given the low budget treatment. Gordon Liu can only do so much to help this film. In comparison to any of the original Hopping Zombie films of the past, this doesn't hold a Joss stick - but if you are used to subtitled ATV or TVB series then this could be right up your alley. Also, FYI: this is PART ONE of a two part series, even though little information to this effect has been found. Thus, there have been lots of reviews that mention the 'abrupt ending' as a turnoff...understandable.