Shaolin Master Killer [Dragon Dynasty]: Technical Notes

This version is uncut and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2:35:1 and is anamorphically enhanced. This remastered version of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin looks fantastic. It's presented in the original 2:35:1 aspect ratio, and has been anamorphically enhanced. For a 30-year-old Hong Kong film, it looks awesome. The colors are really vibrant, the print has be cleaned and is free of dirt and their are no artifacts to be seen, and is the best the film has ever looked, including all those classic theatre screenings. The sound is the original 2.0 mono tracks in Cantonese, Mandarin and English and the sound is strong. Other versions have been released with upmixed surround tracks, but the mono tracks are clean and clear, with clear dialogue and a bare minimum of hissing. Dragon Dynasty has managed and restored a classic film delivering a true experience to fans of the film. This is an excellent example of Shaw Brothers cinema at it's very best. Kudos to the Weinstein Company for not gouging us on these Dragon Dynasty releases. For fans of the film this is a must own DVD- For those who haven't seen the film it's a must see film. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is a great film, and deserves this level of respect.

Video: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin was shot in Shawscope, Shaw Brothers' equivalent to CinemaScope, and is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen, enhanced for 16 x 9 television. For years it has been nearly impossible in the United States to see any Shaw Brothers' films that look decent. Most films suffered from poor transfers of bad prints, and were often presented full frame or in pan and scan. It wasn't until several years ago, when I saw a remastered 35 millimeter print of 36th Chamber that I was able to fully appreciate what a beautiful film it truly is. This transfer looks as good as the print I saw, and amounts to the best looking version of the film I have seen.

Audio: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is presented in Dolby Digital mono. The disc features three language tracks--Cantonese, Mandarin and English--as well as English and Spanish subtitles. This means that you are given the option of watching the film dubbed in English (the lazy way), or as a purist, in Chinese. Some of the subtitles are a bit off, with misspelled words and few translations that don't quite seem to translate.

Extras: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin has a great selection of bonus features. First and foremost is an audio commentary by hip-hop superstar The RZA and film critic Andy Klein, an odd couple if there ever was one. Admittedly, I was not excited about listening to the commentary, but both men's love of the film and the genre comes through in this informative and entertaining track, making it one of the better commentaries in recent memory. There are also brief interviews with RZA, Klein, another critic (David Chute), and, most exciting of all, Gordon Liu himself. Shaolin: A Hero Birthplace gives a quick overview of the film's history and popularity. Also look for a collection of trailers, a gallery of stills, and a Wu-Tang concert video.

Final Thoughts: I have spent many years trying to get a decent, Region 1 copy of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin that looked good, and was subtitled (personally, I hate dubbed). I doubt I will ever find better than this. If you are a real fan, you must own this film, and shy of a superior version from overseas, you aren't going to get any better.