Viewer Comments:Men From The Monastery
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This was clearly not one of Alexander Fu Sheng's best movies. The fight scenes were mediocre at best and the story was very slow. I would not rush to buy this movie.
Good, solid 1974 Shaw Bros. movie. I liked how they split the movie into four parts--one part each for a subplot involving Chan Kuan Tai, Alex Fu Sheng and Chi Kuan-Chun--then put them together for the finale. The choreography was a bit primitive but not bad.
Alexander Fu Sheng is the best of all time.
I think the director/producer got a little lazy in some of their movies like this one and the "Heroes Two" and others. They continue to use same the clip or picture for more than one movie--just like some of the Jackie Chan's movies in the 70s. To me, that seems kind of cheap; but overall, the movie is worth watching.
Although the martial arts choreography is not yet so complex as it would soon be in the work of Chang Cheh and Lau Kar-leung, this is a powerful, perfectly cast film. Fu Sheng's performance as Fong Sai Yuk is among the best of his short career - free of the mugging which irritates me in many of his roles. Chen Kuan Tai's Hung Hsi Kuan is vibrant with power - perhaps not better than some of his other roles, but many of them set an impossible standard. Chi Kuan Chun's Hu Hui Chien is a revelation: His forms are impeccable, he communicates his character's passion perfectly, and he displays one of the most flawless physiques in Chinese cinema. I would rate this 5 stars, if not for the fact that Chang Cheh and Lau Kar-leung would both soon do even better.
-Jeffrey Frawley (see my profile)
This movie is virtually identical to "Shaolin Avengers", also a notable Shaw epic. Though both movies are great, the fight scenes in "Men From The Monastery" are a little tighter and there is better direction. Even more important is the presence of Chen Kuantai, the Shaw stable's top fighter. The movie is three short stories that are all well known parts of the "Burning of Shaolin" canon. It is a worthy addition to any Shaw library!
| What can I say about this Chang Cheh classic that hasn't been said already?
Chen Kuan Tai, Fu Sheng, and Chi Kuai Chun, the men who will forever be celluloid Hung Hsi Kuan, Fang Siu Yi, and Hu Hei Chien, real life Shaolin heroes.
The film starts with minor flashback backgrounds introducing each character, before getting into the main story where the three come together to battle the Manchu army in an explosive finish.
The action by Tang Chia, and Liu Chia Liang is very precise in its depiction of the Shaolin styles from that era. Many originally thought the scenes to be too crafty and "stylish", however, this is the true way those fist forms are performed. Each fighter performs to their natural capabilities, Chen Kuan Tai especially showing strength behind every punch, grasp, and kick. These men also seemed so comfortable playing each character, no wonder they were brought back for future sequels, resuming the roles. Not much room for women here as the "brotherhood" came first and foremost! "Men From The Monastery" is a traditional, classic film from an era before the acrobatics of JC, and WP, and loaded with the type of charismatic performances that producers today would kill for. |
| AGREE? | READER COMMENTS | AUTHOR |
| Y | You put much better than I did! This film is a classic with these three great Shaw favorites in the title roles! | Sgt. T |
I believe this is the very first film in which Alexander Fu Sheng portrays folk legend Fong Sia Yuk. Fu Sheng is joined by Shaw Brothers favorite Chen Kuan Tai as the legendary Hung Hsi Kuan, and the always under rated Chi Kuan Chun starring as Hu Hui Chien. Director Chang Cheh does a masterful job in showing how the three became loyal Ming patriots each in a seperate sequence. Then he brings them together to fight the hated Manchus (Ching Government) in an action packed fight to the finish. Any lover of martial arts films would appreciate this classic.
Top film from beginning to end. Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun and Chen Kuan Tai: this is a dream team. Don't miss this film.
An action-packed movie that no one should miss.
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