SHAOLIN VS LAMA REVIEW
Title(s) AKA: Shaolin V Lama
Film Director(s): Lee Tso Nam
Action Director(s): Peng Kong
Released: 1983 [Hong Kong]
Genre: Martial Arts
Sub-Genre: Action/Adventure
Plot: Two rival families--one with sons, the other with daughters--gang up to defeat a band of evil marauders. All the while, the sons are trying to get their father and uncle married off but are confounded at every step by the daughters' paranoid father.
Overview: A kung fu fanatic, Yu Ting (Alexander Lo Rei), searching for the ultimate master, saves a young Shaolin monk, Hsu Shi (William Yen), from a group of mobsters and sees it as a golden opportunity to enrich his kung fu skills. He persuades the young novice monk to smuggle him into Shaolin, but Ting's presence isn't welcome and he is driven out, but remains close to the temple, keeping in touch with Hsu Shi. When Ting rescues a girl from the clutches of the Flying Eagle gang, the Golden Wheel Lama and sworn enemy of Shaolin finds the perfect excuse to lead an assault on the Temple. Realizing Ting's devotion, the abbot decides to bring Ting into the Shaolin order and teach him the deadliest techniques to prepare him for the Lama's merciless fury...
Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, Chen Shan, Wong Chi Sang, Sun Jung Chi, William Yen. . . (Click any actor to search for more of their movies!)
Running Time: approx. 90 mins.
Language(s): English
Subtitles: None
Distributor: Ground Zero Entertainment [US] [A USA-Based Distributor]
Rating: UN - "Unrated. This film has not been rated by the review board."
Features: Full Screen
After the massive success of Jet Li's debut 'The Shaolin Temple', Hong Kong and Taiwanese directors were quick to cash in on the 'Shaolin' craze. One of the best efforts was this offering from Lee Tso Nam.
Alexander Lo Rei plays Yu Ting, a kung fu fanatic in search of a teacher. After three years of challenging masters but never being beaten he runs into Hsu Shi (William Yen), a young Shaolin monk who introduces Yu to his own master. Although Hsu's master defeats Yu with ease he refuses to take him on as a student. Yu then resorts to trickery to try and learn techniques from the aged monk. Eventually these antics come to the attention of the senior abbott who expels Yu Ting from the temple altogether.
Yu is only allowed back into the temple after he rescues a girl escaping from the dreaded 'Flying Eagle' gang. The head of the gang is a chief Lama and sworn enemy of Shaolin who, twelve years ago, stole one of temple's most treasured martial arts manuals. Hsu Shi's master eventually agrees to take Yu Ting on as a student but lessons are cut short when the Lama turns up and kills the master. Yu now swears revenge but before he can leave Shaolin he has to learn the Buddhist Finger technique, the only style that can defeat the Lama.
The plot is very much a traditional revenge story typical of the kung fu movie genre. While there's nothing too original there the film is lifted by some excellent fighting and training scenes. The choreography is extremely intricate and innovative. Alexander Lo Rei shows off some cool kicking moves, as does the film's villain and there are also plenty of acrobatics employed in the fights. The film is pretty much fight filled and the pace is never allowed to drag. The final ten minutes, where Lo Rei faces the evil Lama, are a total blast.
-John Richards
Email: dcleve3@aol.com
