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The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

Action · Adventure · 1978

During the Qing Dynasty, a fishmonger is killed by the reigning Manchu government for supporting the anti-government movement; his son manages to escape to Shaolin Temple, where he plans to learn its secretive brand of martial arts to seek revenge.

Movie details

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

“He who struggles initially, might succeed eventually, and even finally.”

1978 Action · Adventure 1h 56m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.5 / 10

Community rating

During the Qing Dynasty, a fishmonger is killed by the reigning Manchu government for supporting the anti-government movement; his son manages to escape to Shaolin Temple, where he plans to learn its secretive brand of martial arts to seek revenge.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The 36th Chamber of Shaolin?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Fist of Legend

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Return to the 36th Chamber

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Fist of Fury

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Drama · 1972

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Blood Brothers

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Invincible Shaolin

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Three North Shaolin teachers are called on by the Manchus to teach their soldiers and are urged to challenge the current South Shaolin teachers. They defeat the South Shaolin teachers and, that night, the head general kills the South Shaolin teachers and blames their death on the North Shaolin teachers. The South Shaolin master sends more of his pupils, who are killed accidentally by the North Shaolin teachers. He finally sends two more of his students to train with old masters and trains one student himself with the goal of finally defeating the North Shaolin experts.

One-Armed Boxer

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Action · 1972

A martial-arts student learns the iron fist and death grip techniques to avenge his teacher's death.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lau Kar-leung

Written by

Ni Kuang

Gordon Liu

Gordon Liu

Liu Yu-de / Monk San Ta

Lo Lieh

Lo Lieh

General Tien Ta

John Cheung Ng-Long

John Cheung Ng-Long

Lord Cheng

Wilson Tong Wai-Shing

Wilson Tong Wai-Shing

Lord Tang San-yao

Wa Lun

Wa Lun

Liu Yu-de's Classmate

Hon Kwok-Choi

Hon Kwok-Choi

Lin Zhen

Lau Kar-Wing

Lau Kar-Wing

General Yin

Court is in session

Put The 36th Chamber of Shaolin on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.