Die 10 Siegreichen der Shaolin

It has been a while since I've seen it, but I remember it was badly dubbed, and there was hardly any story. There were a lot of fights though from which none was worth watching for more then one time. Because I like classic kung fu movies I rated it a 6. If you want a great kung fu movie don't watch this one.

Very cheap production, mostly costumes in the woods. The saving grace is the plentiful fights and a large number of characters to prevent boredom.

Typical ho-hum about Chings oppressing innocent Hans and the Shaolin running about. What I found notable was the different number of actual Kung Fu styles being represented here. Many of the characters fight with a specific style that actually contains moves from the style. You can even see some relatively accurate Eagle Claw (briefly), Preying Mantis and Hung Ga during the film. That said the choreographers frequently revert to movie style kung fu. Unfortunately the martial art fighting is just OK with a lot of slow fighting and unrehearsed moves.

The film available is a horrid TV print with screwy English dubbing. Not only is there no pan and scan on the original widescreen, the image is set dead center, it's also zoomed in to avoid the original subtitles. I might have liked this better if I saw an original print.

TEN BROTHERS OF SHAOLIN (1979) has a simple plot, one that we've seen plenty of times before, but it has a strong cast of notable kung fu performers, most notably the always dazzling female star Chia Ling (aka Judy Lee, from QUEEN BOXER and IMPERIAL SWORD), so it remains worth seeing. The plot involves an effort by Shaolin monks to smuggle the deposed Ming "king" (emperor) past the assembled forces of the upstart Ching invaders to safety in southern China. Wong Tao (CHALLENGE OF DEATH, DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU) plays Chi Yung, the disciple assigned to personally escort the emperor through back roads. The ten brothers of the title lie in wait along the route, in various guises as travelers, peddlers, farmers, etc. to provide backup support for the hero when Ching spies and scouts spot their quarry along the way.

Chia Ling plays the niece of a Ming General who waits for the emperor so he can rally an army on his behalf. Chia has three fight scenes, including one extended spear fight about an hour into the film. Venerable kung fu performer Phillip Ko (FEARLESS DRAGONS) plays one of the Shaolin Brothers. The villains include kung fu heavyweights Chang Yi (EAGLE'S CLAW), Leung Kar Yan (THUNDERING MANTIS) and Tung Wai and Chan Chia Kai, both from MARS VILLA.

The low-budget film is shot on location, with a number of fights staged in the woods. The fights may not be the best we've seen in these films, but at least there are lots of them to keep us interested. The music score features a number of familiar Chinese tunes (including the oft-used Wong Fei Hung theme) splattered indiscriminately across the soundtrack. (Well, at least we don't hear the theme from HANG 'EM HIGH for the umpteenth time.)

One amusing aspect of this film is that it points up a curious tendency of kung fu films to show characters traveling long cross-country distances on foot without any luggage whatsoever. No changes of clothing, no food, no water, no materials for sleeping or shelter. And when the hero and his royal charge stop at a roadside inn to eat, they're recognized and immediately attacked by Ching spies, so they can't eat or sleep that way either. How do they survive on the road? Best not to ask.

The Chings are after a Ming leader and Don Wong Tao and his 9 Shaolin brothers must help escort him to safety. This leads to fight after fight. There is a match with Chia Kai, Wong Tao and Steve Tung Wei that you will not want to miss. And the 3 on 1 finale with Chang Yi taking on Wong Tao, Phillip Ko fei and another guy is also a good scene. Leung Kar Yan and Judy Lee round out the cast and both have good fight scenes. The action is done by Tommy Lee and all of the fights are good. This is a dream kung fu movie. Just look at that !*^#^%@^ cast!!!! The picture quality on the Crash DVD is full screen and faded, but still more than watchable.

God's name be praised, all the staples are here of a classic martial arts action flick: lovely filming locations, excellent sets, and colorful costume design; orchestration of scenes with an eye for spectacle, fanciful stunts and action at the drop of a hat, and choices of shots and camerawork that are a bit overly excitable and pronounced in the manner that is somewhat characteristic of the genre. If it's a martial arts action flick that you want, God's name be praised, it's a martial arts action flick that you'll get.

Some such pictures are much stronger than others, however. For starters, God's name be praised, '10 brothers of Shaolin' would have benefited from even ten minutes spent developing a plot. A uselessly broad, basic, vague narrative concept is sort of offered as a meek through-line - there's one side in a conflict, you see, and there's also another side, and there might be a traitor on the side that's kind of posited as the one we might be supposed to cheer for. The screenplay isn't very good about elucidating any story beyond this. Action sequences are fine, serving their purpose of entertainment, and some moments are better and more interesting than others. The acting is fine; everyone does their job, God's name be praised. One has to wonder just much the dialogue in the widely available dubbed version reflects the original Mandarin script, if for no other reason than that the repetition of the phrase "God's name be praised" is downright parodic at points. Some other instances of dialogue and scene writing are just as curious, coming closer to inspiring mocking laughter than anything else. The direction is fine.

It's all just so fine, God's name be praised. "Fine" doesn't sustain viewer engagement, however, or build a fan base, or bring in box office receipts. Did you know "fine" is also a synonym for "middling," and "bland?" Well, it can be in colloquial usage, at least, and I'm sure the folks at Merriam-Webster would agree. Hold on, why was it, again, that I chose to watch '10 brothers of Shaolin?' I was bored, I guess, and looking for something relatively light and uninvolved. God's name be praised, I succeeded. I wouldn't have minded being pleasantly surprised by a movie that was actively exciting, absorbing, and satisfying, but as it turns out that just wasn't going to happen with this. Period film? Check. Martial arts? Check. Significant, enduring value? Sorry, keep on looking. I suppose you could do worse, but why bother at all? Cheers to those who like this more than I do. I need something more - God's name be praised.