SHAOLIN VS. MANCHU is one of those films which essentially does what it says on the tin. This Taiwanese-lensed tale has a greater emphasis on plotting than usual for a stock kung fu film and indeed I found the twists and turns of the narrative to be the best thing about it, because the fight choreography is below par and the battles unmemorable. The movie was directed by Lee Chiu Jun, previously a supporting actor in the likes of DRUNKEN MASTER.
The story is about two rival monk students at the Shaolin Temple. One of them, Rocky, is your stock hero without a bad bone in him. His rival is Jouan, in reality a Manchu spy sent in to keep an eye on what the monks are doing. The rivalry between the pair climaxes in Jouan setting up Rocky and getting him banished, but after a time Rocky realises his old ally's traitorous ways and with some fellow monks decides to take him to task. The local Manchu force gets in the way, of course. SHAOLIN VS. MANCHU is notable for featuring some of the gaudiest Manchu costumes ever alongside bad dubbing, random monkish games, and a bald bratty kid.
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