A review of the Shaolin-themed kung fu movies

"Shaolin Popey 2: Messy Temple"

Poster of "Shaolin Popey 2: Messy Temple". [Photo/Mtime.com]

Directed by Taiwan director Yin-Ping Chu, the film "Shaolin Popey" and its sequel were a great success in Taiwan. The comedy features two child stars- Siu-Man Fok and Shi Xiaolong. Compared to the two kids' performance, the action part of the film shaded.

"Shaolin Popey 2" was produced in 1994. It tells a funny story of the Mianbi Master and his three disciples in the Messy Temple.

"Shaolin Soccer"

Poster of "Shaolin Soccer". [Photo/Mtime.com]

Hong Kong director-actor Stephen Chow shot "Shaolin Soccer" in 2001. The film swept the 21st Hong Kong Film Awards by grasping the best film award. Chow also got the best director and the best actor awards.

The movie recounts a former Shaolin monk reuniting his five brothers to apply their martial arts skills to play soccer and bring Shaolin kung fu to the masses.

The net pal Lightwing said the film's success lies on a good script and the director's control. "Besides, Stephen Chow's chosen cast is characteristic.

Anyway, Stephen Chow successfully combines Shaolin kung fu and soccer, overturning the audience's fixed idea of kung fu in an amusing way.

"Shaolin"

Poster of "Shaolin". [Photo: Mtime.com]

Director Benny Chan's "Shaolin" features Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Jackie Chan and Fan Bingbing. The film was released on January 19th 2011.

The story is set during China's warlord period in the 1920s. It is about Shaolin monks who must protect their temple and the people afflicted by war.

To make the temple look older than it actually was, the director built a new Shaolin Temple.