By Malice Intended

The mystique and mythology of the Shaolin temple is evident by the sentiment evoked by the mere mention of its name.  It is viewed as a place where otherworldly skills can be acquired and the spirit is nourished. While the images popularized by both Hollywood and Hong Kong have very little to do with the actuality and history of real Shaolin temples, the impact of those images cannot be denied.   

Director Benny Chan keeps the subgenre of Shaolin temple-themed martial arts films alive and well with his aptly titled Shaolin.  It is a remake of The Shaolin Temple, the chop-socky classic that introduced Jet-Li to the world.  This newer version promises fight choreography and production values the likes of which classic Shaolin temple movies could only dream.  None other than Jackie Chan is featured in a starring role, promising that the fights will include some fantastic acrobatics and stunt work.  With this sort of pedigree, Shaolin will be the unlike any other shaolin temple film in quite some time.

As with all of the best Hong Kong productions, the images in the trailer speak for themselves.  Each new generation of Hong Kong stunt performers and fight choreographers refine their prospective crafts to new heights.  Amazingly, the pace seems faster and the stunts more death defying.  One begins to wonder if a true ceiling exists for these guys.  No matter how far they get, they keep reaching.  Like a DJ looking for the perfect beat, they seek to craft the ultimate fight scene.  As long as they do, action fans the world over should remain grateful.  Shaolin will be released in Hong Kong on December 9^th.

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