With most martial arts movies, it’s hard to avoid a predictable ending, butFive Shaolin Masterspulls that off perfectly. Most films in the genre, whether it’s anold school kung fu movieor something a bit more modern, follow the same basic formula, even if they’re stories differ widely. Typically, they culminate in the hero triumphing over the villain in a hotly contested showdown in the closing minutes of the film.
Many of thegreatest martial arts moviesend in this manner, includingEnter the Dragon,Way of the Dragon,Drunken Master, andThe Karate Kid.These fights can be intense, well-choreographed, and entertaining even after multiple viewings. But, that’s not to say that they keep the viewer on the edge of their seat, wondering who’s going to win. In most scenarios, there’s no secret who will emerge the victor, even if the hero takes a beating early on. There are some exceptions to this, of course, one of which beingFive Shaolin Masters. The 1974 movie succeeds in one area that many of its kind failed.
How Five Shaolin Masters Effectively Delivers A Final Showdown With An Unpredictable Ending
It’s Five Heroes Against Five Villains
One of severalgreat martial arts ensemble movies,Five Shaolin Mastersassembles a cast of well-known stars associated with the genre, including TI Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, and David Chiang. Instead of making any of them the main protagonist,Five Shaolin Mastersdivides its focus among its five titular characters, allowing the audience to follow each of their martial arts journeys. After getting defeated and losing their temple to the Manchus, each Shaolin fighter has to learn a new technique, which comes into play at the end of the film where each main character squares off with one ofFive Shaolin Masters’five Manchu villains.
In most kung fu movies, it’s understood that the adversity the hero faced throughout the film will ultimately pay off, butFive Shaolin Mastersisn’t afraid to disappoint in that regard.
BecauseFive Shaolin Masters’ending is spread across five fight scenes, there’s considerably more doubt as to whether “the good guy” will prevail in this case. In most kung fu movies, it’s understood that the adversity the hero faced throughout the film will ultimately pay off, butFive Shaolin Mastersisn’t afraid to disappoint in that regard. Due to the nature of the story, it becomes apparent that one (or multiple) protagonists really can die in their respective one-on-one battles, since that wouldn’t necessarily stop their side from prevailing.
Five Shaolin Masters Is Part Of A Great Multi-Movie Shaolin Series
Five Shaolin Masters Is A Great Starting Point For Chang Cheh’s Shaolin Temple Movies
AlthoughFive Shaolin Mastersfunctions as a standalone kung fu adventure, it’s worth noting that the film is just one entry in a long series of movies centered on the Shaolin Temple. During the 1970s, kung fu movie director Chang Cheh made several films about various figures within the Shaolin Temple, its destruction, and the monks' battles with their oppressive Manchu enemies. None appear to be in canon with each other, but they’re connected nonetheless, not just by how they reuse the same stories and characters, but also by how they rely heavily on the same cast members, such asAlexander Fu Shengand Chi Kuan-chun.
Gordon Liu’s 10 Best Kung Fu Movies, Ranked
Gordon Liu has left an impressive legacy in kung fu filmmaking, with both obscure and well-known titles showing off his martial arts and acting skill.
Five Shaolin Masters
Cast
Five Shaolin Masters, released in 1974, follows the journey of five survivors from the decimated Shaolin Temple as they unite to create secret codes for identifying fellow rebels. They endeavor to evade Qing forces while uncovering a traitor’s identity, aligning with Shaolin patriots disguised as bandits to rescue their captured comrade.
