Leofwine_draca Review of Crazy Shaolin Disciples

Crazy Shaolin Disciples (1985)

Not perfect, but better than you'd expect

[6/10 · 10 July 2020]

CRAZY SHAOLIN DISCIPLES is one of the very last of the Shaw Brothers Shaolin cycle, and it's pretty goofy and slapdash in places. The emphasis is very much on lowbrow comedy here and it does work for the first 50 minutes or so, but then the film loses steam and becomes mildly insufferable before picking up for a strong climax. There's still a lot to love about Shaw even by 1985; the casting here is exemplary and features many heroes young and old. Gordon Liu is cast as an antagonist compared to his better known 36TH CHAMBER roles; the hero is like-him-or-hate-him Wong Yue, with Chin Siu-ho in support. The great Lo Meng has a typical tough guy supporting role while villain duties go to Lo Lieh; he's heavily doubled in the fight scenes but nonetheless is so menacingly evil that you just don't care. The film features a plethora of fight action which is always welcome, and is generally agreeable and amusing enough to work even if it's inferior when compared to similar productions made by Shaw, whether directed by Chang Cheh or starring Gordon Liu.