Golden Arhan (1975) User Reviews

Could Be Better, But Passes The Time!!

[Movie-Misfit · 5/10 · 6 October 2019]

While not an amazing movie, 18 Shaolin Disciples still has a few entertaining moments in it. With stars such as Chang Yi, Carter Wong and the handsome Meng Fei you would be expecting some decent kung fu, and it does have it. Just probably not enough to make it a classic...

Saying that, Carter Wong really just has an extended cameo in this Taiwanese/Hong Kong production both at the beginning and the end. This is all about Meng Fei cheekily fighting his way through the story, surviving attacks and really just wanting to see his dad again. Bad guy Chang Yi pops in and out for revenge as the movie rolls on before his big ending.

While the dubbing and picture quality of this version doesn't do it any favours, I can only imagine that a clean widescreen print of this would prove more entertaining. The fights aren't anything special, but pass the time. The closing scenes of the film are definitely original in this genre with our trio of stars finally meeting one final time at Shaolin Temple - Wong now a fully fledged monk. Poor Meng Fei just wants to speak with his dad and after all those years passed, you would think Wong would want to also - but no, he just ignores him.

But that's not the part I'm relating to...

Hell-bent, grudge-holding Chang Yi tries his damn hardest to get a rematch with monk Carter Wong. He attacks but gets nothing back. He cuts up his son Meng Fei, and gets nothing back! The infamous final duel of a kung fu movie is somewhat non-existent in this one. Only Wong's words and the offer of his eyes is enough to stop Chang Yi in his path - resulting in him becoming the 18th monk himself and Meng Fei gets forgotten about all over again!

Poor kid.

Overall: Nothing special, 18 Shaolin Disciples is a little low on energy but passes the time when there's nothing else to watch...

Cheap and shoddy

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 15 January 2018]

18 SHAOLIN DISCIPLES is a low budget and generic kung fu story from Taiwan with wuxia touches. The story features such minor notables as Chang Yi and Meng Fei but they make little impact in a tale which is content to go through the motions rather than offer any kind of versatility or freshness. The story sees rival groups battling it out for possession of valuable gold cargo, while one of those 'Ghost Killer' figures is also lurking around in the background and assassinating noblemen. Carter Wong guest stars and there's a climax set at the Shaolin Temple, but it's very cheap and shoddy overall.

Don't fight, don't kill - how about Don't preach?

[ckormos1 · 5/10 · 12 December 2019]

It starts with Carter Wong fighting Chang Yi and defeating him with a groin attack that made him a eunuch but left him alive and wanting to fight again. Carter goes to Shaolin Temple where it gets all philosophical. He is condemned for killing. He can face the formation and if he wins he will be forgiven but if he loses he will be killed. Yes, that makes no sense. He defeats the formation. In this fight and the first he was carrying a baby on his back. He gives his son up to return to Shaolin.

Mang Fei is his son and he grows up in the next scene. He is on an escort job with Hsu Feng. A gang is about to rob them. He defeats them in a very good fight by mocking their fighting styles. Hsu Feng disapproves.

The movie gets preachy about "do not fight" and "do not kill". I always find these themes simply annoying. The worst thing about the story is all the mystery such as "who is my real father" is a mystery only to the characters. The audience knows all the answers to the questions. The movie also tries for an epic mood like the classics such as "Dragon Inn" but falls short. It also throws a twist on the final fight by having a final conversation instead.

My copy is the VHS format with the square video and English dubbing. The title screen actually has "8 Shaolim Disciple". The voice over actors force the words to match the mouth movements and often overdo it but otherwise are not annoying. That is actually a compliment and you know how bad some dubbing can be in these movies. I agree with the other reviews here that the movie could have been better and rate it just below average for the year and genre.

Revenge Takes too long

[dafrosts · 5/10 · 3 February 2018]

The lighting in the version I watched was beyond horrible. I will not hold that against this film, however. The beginning fight scene involves Chuen Chan (Carter Wong) holding a baby while doing battle with the evil Miao Yi Tao (Chiang Yi). Tao had previously abducted Chuen Chan's wife (who committed suicide before the fight). The fight leaves Tao a Eunich. Tao vow revenge against Chan. Chan decides atoning for his sins is the best thing to do and enters a Shaolin Temple to return to the priesthood. This leaves his son in the hands of a close friend (Wen Chiang-Long), who promises to raise the child as his own. Years later, Chan's nearly grown son (Meng Fei) gets to go on his first security job with Elder Sister (who has a severe case of PMS). Meng gets into trouble with Elder Sister, actually trying to properly do his job. Her attitude toward him makes absolutely no sense. It's as if she has a severe hate for the kid. She dismisses Meng and demands he return home. He meets a pickpocket along the way who gets him into more trouble. They part ways when Meng overhears two of Tao's cronies discussing plans to again try robbing Elder SIster's security caravan and that Tao has gone to the security office. Tao wants Chan's location which Wen refuses to do. Tao is told to return in 3 days to get his answers, after he threatens to kill Wen's family. I am not sure what the deal is with 3 days in these movies, but it seems everyone has to wait 3 days for something to happen.

Wen sends Meng away in the hopes of protecting him from Tao. Meng is saved from an ambush by his younger foster sister (she left home because she was bored). They encounter the pickpocket, who has had to leave the town where she met Meng. They journey to the location Meng is supposed to meet the man who will train him. Wen is waiting for them and reveals Meng's true identity (after Meng explains he's pretty much figured it out already). Chan is now the Abbot at the temple.

Tao arrives and tries to kill Meng. Wen intervenes and demands Meng take the girls and leave. The Pickpocket is injured when she tries to protect Wen from Tao. Meng takes the girls and departs as Wen has a literal death grip on Tao.

Elder Sister awaits Tao and his entourage as they journey to the Temple to find Chan. The fight scene isn't bad, considering it's just here against 20+ men and Tao.

Meng and his foster sister arrive at the temple with Tao hot on their heels. Meng makes a big scene trying to call out Chan. The Monks respond with some hand to hand fighting, while Meng continues to scream for his father to make an appearance.

The final scene between Chan and Tao is total crap imho. Chan refuses to fight, even after Tao takes a few stabs at Meng. Chan wants Tao to repent for his crimes. Tao wants his Manhood back, something that isn't going to happen. There's some chatting about which of them needs to repent more. Chan, in response, takes out his own eyes. Then, begs Tao to repent. The Monks chant for Tao to repent and ....he does. Just drops his daggers right there and becomes the 18th Shaolin Disciple.