88 Films once more offers a fantastic example of Chinese martial arts movie with the released of DISCIPLES OF SHAOLIN. Though the Shaolin temple is nowhere to be seen in the film two students are. It is there story that is the focus of the film.

Guan (Alexander Fu Sheng) arrives in town with nothing but an old pair of worn out shoes to his name. Unable to find work he reaches out to his old friend Wang Hon (Chi Kuan-Chun) who takes him in and gets him a job at the textile factory where he works. Guan is a bit naïve and clueless about how things run in the big city which will play into his story as the film move forward.

Getting into a fight with the group sent by a rival textile mill to disrupt their business, Guan comes out on top to the cheers of his co-workers. But Wang knows once his skills are seen he will be in danger. The head of the textile mill congratulates Guan and puts him in charge of teaching his workers, promoting him and rewarding him with a new pair of shoes.

Guan see this as a stepping stone to bigger things in spite of Wang's warnings. He continues to move up the ladder and at times plays off one mill against the other. He continues to have gifts heaped upon him but can he truly trust those who employ him? And will all of this lead to a greater life or simply one with more luxuries but no meaning?

Directed by famed director Chang Cheh this films is a joy to watch. The fighting sequences are some of the best put to film. This shouldn't come as a surprise since the Lau Kar Leung was the fight choreographer for the film. Leung would go on to become a director himself overseeing many of the classics in the genre.

In addition to that is the performance by Fu Sheng who rose quickly to stardom and was sadly taken away at age 28 in a car crash. His ability to combine an innocence and sense of humor with his martial arts skills always made him stand out. It shows often in his role here.

The final sequence of the film features an all-out bloodbath of a battle. So intense was it that at the time it was shot in black and white to appease the censors. Today it wouldn't be bothered with that. It does make for one of the most brutal fight sequences on film.

As they've shown already 88 Films has released this with a spectacular version beginning with a restored HD print of the film. Extras include a limited edition slipcase with brand new artwork from R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien, a double-sided A3 foldout poster, extensive booklet notes "The Visceral Arts Cinema of Chang Chech" by Matthew Edwards, "International Bright Young Thing: A Look Back on THE DISCIPLES OF SHAOLIN and Its Charismatic Star Alexander Fu Sheng" by Andres Graves, an article by Kung Fu Bob, an audio commentary track with film journalist and author Samm Deighan, an audio commentary track with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, "Jamie Luk at Shaw Brothers" an interview with actor/director Jamie Luk by Frédéric Ambroisine, the original trailer and a reversible sleeve with brand new artwork by R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien along with the original Hong Kong poster artwork.

Once more if you are a fan of martial arts films or action films this is one to add to your collection.

This film is the compilation of the worst of Chang Cheh. We find there a catastrophic direction of actor with actors who grimace or who pass their time to sneer. We find the decorations in cardboard or so of a visual poverty of the path type with grasses at the edge. We find there a ridiculous music which overplays. We also find there an uninteresting and ridiculous dramatic scheme that makes the film smile, but not on purpose.

The film is not devoid of interest if we only consider the fights. Rather, they're pretty dry and a lot of fun with the ridiculous sound that's added to every hit between the movement hisses and the cannon shots every time the characters are supposed to touch each other.

The story is silly to say the least and above all mixes a slew of characters, each one more stupid than the other, including the main hero, Fu Sheng, devoid of acting talent.

Like many of Chang Cheh's films, the men very quickly find themselves shirtless. And the female characters are stooges without much interest.