Disciples of the 36th Chamber [DVD] [1985] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

This is the third movie in the series of the 36th Chamber of Shaolin Series.Now Instead of Gordon Liu being the lead,Hsiao Ho is the Main character.He plays legendary hero Fong Sai Yuk of Fong Shi Yu which has been played by many famous actors like Jet Li,Alexander Fu Sheng,Meng Fei,Willie Chi Tin Sang.The movie is once again directed by Lau Kar Leung and it has many famous actors like Venom's Sun Chien,Jason Piao,Lee Hoi San I wont include the plot but trust me if its distributed by Dragon Dynasty you better believe you are watching a classic this movie was made after 8 diagram Pole fighter.

if you like the legendary hero Fong sai yuk check out other movies that are about him
Young Hero of Shaolin 1&2
Secret of shaolin poles
Prodigal Boxer 1&2
Burning Paradise
SHaolin Temple (Chang Cheh)
Fong Sai Yuk with Jet Li 1&2

Hsiao Hou stars in the 3rd chapter of the 36th Chamber series. Also starring is Gordon Liu, who takes a supporting lead in this last part of the trilogy.

Fang Shiyu/Fong Sai Yuk (Hsiao Hou) is the rebellious son of a martial arts woman. So rebellious that he is kept bound at all times (even in school) for fear that he may get into trouble. Fang Shiyu is not a bright young man, in fact, he is so dumb he must attend class with younger students who look to be in first or second grade while his own peers sit in the next class. Fang Shiyu's lack of intelligence leads to problems, because of his limited understanding, he misinterprets the intentions of a monk (Gordon Liu), and pursues him at a Manchu gym for a fight.

In doing so, he brazenly offends a Manchu official and is told he will be beheaded and the local Cantonese gym will be torn down. However, thanks to swift thinking by his doting mother, he is instead, sent to the Shaolin 36th chambers where he ends up with the same monk.

There, Fong Shiyu gets into more trouble, and is constantly reminded by the wisdom and skill of his superior that he still has a lot to learn despite his excellent kung fu. Fang Shiyu means well and has a strong sense of justice. But he's thick, and doesn't listen so of course, Monk San Te (Liu) must do what he can to keep the school out of trouble. This doesn't stop Shiyu from befriending the same Manchu principals who not only wants him dead, but has secretly hatched a deadly plot against the Shaolin Temple,in particular, the 36th Chamber.

Excellent performance by Gordon Liu, he looks like a monk, and there is something regal about him. He is very believable in this role and I like him much better here than in the original 36th Chambers.

But this is Hsiao Hou's movie all the way through. His Fang Shiyu is tough, but too stubborn to see the error of his ways and as a result, he is always getting the people he cares about most in trouble. Some may not care for Hsiao Hou's portrayal, but legend has it, that the Chinese hero Fang Shiyu was a bit of a trouble maker whose antics lead to the historical burning down of the Shaolin Temple. Hsiao Hou plays this character to perfection. He comes across very convincibly as hard, which is exactly what the role calls for. If you understand this about the movie's folk hero, then you'll appreciate Hsiao Hou's portrayal that much more.

Hou shows excellent kung fu and acrobat skills, while managing to flex some serious on screen muscle. You can see how much work went into getting his body in shape for the role. There is a very impressive stunt at the beginning of the movie, which is what I look for when I watch one of these movies and Hsiao Hou is in them. This same stunt was copied by Uma Thurman's character in Kill Bill, in which, Gordon Liu also has a role. Definitely worth watching.

Lau Kar Leung takes a smaller role, and as always, is terrific.

If you've seen either of the first two movies in the series you should know what to expect. I thought this was better than the second film in the series, but not quite as good as the first. Either way it was very good.