Blazing Temple, The (1976)

Countless kung fu films have dealt with the historical Ming vs. Qing conflict and the famed Shaolin Temple but few have managed to create such an entertaining and ambitious account of the legendary destruction of Shaolin as a result of this conflict.

Joseph Kuo not only directed, but wrote the story in this third entry in an unofficial Shaolin trilogy beginning with THE 18 BRONZEMEN and followed by THE 18 BRONZEMEN 2. With this effort he is not content to focus solely on Shaolin Temple. The beginning strays from the film’s main story with a bit about the Emperor’s sister played by Chia Ling (REVENGEFUL SWORDSWOMAN) whose immediate family is suspected of having Ming sympathies and therefore subjected to Emperor Yong Zheng’s wrath. His sister, a competent fighter thwarts Yong’s attempt to imprison their family and she later goes into hiding after a failed attempt to assassinate him. From here on, the focus shifts to the plight of Shaolin Temple and its inhabitants.

After discovering that Shaolin is linked with Liu and the Eight Swordsmen — all rebels, Emperor Yong Zheng orders General Kim and his cannon squad to lay waste to the Temple. With little warning, Kim’s soldiers begin to fire on the Temple, causing massive death and destruction. Despite the severity of the situation, the abbot orders that the only way students may leave the Temple is by passing through the hall of 18 Bronzemen, in keeping with Temple tradition. Students pour into the hall, ill-prepared to face the rigors of the Bronzemen.

After agonizing over his loss of judgment, the abbot rushes to open another escape route by holding up an enormous stone while students rush underneath. Unable to save himself, the abbot gives the final copy of the famed “18 styles” of kung fu to his trusted student Siu (Carter Wong). Having escaped, Siu and the remaining students and teachers hide from their Manchu pursuers while plotting to kill the Emperor. As one attempt fails, their hopes are set on a final plot, of which the success or failure rests upon a fellow Shaolin monk-turned-traitor.

As mentioned earlier, the story begins to move in one direction and promptly shifts into another once the Shaolin Temple takes center stage. Thankfully, this is where the story really gets interesting. In fact, with decent production values (okay, Shaolin Temple long shots are obviously of a model) and a genuinely compelling story, THE BLAZING TEMPLE actually transcends the usual chopsocky vibe and becomes more along the lines of a well-played historical epic. It’s considered historical fact that the Qing Dynasty rulers sacked Shaolin Temple, adding one more wound to the pride of the majority of China’s Han populace who considered their Manchu rulers to be unwanted oppressors.

Like most movies based upon history, THE BLAZING TEMPLE plays up the melodrama, but there is some genuine emotional strings to be pulled here. The stereotypical image of the wise old Shaolin abbot who is unruffled by adversity is shattered by the overwhelming force of the Qing assault. One chillingly relevant scene shows an elder monk setting fire to himself while General Kim and his stunned soldiers look on in disbelief. Although unrelated, this recalls the real life actions of a Falun Gong member in China who set fire to herself and her young daughter to protest the government’s crackdown on the movement.

While the film contains less than the average quotient of kung fu, the action-packed opening scenes involving the Emperor’s daughter seem to have been inserted for just this reason and Chia Ling really hams it up. Likewise, Carter Wong gets to shine in the final reel as the last attempt on the Emperor’s life plays out. After a series of increasingly vicious battles, Wong suddenly goes berserk with the “18 styles.” The real beauty of this film is that all of the dramatic buildup that has gone before gives Wong’s last performance a tremendous impact that will make you want to stand up and cheer.

The presence of the usually welcome Chia Ling at the beginning and end of the film never congeals with the rest of the story. In addition, the gimmick of the Emperor’s mysterious “sword-proof vest” seems oddly out of place in this film, but these are minor complaints. All in all, THE BLAZING TEMPLE is a sure fire classic featuring Holst-inspired music in the original English dub, great sets and costumes and fine performances wrapped in a timeless tale of heroism.