GeneChing
12-15-2008, 10:24 AM
It's an unfortunate translation - Shaolin Sengbing should be translated as monk soldiers, not monks and marines. There's been a lot of buzz on this one. It's a little dated now, but I just got reminded of it. Here's a trailer vid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKMDlXnfDus).
-- The Shao Lin Warriors (Shaolin Temple: Monks and Marines) -- (http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/8-The-Shao-Lin-Warriors-Shaolin-Temple-Monks-and-Marines.html)
Filming of 36 episodes 《少林僧兵》 The Shaolin Warriors TV series has wrapped up recently and is now undergoing post-production. The cast includes Sammo Hung, Cui Lin, Li Man, Sammy Hung, Liu Ying, Jeanette Aw, Qin Yan, Christopher Lee, Cui Peng. Director Raymond Lee says in an interview on January 16 that he loves Cheung Sing Yim's Shaolin Temple, and filming Shao Lin Warriors TV series is a fulfilment of his childhood dreams. Shaolin Temple: Monks and Marines is about Shaolin monks joining General Qi Ji Guang's marines to help defend the nation against Japanese pirates. Shao Lin Warriors is scheduled for release later this year.
Being co-produced by Shaolin Temple's abbot Shi Yong Xing entails participation of Shaolin Temple, forming a special group of extras that include 120 Shaolin warrior monks, 200 lay followers and novice monks. Over ten of the warrior monks are responsible for the martial arts choreography, which implies authentic Shaolin Kungfu being showcased on the screen. Raymond Lee says that he had a discussion with Shi Yong Xing a month prior to filming, and they, apparently, kept no secrets. The main cast members spent just over ten days training in the fundamentals in Shaolin Temple, which is barely sufficient. Shaolin Temple has also opened its door to the production, allowing Raymond Lee to film on location in Shaolin Temple.
Sammo HungSammo Hung plays an eminent monk Big Foot, the top Shaolin warrior monk, while his son Sammy Hung plays his disciple and successor Yue Kong. Raymond Lee expresses great satisfaction for Sammo Hung, who, despite his age, turns in fantastic performance, "Being a martial artist, he's able to execute all the moves, be them fist or staff, exactly as what the warrior monk did, after being shown only once." As opposed to the more cruel and lethal moves in SPL, Sammo Hung's moves are more benign here, being a monk after all. Apart from his exceptional martial arts ability, Big Foot is a little zany, seems to clairvoyant occasionally, yet appears so ordinary in the next moment.
Apparently, some of the top contestants from Kungfu Star Contest 2006 and 2007 were meant to play some major roles in Shaolin Temple: Monks and Marines, and the producers behind this production were the one organising the contest. However, it's not known for certain if they are indeed given a role here as their names have essentially been buried after the contest, despite all the buzzes and controversies. And some of the contest winners from 2006 had complained about being jobless for a year, being stuck with their contract that prevent them from accepting other film offers, while being shelved by the organiser. In the end, they annulled their contracts.
Unlike A Legend of Shaolin Kungfu which employs genuine martial artists for the lead roles, it's unfortunate that with such a noteworthy production that has a strong supporting cast of martial artists, Shaolin Temple: Monks and Marines casts mostly non-martial artists in the lead roles.
According to Raymond Lee, rare Shaolin kungfu will be shown on the screen, "My proudest achievements are Shaolin cudgel, and a fist formation performed by 120 monks. It's not often that we see such big scale scenes in martial arts productions." Raymond Lee says that he intends to shoot a sequel, and the plot may be about Shaolin martial arts being spread to Japan and eventually being developed into Jujutsu.
-- The Shao Lin Warriors (Shaolin Temple: Monks and Marines) -- (http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/8-The-Shao-Lin-Warriors-Shaolin-Temple-Monks-and-Marines.html)
Filming of 36 episodes 《少林僧兵》 The Shaolin Warriors TV series has wrapped up recently and is now undergoing post-production. The cast includes Sammo Hung, Cui Lin, Li Man, Sammy Hung, Liu Ying, Jeanette Aw, Qin Yan, Christopher Lee, Cui Peng. Director Raymond Lee says in an interview on January 16 that he loves Cheung Sing Yim's Shaolin Temple, and filming Shao Lin Warriors TV series is a fulfilment of his childhood dreams. Shaolin Temple: Monks and Marines is about Shaolin monks joining General Qi Ji Guang's marines to help defend the nation against Japanese pirates. Shao Lin Warriors is scheduled for release later this year.
Being co-produced by Shaolin Temple's abbot Shi Yong Xing entails participation of Shaolin Temple, forming a special group of extras that include 120 Shaolin warrior monks, 200 lay followers and novice monks. Over ten of the warrior monks are responsible for the martial arts choreography, which implies authentic Shaolin Kungfu being showcased on the screen. Raymond Lee says that he had a discussion with Shi Yong Xing a month prior to filming, and they, apparently, kept no secrets. The main cast members spent just over ten days training in the fundamentals in Shaolin Temple, which is barely sufficient. Shaolin Temple has also opened its door to the production, allowing Raymond Lee to film on location in Shaolin Temple.
Sammo HungSammo Hung plays an eminent monk Big Foot, the top Shaolin warrior monk, while his son Sammy Hung plays his disciple and successor Yue Kong. Raymond Lee expresses great satisfaction for Sammo Hung, who, despite his age, turns in fantastic performance, "Being a martial artist, he's able to execute all the moves, be them fist or staff, exactly as what the warrior monk did, after being shown only once." As opposed to the more cruel and lethal moves in SPL, Sammo Hung's moves are more benign here, being a monk after all. Apart from his exceptional martial arts ability, Big Foot is a little zany, seems to clairvoyant occasionally, yet appears so ordinary in the next moment.
Apparently, some of the top contestants from Kungfu Star Contest 2006 and 2007 were meant to play some major roles in Shaolin Temple: Monks and Marines, and the producers behind this production were the one organising the contest. However, it's not known for certain if they are indeed given a role here as their names have essentially been buried after the contest, despite all the buzzes and controversies. And some of the contest winners from 2006 had complained about being jobless for a year, being stuck with their contract that prevent them from accepting other film offers, while being shelved by the organiser. In the end, they annulled their contracts.
Unlike A Legend of Shaolin Kungfu which employs genuine martial artists for the lead roles, it's unfortunate that with such a noteworthy production that has a strong supporting cast of martial artists, Shaolin Temple: Monks and Marines casts mostly non-martial artists in the lead roles.
According to Raymond Lee, rare Shaolin kungfu will be shown on the screen, "My proudest achievements are Shaolin cudgel, and a fist formation performed by 120 monks. It's not often that we see such big scale scenes in martial arts productions." Raymond Lee says that he intends to shoot a sequel, and the plot may be about Shaolin martial arts being spread to Japan and eventually being developed into Jujutsu.