Shao Lin xiao zi (1984)

Director:

Xinyan Zhang

Release Date:

1984 (China)

Genre:

Action | Comedy

Plot:

Two rivaling families live on opposite sides of a river. One of them practices Shaolin kung fu and has only sons...

Plot Keywords:

Shaolin | Wu Tang | Sword | Lesbian | Shaolin Kid

Cast

Jet Li	...	San Lung
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lan Ding	...	Er Feng
Chia Hui Liu
Qingfu Pan
Chau-Yin Wong	...	San Feng
Cheng-Hui Yu	...	Pao Shen Feng / Wu Tang Dad
Hai Yu	...	Tin Lung / Er Long

Also Known As:

Kids from Shaolin (Philippines: English title)
Kids of Shaolin
Shaolin Boys
Shaolin Kids
Shaolin Temple 2: Kids from Shaolin
Siu lam siu ji (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)

Runtime:

103 min | Hong Kong:99 min | USA:99 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:I | UK:15 | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Lijiang, Guangxi, China

Company:

Chung Yuen Motion Picture Company

Trivia:

The temperature was so hot during filming that actors would occasionally go into shock while filming the fight scenes.

Movie Connections:

Follows Shaolin Si (1982)

After a very disappointing week, this was the highlight to be sure

Brilliant movie. It's taken me a long time as an average white dude from America to appreciate Chinese comedy. It's definitely of a different sort. Jet Li is brilliant when he gets to show emotion other than stoic determination (his last 6 films or so). The ensemble cast was brilliant. This is sort of a Chinese 7 Brides for 7 Brothers (which, actually has a very similar feel and great choreography as well, worth checking out, seriously. I'm not kidding.) Most of the characters are archetypes, but never stereotypes. A lot of people will be turned off by this film, but I really feel that that would be due to an understanding of Chinese comedy. A particular instance would be when a character nearly gets his face planted in dog leavings, and it turns out he hadn't taken the fall. If you haven't seen Jui Kuen (Drunken Master, starring Jackie Chan, you won't get it). I have. I did. If you watch enough movies, you tend to understand the genre more. And if you haven't fast forward to the end battle and enjoy the mayhem. I bought this movie on DVD at my local Wallgreens for $3.99 and after watching it, I would easily pay $15 or more for this great piece of film. Jet Li in drag, little kids kicking ass, musical numbers, what more could you want? Great DVD transfer from Saturn Prodictions, as well. Subtitles that are easy to read, full widescreen. Great stuff.