Martial Arts of Shaolin

In ancient China, a young man named Lin Zhi Ming has grown up at the Northern Shaolin temple, where he trains in martial arts. When he learns that his father died at the hands of a cruel provincial lord, He Suo, he leaves the temple to take revenge. A second student, Sima Yan, has lost family to the same man and sets out with the same goal, and a third fighter named Chao Wei joins them. The three attempt to strike at He Suo around his birthday celebrations, but the attack fails and they are captured; they escape and must face a much larger armed force before they can settle their grievance.

Martial Arts of Shaolin was directed by Lau Kar-leung and released in 1986, the eighth film in the chronological list of his directing credits and the fifth of his works set around the Shaolin temples, following The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Shaolin Mantis, Return to the 36th Chamber, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter and Disciples of the 36th Chamber. Jet Li plays Lin Zhi Ming, with Hu Jian-Qiang as Chao Wei, Huang Qiuyan as Sima Yan, Yu Chenghui as Lord He Suo and Hai Yu as Master Shi Ren. The screenplay is credited to Si Yeung-Ping and Sze Yeung-Ping, and Fu Chi produced for Shaw Brothers. Made for about 10 million USD, it mixes action with comedy across a 94-minute running time, and on TMDB it holds a rating of 6.3 out of 10 from 86 votes.