Zen Master 6 (1987)

Zen Master 6 (1987)
Chinese Title: 禪宗六祖
Translation: 6^th Patriarch of Zen

 

Starring: Lok Yun, Sun Jian-Ming, Meng Chuan-Sheng, Fang Hua, Dang Tak-Wing, Xia Zong-You, Pak Suet-Mui, Li Zhang-Yong
Director: Lo Lieh
Action Director: Yuen Bun, Stanley Tong, Dang Tak-Wing

This isn't quite a Mainland film, but it might as well be. Lo Lieh directs this last-ditch attempt to cash in on whatever success Chinese wushu films in the Shaolin Temple vein were having by the late 80s. I can't imagine much, at least in Hong Kong. The story actually subverts some of the usual conventions of the genre. Wai Nam is a child when his parents (his dad a retired official) are murdered by bandits. Wai Nam is left at the Shaolin Temple, where he grows up and learns kung fu. Usually, a kid like this would grow up full of anger, like Angela Mao in Broken Oath or Jet Li in Martial Arts of Shaolin. Wai Nam, on the other hand, understands Buddhism more than his peers, including his senior brother (and bully) San Sau.

When the abbot is on the verge of leaving his life, he arranges for a series of tests to determine who will be the next leader. San Sau bests Wai Nam in the kung fu tournament, but the abbot notices Wai Nam's humility and chooses him to be his successor. His first mission is go on a journey throughout the world to spread Buddhism to the populace. When San Sau discovers that Wai Nam has left the temple with some sutra in hand, he stops at nothing to get it back and cement his power at the temple.

The plot reminded me of an inversion of Holy Robe of Shaolin, which was neat. I did find it weird, however, that our hero doesn't think twice about killing in self-defense. Contrast that with the monks in Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, who opt to bash their enemies' teeth our rather than kill. But then again, what choice do you have when you leave the temple with a sword instead of a pole or something blunt?

The action was directed by Yuen Bun. I was hoping that under Lo Lieh's direction and that working with a bunch of Mainland wushu stylists, this would be Yuen Bun's grand contribution to onscreen martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. It isn't, but it's not bad. It's mainly hand-to-hand (no real identifiable styles) and weapons (sword and broadsword, with a smattering of chain whip at the end). The wire tricks are awkward and out of place, but don't detract too much from the action. There's a certain lack of manic intensity that keeps the fights from soaring to greater heights, as if they were technically sound but lacking in emotion. Nonetheless, fans should easily find something to enjoy here.