American Shaolin
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | American Shaolin |
| Original title | American Shaolin |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1991 |
| length | 106 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Lucas Lowe |
| script | Keith W. Strandberg |
| production | Keith W. Strandberg |
| music | Richard Yuen |
| camera | Viking Chiu Luis Cubilles |
| cut | Allan Poon |
| occupation | |
| |
American Shaolin is an American martial arts film with comedy elements from 1991. The film opened in theaters on July 23, 1992.
action
The American teenager Drew Carson, an avid martial artist, meets his rival, the champion Trevor Gottitall, in a karate tournament, by whom he is defeated in the finals of a fighting competition and humiliated in public. In order to improve his fighting skills and regain his pride, he decides to train with the Shaolin in China and study their martial arts.
When he arrives there, he is initially rejected as a stranger and is not even allowed into the monastery. After a practical test, he still manages to join their ranks. There he befriends other students, but as an American he is still exposed to hostility. His unconventional and sometimes undisciplined manner as well as his endeavor to convince his Chinese classmates of the blessings of Playboy and Rock 'n' Roll cause further excitement, especially among his teachers. After being threatened with expulsion from the temple, Drew learns discipline and conforms. He trains hard the way of Shaolin and improves both physically and mentally and grows beyond himself. Ultimately, he also passes the final test and becomes a true Shaolin.
Later he met Trevor again at a tournament in Shanghai. Drew can't decide whether to give in to his feelings of revenge or stay true to the Shaolin path. In the end, after numerous provocations on the part of Trevor and much thought on the part of Drew, a fight nevertheless ensues in which he defeats Trevor this time.
criticism
The lexicon of international film ruled that the film was a "lavishly produced" martial arts "film with furiously staged fight scenes." However, "the attempts [...] to bridge the contrasts between Eastern and Western cultures" are hardly credible.
Others
- In Germany, the film was rated for ages 16 and over. However, there is also a version shortened by 5 minutes and approved for ages 12 and up.
- Some scenes were shot in one day at the Forbidden City in Beijing. Although the film crew had permission to shoot, suspicious authorities eventually expelled them from there.
- There is some confusion about the film title: The official original and German title is American Shaolin . Since the director of the film, Lucas Lowe , previously directed the martial arts film The King of the Kickboxers , which was also marketed as No Retreat, No Surrender 4 , and the parts of this film series have no substantive connection, the film was also named American Shaolin: King of the Kickboxers 2 or respectively No Retreat, No Surrender 5 marketed.
Web links
- American Shaolin in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ American Shaolin. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .