American Shaolin

Last updated
American Shaolin
American shaolin2.jpg
American Shaolin DVD Cover
Directed byLucas Lowe
Written byKeith W. Strandberg
Produced byKeith W. Strandberg
StarringReese Madigan
Trent Bushey
CinematographyViking Chiu
Luis Cubilles
Edited byAllan Poon
Music byRichard Yuen
Release date
  • 1991 (1991)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

American Shaolin is a 1991 American martial arts film directed by Lucas Lowe and starring (among others) Reese Madigan, Kim Chan and Daniel Dae Kim.

Contents

Plot

While training for the Jersey Shore Karate Championship, ruthless and sadistic kickboxer Trevor Gottitall (Trent Bushey) is put up against a fierce and determined competitor. However, when the competitor's pants unexpectedly fall down during the fight, leaving him in his blue briefs as everybody in the room laughs at him, his humiliation distracts him long enough to allow Trevor to easily defeat him. Trevor's trainer uses this opportunity to remind Trevor that beating an opponent is not enough. He also must humiliate his opponent, so that whoever he’s fighting will fear him for life.

During the actual championship, Trevor makes it to the finals, where his opponent turns out to be teenager Drew Carson (Reese Madigan). Drew puts up a determined fight against Trevor, who decides that he must take his trainer's advice and humiliate Drew in order to win the match. Trevor pulls off Drew's belt, which causes Drew’s pants to fall down. Trevor then rips off Drew’s pants, sending Drew flying through the air and landing on the floor in just his underpants, as the hundreds of spectators in the audience laugh mercilessly at him. Humiliated and ashamed of his embarrassing underwear, Drew crawls out of the ring trying to cover himself up while being forced to endure the audience’s (and Trevor’s) laughter at his expense.

To add to the insult, Drew's teacher Master Kwan (Kim Chan) confesses that he is not—as he had claimed—a Shaolin monk, and therefore he had not passed on the actual knowledge of Shaolin kung fu to Drew. Determined to learn the actual art to prevent another such situation, Drew departs for China and arrives at the Shaolin Temple. At first, the monks do not let him enter, but with the help of a pretty tea shop waitress, Ashena (Alice Zhang Hung), and an old monk (Henry O) who gives him a decisive advise, he waits outside of the temple for a week, after which he manages to be admitted. The old monk also turns out to be the abbot of the temple, Master San De, and he and his stern taskmaster train Drew and a number of other young apprentices in the ways of the Shaolin.

At first Drew causes much trouble as his American teenage temperament clashes with the tranquility within the temple and with his fellow student, Gao (Daniel Dae Kim), but under the rigorous physical and mental training he both improves his fighting skills and learns the meaning of discipline, humility, and patience. He makes friends with Gao and also manages to pass the two final tests: the Test of Spirituality, and the Test of the Chamber. Accepted as a full-fledged member of the Shaolin Monastery, he accompanies—along with Ashena—a delegation of his fellow students and the abbot to a martial arts tournament in Shanghai.

At the tournament, Drew encounters Trevor once again. Trevor taunts Drew before proceeding with this match against Gao. Gao initially gains the upper hand, but Trevor resorts to his dirty fighting techniques and injures Gao. With Gao pinned against the ropes, Trevor demands a match against the "American Shaolin". Drew rises, but sits down again, refusing to fight Trevor on the principle of non-violence and selflessness. Infuriated, Trevor continues to beat up Gao and hurls him out of the ring. Encouraged by Master San De, Drew finally enters the ring to fight Trevor. Trevor immediately uses dirty tricks again by pantsing Drew and exposing his white boxer shorts to the crowd of spectators. But Drew prevails and even offers his hand to the defeated Trevor. The crowd voices their support for Shaolin, and Master San De declares that "this is the future of Shaolin".

Cast

Production

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References

  1. "King of the Kickboxers 3". EzyDVD. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2012-07-09.