MonsterHunter

From self-important start to self-important finish, this movie runs on all cylinders, managing to tackle every single social ill of the early 70s that people pretended to care about. Vietnam, women’s rights, Indian rights, environmentalism, alternative education, bigotry, and half-breed green berets that try to reconnect with their Indian heritage, while practicing a unique mix of pacifism and whoop-ass. Read More »

The mark of a successful movie is how it affects you on a personal level. Did you pick up any new catchphrases? Were your beliefs challenged or even altered? Was there a moment in the film that set you on a different course in your life? I’ve seen lots of movies like this. Top Gun made me want to join the Navy, fly planes, and date Kelly McGillis. Hoosiers made me think that maybe short, slow farm kids from the schools who never had a chance could compete with all those big city high school basketball teams with shiny shorts. And those Naked Gun movies convinced me of O.J.’s innocence (come on, could Nordberg harm a fly, let alone lop the heads off of a couple of folks?). But it was The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin that caused me to chuck my old life and run away to join a Shaolin temple in an effort to work my way up from the first chamber up to number 35. After this movie kicked my ass so bad that I had to write this standing up, I was fully prepared to devote the entire weekend to training my mind and body in the ways of these ancient monks. Read More »