Comparison between the HD version by Celestial (main movie of the German Blu-ray by Shamrock Media) and the video version (bonus of the German Blu-ray by Shamrock Media)

7 "relevant" missing parts with a duration of 13 sec

Several additional master errors with a duration of less than 0.5 sec each were not listed in the report. As usual with Celestial restorations, there are plenty of framecuts that add up to a nearly 4 minute shorter runtime.

 

With Martial Arts of Shaolin, Jet Li completed a trilogy in 1986, with the first part of which, The Shaolin Temple, he had made his acting debut in 1982. Unlike its predecessors, which were directed purely by smaller studios, the film was co-produced by the famous Shaw Brothers studios, meaning that a significantly higher budget was available here. Decades later, however, this had an inglorious side effect for home theater fans: this Eastern was also massively "restored" by the Asian licensor Celestial Pictures with framecuts at the transition between the individual shots.

The HD master runs a full 4 minutes shorter, which was first released on German Blu-ray in July 2021 in the mediabook from Shamrock Media (under the German title Die Macht der Shaolin). Unlimited Amaray editions of the Blu-ray will be on sale starting November 19, 2021. Fortunately, however, the label has done everything right here: As a bonus, the "video version" without framecuts is also on board. It was recorded in 16:9 and looks relatively good, especially for a VHS source. On top of that, you'll find, as with the main film, optional English dubbing as well as the original Chinese audio. Everything in each case in the unadulterated mono form, no ugly upmixes.

But of course, the comparison is mainly about whether these 4 missing minutes have any relevance at all. Fortunately, this can be clearly denied. Except for a trivial spot at the beginning, no shot is completely missing. We have listed a few moments where at least one or more seconds of a shot were tightened at the beginning/end. But it's all totally irrelevant in the end. No missing violence tidbits, as in The New One-Armed Swordsman, for example, or missing dialogue with original synchro, as in The 14 Amazons. So you can watch the main HD version with a clear conscience, while purists can also choose the longer VHS version for the sake of completeness.

Runtimes are ordered as follows: German VHS in PAL / HD master in 25fps

The HD master starts with references to Celestial and Shaw Brothers. In the VHS version, Pearl River is referenced.
Not included in cut duration/amount.

HD version 22.8 sec longer

HD master by Celestial	Video version

01:07 / 00:46-00:48

Short additional close-up of feet on stairs.

1,2 sec

A minute and a half later, the credits diverge. In the video version, still with English subtitles.

HD master by Celestial	Video version

04:19 / 04:11-04:12

Basically just a frame shortening as throughout the movie, but mentioned here: Jet hits the tree longer and so you can see his already bloodied fists better here towards the end of the shot.

0,9 sec

31:19 / 32:13-32:15

A shot of the dragon dance is much longer.

1,8 sec

31:39 / 32:36-32:40

Here, the dragon at the bottom left/center of the image is running much longer to the right. The following closeup also a little earlier.

4,2 sec

38:34 / 39:55-39:56

A shot from above is longer, just before Jet joins the fray with fireworks.

1,8 sec

65:25 / 67:56-67:58

When switching from the outside view to the inside, where Jet is about to start his penalty, a little more than usual is lost again.

1,9 sec

84:17 / 87:38-87:39

One shot during the fight is a bit longer: at this moment the bad guy is stabbing towards the camera.

1,2 sec

The credits also again in Chinese vs English.

HD master by Celestial	Video version