Consummate Power

In the last years of the Ming Dynasty, Prince Fu and his son Lou-yang ran wild terrorizing the vassal state of Henan. Their only block was the 500 monk-soldiers protecting the Shaolin Temple. Under the pretense of an order from the Emperor, Prince Fu sent all 500 monk-soldiers away to fight bandits, leaving Shaolin Temple unprotected. Guang Ci had been training some of the young monks in martial arts. With the 500 monk-soldiers gone, Prince Fu planned his ambush and his army began surrounding the Shaolin Temple. Aware of Prince Fu's evil intentions, the young monks defend the temple with Tong Deng leading. Only his "Tong Zi Gong" can overwhelm Prince Fu's "Light Kicking" in this struggle for consummate power. Superb Wu Shu fights in the tradition of Jet Li's, Shaolin temple.

Directed by Hou Shih, Consummate Power leans on a strong ensemble — Zhang Long, Wang Li-Sha, Wong Hing-Yuk — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about action titles of 1984.