Battle of Shaolin is the second film in Crash Cinema's P5 line of DVDs that I've had a chance to check out and color me impressed. While once again this disc is by no means reference quality in any sense of the word, Crash Cinema sure has done their darndest in giving us a respectable edition of a most enjoyable martial arts film. It's great to see all of these unsung gems of the martial arts world surfacing on DVD and Battle of Shaolin is certainly no exception.

Sacrificing storyline and characterization is quite often a forgivable offence here at MAP, forgivable if we're given something in its place. Many films we review here on MAP fall into this category, they're just fun flicks plain and simple. Flicks that contain high levels of disturbing exploitation or mind numbing action can be enjoyed on many levels, just as a bad film can be enjoyed on different levels than that of a good film. Battle of Shaolin may not have a whole lot to offer by way of meaningful social commentary but if Battle of Shaolin is one thing and one thing only... that would be a heck of a lot of fun.

A struggling wagon driver is commissioned by a thief to aid in a robbery of a silver stash. Also out for the silver is a rival gang led by the lovely Angela Mao as well as another big bad who is preferential to the old flying guillotine (my personal fave). This is pretty much where our story ends and the fun definitely begins. We're treated to multiple set ups and altercations that lead to some fabo fight set pieces. High flying martial arts action and some truly great choreography are just a few of the highlights to be found within. The flick doesn't disappoint once, right up until the finale which is truly spectacular beyond words (for more reasons than one), gotta love that flying guillotine!

A decent blend that contains moments of lighthearted comedy and highflying martial arts action that just fills the frame. Battle of Shaolin is nothing but a joy to watch and once again a fine example of what make the martial arts film so much fun.

Quality wise Crash Cinema gets high marks on this one. Yes there are heavy doses of grain and print damage throughout, but considering the age and rarity of said title this still remains a respectable transfer. The widescreen framing looks accurate and colors while appearing a bit washed out from time to time still manage to hold up quite well. In reference to the print damage, some scenes fare better than others, but there are usual instances of specs and light scratches pretty much throughout.

Audio is presented in a respectable mono English dub. Not much in the way of hiss or background noise is to be found here (which is alays a plus). Dialogue fares quite well also. Nothing here to blow the roof off the place but it certainly does get the job done.

Extras are limited to a few flmograaphies and some production notes. Considering the budget pricing and rarity of the title at hand, we'll survive with the lack of extras.

Overall I'd have to say that Crash Cinema has really stepped up to the plate with this one. This is one hell of an entertaining flick and the quality of the release really serves the film quite well. If you need a cure for that kung fu itch, Battle of Shaolin is more than a hell of a way to scratch it.

Battle of Shaolin is part of Crash Cinema's P5 collection. It's available as an individual title or as part of a 5-disc DVD box set. This film is labeled as 1 of 5. If you purchase all 5 titles, you are eligible to earn a discount on a new gaming accessory that allows you to control your gaming experience with an interactive glove. For more info on all of this feel free to check out Crash Cinema online by clicking here!