Zhi zhuan yi jian

From about 1965 to 1985 the Shaw Brothers studio produced some of the most lavish & spectacular action films ever made. Many of them still stand up well to modern films, though there are obvious stylistic & choreography differences, they are not always 'advances'. In fact it is almost impossible to do action scenes as well (intricate long takes, suburb forms etc) due to the lack of fully trained talent.

This film is one of the last Shaw's productions- and also one of its best, up there with gang Master, Lady Assassin, Long Road to Gallantry, B*stard Swordsman & the like.. with a few quibbles.

The story is fantastic, simple yet gripping, a true homage & culmination of tales set in the 'Martial World' of WuXia/Swordplay Myths. In some ways a riff on the Jimmy Wang Yu gem of obsessive misery THE SWORD (1971).

This film makes a great double bill with DUEL FOR THE DEATH as well.

The direction is excellent & dynamic, emphasising a lot of dark humor without resorting to slapstick & gurning.

The fight chorography in this film is as good as it gets... however..... a few of the very early fights are far too undercranked (ie sped up during filming & not a post production trick, hence why they may have misgauged the resulting speed) which utterly ruins about 3 & a half brief fights. Hence a 9/10 , tho it should be 9 & a half.

Thankfully they soon settle down into some of the most impressive action you will ever see.

The change of pace halfway through is a refreshing masterstroke for possibly all of us familiar with the genre, viewers unfamiliar with the conventions of the genre may be disappointed & somewhat confounded by it.