Rating:

Stars: Angela Mao, Hsu Feng, Roy Chiao, Pai Ying
Director: King Hu

1973, Hong Kong

 

The prince, Lee Khan (played by Bruce Lee's teacher in "Fist of Fury"), and his sister Waner (Hsu Feng) are looking for revolutionary plotters around the country. With corruption and terror they maintain their privilege. Soon they arrive at an inn where they start to suspect the workers.

 

A good plot and a very well done movie, well, if it's done by King Hu you know that before seing it. Full of beautiful landscapes and traditional costumes. There are very little fights and they're not that good, but if you're looking for good acting and plot you'll like it. Anyway, some (or most) parts of the movie feel a little slow cause it spends to much time at a canteen, but there are pretty exciting parts too.

This was also one of Samo Hung's first fight choreograph jobs and his style is quite different here.

There are lots of recognisable actors from Bruce Lee movies like the guy who plays the gang leader in "Big Boss" and the chubby guy from "Fist of Fury" and "Way of the Dragon", and of course Roy Chiao who I think is one of the best actors ever in the Hong Kong cinema.

It's the first time I see Pai Ying and he's a really good actor.

It also has some of the most beatiful kung fu girls ever, Angela Mao and Hsu Feng, but they never get to show their real skills.

 

The camerawork is beatiful and very thought-out and it looks like they've spent a lot of money in this film to make it just as King Hu wanted it to be. But, to tell you the truth it was a disappointment as I was expecting excellent swordplay. It's a good movie and I give it a 4, but remember that it's not much of a kung fu movie.

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