A kung-fu manual known as the Sacred Scroll is stolen from the Emperor's library. An army detachment is sent to recover it. Meanwhile, a young swordsman and his fellow disciple are accidentally drawn into the chaos.
Direction
Four auteurs somehow birth cohesive beauty from creative warfare.
Cinematography
Bamboo forest fights that make Crouching Tiger look like a rehearsal.
Stunts
Wirework so preposterous it invents its own physics.
Director
King Hu
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
King Hu quit mid-production after clashing with Tsui Hark, leaving the younger directors to finish his footage — the tension actually improves the film's unpredictability.
The Sacred Scroll's martial arts technique is based on real Taoist internal alchemy texts, because even fake kung-fu needed homework in 90s Hong Kong.
HK
TW
