A talented young swordsman has beaten many veterans before his inherited martial arts manual gets stolen. After encountering his first defeat in life, in despair, he comes across a gorgeous girl, daughter of the head of a mysterious sect.
Direction
Chor Yuen's candy-colored Shaw Brothers soundstage fever dream
Costume
Qing Qing's wardrobe deserves its own credit line
Practical Effects
Wirework so dreamy it defies physics elegantly
Director
Chor Yuen
Derek Yee
Ding Peng
Wang Yong
Liu Ruo Song
Liza Wong Ming-Chuen
Qing Qing
Meg Lam Kin-Ming
Ke Xiao
Elliot Ngok Wah
3rd Master Xie Xiao Feng
Norman Tsui Siu-Keung
Song Zhong
Johnny Wang Lung-Wei
Invincible Eagle
Ching Miao
Tung Fang Bu Bai
Eddie Koo Koon Chung
Master Suen
Austin Wai Tin-Chi
Swordsman in White in Prologue
Teresa Ha Ping
Tung's Wife
Helen Poon Bing-Seung
Nan Gong Feng Yan
Yang Chi-Ching
Master Nan Gong
Chan Shen
Robber with Coffin (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Adapted from Gu Long's novel, this embodies the 'new wuxia' movement—less historical duty, more psychological torment and romantic fatalism.
Derek Yee was primarily known as an actor at this point; his eventual directing career (including 2006's Protégé) makes his performance as a shattered swordsman eerily prescient.
HK
