REVIEW:
Pressured by the Manchu government, the magistrate of Lung Wei Village (Lo Lieh) enlists the aid of the Four Dragons to squelch a rebel uprising led by Chu Har Ming. The Four Dragons must discover the true identity of Chu Har Ming, uncover a traitor amongst them, and put an end to the Ching rebellion.

Uninspiring fights, a muddled plot, and a failed attempt at self-parody are actually overshadowed by the absolutely horrendous final battle that features the so-called "99 Sword Stroke" which is more akin to cheap fireworks than martial arts.

First to contend with is the plot. A relatively simple theme of hired kung fu masters fighting a group of criminal rebels becomes burdened with the introduction of three other characters also fighting the rebels. The star of the film is actually Polly Shian Kuan who spends most of the film dressed as a man and nobody can tell otherwise, including a female barmaid who falls for her. The situation becomes a love triangle as Polly's character, Chan Qwan Tung falls in love with one of the other fighters trying to stop Chu Har Ming. During all this, the Four Dragons are trying to figure out which one of the four is a traitor while regularly encountering Chu Har Ming who looks suspiciously like the tavern owner. Have I lost you yet?

The film seems to run dry near the end as Chu Har Ming is easily drawn out into the open by Chan Qwan Tung and her two companions. A strange ritual dealing with the whole yin/yang, male/female energy featuring some dismally cheap special effects is topped by the first appearance of the great "99 Sword Stroke," a multi-sectioned sword that when assembled fires the sections like rockets at it's targets. We finally get the Scooby Doo/Sherlock Holmes style ending explaining that all the events prior were carefully planned to foil Chu Har Ming. And he would have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for that skunk hat (don't ask) and the 99 Sword Stroke.

While the intended humor in the film was typically cheesy, the film did provide some genuine laughs thanks to the goofball dubbing and a few creative stunts involving china (the dinnerware, not the country). The video and audio is acceptable with no glaring faults save for some cropping that occasionally cuts out some of the action on the sides of the screen.

99 Cycling Swords is an extremely average film with nothing to distinguish it from the pack and plenty to complain about. The great Lo Lieh is wasted in this picture and no other actors stand out. With weak kung fu action, an overly complex and contrived plot, and lame visual effects the film will certainly disappoint most viewers.