REVIEW:
This light-hearted comedy proves to be Angela Mao's best showcase film as she dominates the screen in nearly non-stop fights throughout.

Jackie Chan, who directed the action has an obvious influence on the tone. Although the film contains the prerequisite revenge plot, DANCE OF DEATH rarely takes itself seriously and features numerous puns and spoofs from references to the One-Armed Swordsman with Mao sporting a basket hat to character names such as "No. 1 Roc" of The Hundred Bird clan. There is even a Blake Edward's PINK PANTHER reference as a kung fu style with accompanying Henry Mancini music. Being one of her few funny roles, Mao really hams it up, combining an intense physical performance with a charmingly spunky persona.

While there is plenty of action, there is little in the way of plot even by genre standards. After Fei Fei (Mao) talks two kung fu masters who have been feuding over whose skill is better into training her, she breezes through the training sequences. From that point on, the three encounter key members of The Hundred Birds and Fei Fei defeats each one in turn on her way to the school's leader. All the while, she deceives her two teachers into thinking that her fights are solely for the purpose of determining which of their stances are better. Personally, I was frustrated by the fact that she also deceives everyone into thinking she is a man throughout the entire film. While its common practice in kung fu film for a woman to dress as a man and not be recognized, I kept expecting her to be "discovered" at the last moment which would have been a fun addition.

Fans of female butt-kickers, Jackie Chan-like screwball comedy, and classic kung fu conventions will surely enjoy this film. Otherwise, a weak story and a large amount of decent but not extraordinary kung fu might bore more casual viewers.