| A dizzying, fast paced Wuxia spectacle made in Taiwan (schlockmeister Chu Yen-Ping was the executive producer and has even been credited with the direction elsewhere) that I recommend visiting a second time because it's not easy to be prepared for the assault that comes at you during a virgin viewing, mainly referring to Ching Siu-Tung's action choreography. Centering around a group of childhood friends turned assassins in the martial arts world, director Michael Mak (Sex And Zen) has a focus, just not the greatest on this story that benefits the most from Michelle Yeoh's fine performance as a conflicted woman in this world. The star of the show is however Ching Siu-Tung's mentioned contribution and his team is in top form here. While the editing of the action leaves a little to be desired, the outrageous (and gory) high flying concepts here are some of the best during the 90s streak in the genre. In particular Tony Leung Chiu-Wai's human arrow technique has to be seen to be believed. A bravura fight in a bamboo forest would of course later be echoed by Ching in House of Flying Daggers. Co-starring Joey Wong, Donnie Yen, Elvis Tsui, Tok Chung-Wa and Taiwanese singer Jimmy Lin. The latter being a grating inclusion because it's purely designed to appeal commercially.
The Hong Kong print ends rather abruptly, leaving out the actual downbeat fate of a few of the characters. The Taiwanese version was available on dvd as Comet, Butterfly & Sword and featured the full ending. Tai Seng's US dvd includes it as an extra but "blesses" the feature Cantonese track (that is just as suitable to watch with) with a 5.1 remix. The Ku Long novel the film is based on was also made at Shaw Brother's in 1976, as Killer Clans (directed by Chor Yuen). The John Charles book The Hong Kong Filmography 1977-1997 also discloses the fact that Chu Yen-Ping recycled sets, costumes and footage for his Slave Of The Sword (also in 1993). |
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