Shadowless Sword: Viewer Comments

"Shadowless Sword" is another great entry from Korea, a country that has spent the new millennium really carving out their place in the Asian film world. The story is basically just like "King Ralph", except Peter O' Toole has to protect John Goodman from assassins before he can get back to Buckingham Palace and install a bowling alley in the royal bedchamber. Okay, so it's a little different than that. But it is an "escort the VIP" movie.

SS is from the same director that gave us "Bichunmoo", another fantastic film. It has a great cast from films like "Guns and Talks" and "Arahan". SS is a swordplay epic. For the laymen, it would be in the same vein of a "Crouching Tiger" or a "Hero" or "House of Flying Daggers". Period piece, acrobatic wire-fu, lots of swordplay. And while it may not have the budget, star power, and exposure of the previously mentioned films, it can absolutely hold its own against them.

The acting is spot on. The story, while not anything new, is still very engaging. And the action is certainly well worth the watch. Although not quite as graceful as some of its HK counterparts, the wire work is creative and integrated well into the sequences. The visual approach is stylish without being over-the-top. And it does have a great score, too.

Fans of Asian swordplay movies would be wise to give this one a look. It doesn't have the depth of story and character that those looking for something more in the drama category are looking for. And while the action is great, it's not wild and insane like a Kitamura movie or a Hark film, and certainly not as blood-filled. The action sequences would be considered reserved compared to how those guys work. I personally don't think that this film would be attractive to the hardcore Asian film fans. So if you're looking for a good, solid swordplay epic that is subtle and understated while being quite entertaining and action-oriented, this would be a fine choice.

Ridiculously over-hyped flick that is smothered and covered in heaping portions of nothing special. A truly bland film that sacrifices substance for style. Not a good film on many levels with poor angles and editing for the fight and action sequences. There seem to be many reviewers out there with very little knowledge about Asian films and even less knowledge of martial arts, reviewing these movies, telling people good movies are bad movies and bad movies are classics. This is not fair to the consumers who don't know any better and expect a knowledgable opinion about these films but instead read reviews by children or under-experienced "critics" with very limited exposure to the culture. If this is the best Korean movie you have seen, you haven't seen many. If this is the best martial arts movie that you have seen, then you haven't seen any. Its predecessor, "Bichunmoo", was ten times better. Don't waste your money. Instead check out "Seven Swords" or "Azumi" if you want something in this ballpark but done much better and with higher overall quality.

This movie has lots of fights, I mean a LOT. From the beginning to the end. And all of them are good, there's not even one fight I don't like. Especially the lead actress from "Arahan"--she is just amazing to watch.

The only letdown of this film is the ending. It's a complete waste. The last fight is the only fight I did not enjoy. It's just like done by computer, then that's it, finish. I was wondering what the ????? Plus the ending could be better.

"Shadowless Sword" is an excellent movie. It could be a lot better if they create a better final, and a simple ending. Definitely worth your money, properly the best martial arts movie after "Tom Yum Goong". Highly recommended!!!!!