REVIEW:
Made in the same year as his other swordsman style classic "Deadful Melody," Yuen Biao stars in this impressive, seminal classic.

Directed very differently by Cheung Hoi-Ching, Yuen Biao plays a chief constable on the tail of the mysterious Golden Snake Man who also appears to be a killer, (played very impressively by Danny Lee). Unlike most one-dimensional 'bad guys' who are in most movies, director Cheung Hoi-Ching masterfully weaves a complicated back-story of the Golden Snake Man's (Danny Lee) past. While Danny Lee's immaculate acting gives his character a three-dimensional shape. Also, director Cheung Hoi-Ching surrounds Yuen Biao with a dynamic cast filled with wonderfully varied characters played brilliantly by the cast (which includes Ng Man-Tat, Anita Mui and the impressive Man Cheung). The two love stories between the two main protagonists (Yuen Biao and Danny Lee) are both diverse and complicated.

Although some people have complained that the story-line is too difficult to follow, this is probably because the current flow of films are very brainless (unfortunately), so nowadays most people complain when an movie which appeals to a person of an IQ of over 5 comes out.

While made in the same year as the wonderful "Deadful Melody," these two swordsman style movies are very different. This movie contains a haunting soundtrack and an immaculate performances from the whole cast. The direction and the cinematography itself is nothing short of wonderful.

What director Cheung Hoi-Ching does so masterfully is surround himself with all of the above and a beautifully orchestrated fight at the end. And unlike most swordsman movies, "The Sword Stained with Royal Blood" has a huge diverse universe of characters all with a back story, with an intelligent storyline and a bitter-sweet denouement with the love story between Yuen Biao and Man Cheung. "The Sword Stained with Royal Blood" is an uncommon piece of swordsman style movie. Assured, intelligent, patient, meditative and different.