SWORDSMAN
- Mon, Nov 30
Director: King Hu, Raymond Lee Wai-man, Tony Ching Siu-Tung, Tsui Hark Run Time: 117 min. Release Year: 1990
Starring: Cecilia Yip Tung, Fennie Yuen Kit-ying, Jacky Cheung Hok-yau, Sam Hui, Sharla Cheung Man
This dizzying wuxia whirlwind revived the genre for the Nineties and paved the way for a new wave of high-flying swordplay spectaculars (including two sequels). Initiated by legendary filmmaker King Hu though ultimately completed by a team of directors led by producer Tsui Hark, SWORDSMAN is crammed with incident even by the standards of the genre. The breathless plot follows a good-natured young warrior (Sam Hui, ACES GO PLACES) who’s drawn into the intrigue surrounding a stolen scroll containing supernatural secrets. Despite its tumultuous production, SWORDSMAN proves an intoxicating blend of Hark’s kinetic style and Hu’s touch of zen.