Blade of Fury
Director: Sammo Hung
Year: 1993
Rating: 8.0
An excellent sword
fighting movie that makes a real effort to construct the action around a
very interesting plot. At times perhaps a bit talkie and slow, but by developing
the characters and the plot it pays off with some very intense painful moments.
In the opening sequence, a nationalistic Chinese group called the Black Flag
Troop attack an occupying Japanese encampment. With only swords against the
modern armaments of the Japanese (this is towards the end of the 19th century),
this heroic group is nearly wiped out. Only their leader Brother Wu (Yang
Fan) escapes and as he rides off he exclaims "the past country is no longer
our country. We have no home. Where can I live in such an enormous world"
and he dramatically leaps over a cliff into the chasm below.
A few years later in a small town in the
provinces, a government official, Ti Lung, and his assistant Nine Catties
(Cynthia Khan) get involved in a skirmish between some thieves and the Chinese
Army. Brother Wu who has become a blacksmith in the town turns up to help
the army. The three of them along with two members of the army decide to
go to Peking where over time they become fast friends. Troubles come when
Ti Lung wants to reform the government and the friends have to choose sides.
This leads to a final deadly fight. In this film there are some painful scenes
- one in particular that is gripping in its pacing and outcome. The action
though ferocious is unfortunately often sped up a notch too much so that
at times it appears unrealistic and ridiculous – though at other times it
is fabulous. Sammo Hung who directs also has a small fighting cameo as a
jail guard. Rosamund Kwan also has a small role.
