Patrick Tam’s dazzling directorial debut is a take on the classic wuxia adventure, starring Adam Cheng and Norman Chui. Presented on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration.
“The Sword” is available now as part of the Eureka Classics range. And of course you can also find it on Amazon!
Trailer
Cast
Actor and Cantopop singer Adam Cheng Siu-chau stars as “Li Mu Ran/ Li Mak-Jan “. A popular TV actor, Cheng also appeared on the big screen in films such as, “Shaolin vs Wu Tang”, “Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain”, “Drunken Master 3”, and the “Fong Sai Yuk” films.
Shaw Brothers veteran Norman Chui Siu-keung stars as “Lian Huan”, a highly skilled samurai swordsman. Chui has featured in dozens of classics such as “Shaolin Mantis”, “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”, “Duel to the Death”, “Tiger on the Beat” and “Wing Chun“. Chui appeared in the 2016 3D blockbuster “Sword Master” and the Chinese hit “Taoist Priest”. Chui died from esophageal cancer in Beijing, on 1st September 2024, at the age of 73.
Taiwanese actress Jade Hsu, sister of screen legend Hsu Feng, appears as “Hua Ying Zhi/ Hua Ying Chih”.
Veteran actor Tien Feng plays “Hua Qian Shu”. In a career spanning over forty years, he acted in or directed over 120 films. He is best known to martial arts fans for his roles in movies such as “King Boxer”, “Fist of Fury“, “The Fate of Lee Khan”, “The Young Master”, and “Miracles”.
Only appearing in a small number of credited roles, including “Magnificent Butcher”, JoJo Chan Kei-Kei plays “Xiao Yu/ Hsiao Yue”. Also only having a small number of credits to her name, such as “Last Hurrah for Chivalry“, Bonnie Ngai Chau-Wah plays “Yuen Chi”.
Popular Shaw Brothers and TVB actor Eddy Ko Hung stars as “Chen Tie Yi”. In a career stretching back to the 1960s, Ko has starred in films such as “The Invincible Iron Palm”, “The Thundering Mantis”, “The Bride With White Hair”, “The Postman Fights Back”, “Shaolin Drunkard”, “The Peacock King”, “Heroes Shed No Tears”, and many more.
He became popular with Chinese television audiences playing Master Huo Yuanjia in the 1995 TV version of “Fist of Fury”, that starred Donnie Yen as Chen Zhen. He will be familiar to worldwide film fans for his role as Grandpa Hong in “Lethal Weapon 4”, Matt Damon’s Hollywood blockbuster “The Martian”, and his cameo as a potential buyer in Jackie Chan’s “Rumble in the Bronx”.
Lee Hoi-Sang appears as “Chou Huan”. He is best known for his roles in “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin“, “Shaolin Challenges Ninja”, “The Incredible Kung Fu Master”, “The Young Master“, “The Prodigal Son“, “Project A“, “Shaolin and Wu Tang” and “Disciples of the 36th Chamber”, to name but a few.
Plot
THE SWORD Original Hong Kong Trailer
Believing that he is in possession of a cursed blade, the legendary swordsman Hua Qian Shu has retreated from the martial arts world to live in peaceful seclusion.
However, his retirement has done nothing to dampen his reputation; a young warrior, Li Mak-jan, wishes to challenge the master in order to test his own sword-fighting skill.
As Li searches for the reclusive Hua Qian Shu so that he might face him in combat, he finds himself entangled with old lovers and new rivals. Soon, it becomes apparent that the old master’s sword really might be cursed – and will, perhaps, bring nothing but tragedy to those who seek to wield it.
Action
The opening scene sees a sword-smith discussing the symbolic nature of a sword. Without saying it out loud, it’s a strong metaphor for the old adage, “You live by the sword, you die by the sword”.
The first sword duel takes place in an alleyway. The choreography is rapid and slick, featuring fencing style parries and thrusts. It’s captured with some equally rapid and slick camerawork. This is quickly followed by a beautifully shot duel on a wooden bridge in front of a waterfall.
Eddie Ko literally bursts into action through a wooden window to attack Adam Cheng. It kicks off a superb duel that sprinkles the excellent sword fighting with some cool somersaults.
THE SWORD “That’s enough!” Movie Clip
Having started with some pretty grounded fighting, the wirework usually associated with swordplay wuxia movies creeps in for a fight on a wooden tower. A countryside duel also ups the acrobatics and flying through the air, but all performed with a frenetic energy.
THE SWORD “Mak-yin agrees to save Chin-shu’s daughter” Movie Clip
The final act begins with a duel between Cheng and Ko that takes place at night in and around a traditional Chinese mansion. As with the rest of the film it is beautifully lit and filmed.
THE SWORD Li vs Lian Movie Clip
Adam Chang and Jade Hsu join forces to face off with Norman Chu for the final epic duel. The choreography features some excellent swordplay interspersed with some great acrobatics, all delivered at lightning speed, although the final blow is like something out of “Riki Oh: The Story of Ricky“!
Summary
“The Sword” is a beautifully filmed movie that certainly benefits from the excellent high definition restoration job. The sword duels are sublime and fans of the eighties-style wuxia genre will lap up the fight scenes.
The story delivers a morality tale on the consequences of an excess of ambition wrapped in the old adage of “living by the sword”.
The main cast deliver solid acting performances, keeping a lid on the melodrama, whilst maintaining nobility, chivalry, or villainy where required.
As a directorial debut, Patrick Tam delivers a sumptuous visual spectacle, elevating the genre to something a little more artistic, elements that would permeate his later work as editor on acclaimed films such as “Days of Being Wild” or “Ashes of Time”.
Extra features include “Forging Ahead”, with Wayne Wong discussing the wuxia genre and how the new wave reinvigorated it.
Andrew Heskins also discusses director Patrick Tam and his part in Hong Kong New Wave cinema. There are newly recorded audio commentaries from Asian film expert Frank Djeng, and also by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.
THE SWORD (Eureka Classics) Unboxing Video
Even though “The Sword” emerged at the outset of the “New Wave” revival of the wuxia genre, it has stood the test of time and is a worthy addition to the upper echelons of the long list of classics from that era.
Trivia
- Tang Tak-Cheung collaborated with Tony Ching Siu Tung to choreograph the fights.
- Patrick Tam’s directorial debut.
- Patrick Tam directed the 1987 film “Final Victory”, scripted by Wong Kar-wai. He edited the acclaimed films “Days of Being Wild” and “Ashes of Time”, as well as Johnnie To’s smash hit “Election”.
THE SWORD – Blu-ray – KUNG FU KINGDOM
