BLADE OF FURY (1992) back to main
Directed by Sammo Hung Kam-Bo starring Ti Lung, Cynthia Khan (Yeung Lai-Ching), Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam, Ngai Sing, Yip Win-Cho, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo. 
Neo-classicist Kung-Fu epic, beautifully done on a high budget, with fine ensemble acting and - for once - a decently constructed screenplay. The plot involves the struggle between reformists and conservatives during the late 19th century's Ching dynasty. I don't know how much of this history lesson is authentic, but BLADE OF FURY sure takes itself very seriously. Almost no HK-brand humour (except by a very silly Cynthia Khan) in this one, only great stuntwork, solid direction, frequently beautiful photography and an emotionally complex plot, circling around matters of loyalty and friendship.
Conflicts between the Chinese and the
Japanese have never been very
civilised, and this one is no exception.
Rather vague connection to the plot,
actually, but a gut-wrenching
massacre to open the film.
A much more civilised conflict here, or
so it seems. Our hero (Ngai Sing?!)
holds his own at a large-scale
martial-arts tournament.
No, this isn't little Wong Fei-Hung (watch
IRON MONKEY for that), but our hero's son, practising his martial-arts along
with his father's disciples.
He's not bad.
I wish I knew who this actor was.
He plays a Ching government official
torn between the loyalty to the
conservative governor and his
own better judgement.
He does so brilliantly.
There is a sub-plot concerning
Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam as our hero's
former lover, but it's none-too-convincing.
A rare moment of tranquillity in the
otherwise action-packed drama
of BLADE OF FURY. And a beautiful
still it certainly is.
Acupuncture it is not.
Dying it is.