Seven Swords

Director: Tsui Hark

Action Directors: Stephen Tung, Lau Kar-Wing, Liu Chia-Liang & Hung Yan-Yan

Plot: Set in the Chang Dynasty, the practition of martial arts has banned, those who are found guilty will be decapitated. General Fire-Wind, from the past Dynasty has taken advantage of the new laws and formed a group of ruthless mercenaries who will kill everyone for a bounty.

Now with his sights on the small "Martial Village" Fire-Wind's only has one obstacle in his way, the Seven Swordsmen. The Seven Swordsmen are made up a executioner from the past dynasty, two villagers from Martial Village and four Swordsmen from Mount Heaven. The Swordsmen swear to protect the villagers from blood thirsty mercenaries. Even with this great advantage, they are still in trouble when the Swordsmen discover that their is a traitor amongst the villagers..

Review: I have to say I thought this movie straight out "Kicked Ass!". Tsui Hark can still make one hell of a film.

The cast is great, Liu Chia-Ling, Leon Lai, Donnie Yen & Charlie Yeung. Heck even Michael Wong makes an appearance as "The Duke". Sun Hong-Lei's character really reminded me of Ji Chun-Hua in Fong Sai-Yuk 2. Maybe just because their bald, he he. The final duel with Ji Chun-Hua and Leon Lai was great, sure there wasn't much fighting but they way it was filmed and the music was amazing. With Donnie Yen coming back to reclaim his sword during the duel was the icing on the cake!

There is also a good sub-plot with Donnie Yen's character and kidnapping Fire-Wind's slave "Green Pearl", a young Korean woman. He releases her from Fire-Wind's grip and tell's her she's free. Although she follows Donnie as her new master. She becomes the prime suspect when the villagers discover their's a traitor amongst them.

At first I was thinking that Charlie Yeung's character was a little annoying when she was crying during her introduction scene where Liu Chia-Liang's character is fleeing. But she settled down and got a rather good storyline about her sword and how she was unable to use it. All she needed though was for Leon Lai's character to teach her.

Final thoughts, an epic in my book. Good on ya Tsui Hark! Enjoy!

Highlights

• The Seven Swordsmen arriving at Fang's execution
• The too damn cool Swords
• Transience Sword vs. Fire-Wind
• Transience Sword teaching Heaven's Fall Sword
• Unleashed Sword vs. Kualo
• Unleashed Sword vs. Fire-Wind
• The subplot between Unleashed Sword & Green Pearl
• Fang's attempt to fight off the Traitor
• Michael Wong!

Letdowns

• I was expecting Kualo to last longer
• One or two plot holes

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.0