The Blade (1995)

Tsui’s remake of SB’s The One-Armed Swordsman (1967) isn't his usual kind of wire-fu makeover; he simply adds his vision to an existing story, creating a layer of tragedy and gritty determination that feels like a brutal fist in the gut. It even leaves a lingering ache.
His camera blitzes through shadowy dwellings and hearts set ablaze by vengeful longings. When one person gets what they want, another person is left torn apart.
It’s a great film with masterful editing but is perhaps much too bleak thematically to be enjoyed often.

3½ links in the chain out of 5

The Blacksheep Affair (1998)

aka: Another Meltdown

I didn't give a damn about anyone in this shite Hollywood-inspired action flick. There's a bad guy who thinks he’s a Japanese Jesus. He goes up against a Chinese cop who got himself reposted to an East European country called Lavernia (huh?) as punishment for doing a good job and saving lives. Yes, and no, I didn't make an error.
A brief reference to the Tiananmen Square massacre is used in an attempt to give the characters a tragic past. It didn't work. Nothing worked. All of the principal cast have much better films on their résumé.

1½ stretchers out of 5

Once Upon a Time in China 5 (1995)

OUaTiC Part 5 is a reunion of sorts with Porky Wing, Bucktooth So, 13th Aunt, 14th Aunt, Clubfoot, Foon and Wong Kei-ying all sharing screen space! The only one still missing is Jet Li, meaning Vincent Zhao plays Wong Fei-hung for the second time. Tsui Hark resumes directing. Yuen Bun goes back to fight choreography duties.
Despite being spread thin over the many characters, and again lacking the weighty politics of the early entries, the plot is richer than part 4.

3 kung-fu pirates out of 5

Once Upon a Time in China 4 (1993)

Jet Li left the OUaTiC series to go make Fong Sai Yuk. Rosamund Kwan also left. Vincent Zhao took over as Wong Fei-Hung. Yuen Bun, who served as martial arts choreographer on the third film, took the director chair so that Tsui could write and produce only.
Can a film series survive that kind of disruption? Surprisingly, yes! If it wasn't Wong Fei-Hung I'd have my doubts, but the character endures even if the star changes. A familiar supporting cast, familiar locations and the now synonymous music all help it feel genuine. What lets it down is having a story that needed more emotion.

3 coloured lanterns out of 5

Green Snake (1993)

A Chinese martial arts/romance/fantasy film based on the ancient legend of Madame White Snake, which is reportedly well over 1000 years old.
This version sees two female snakes take on human form and in so doing learn what it is to love as both human and snake.
It could have benefited from having ten minutes shaved from its middle section, but as a Tsui Hark fan it was great to see him use colour and light so abundantly. I even enjoyed his over-reliance on colour filters as they gave the world a wispy, ethereal quality that suited the story perfectly.

3½ trouser snakes out of 5

The Legend of Fong Sai-yuk (1993)

aka: The Legend / Fong Sai-yuk

Jet Li took what he learned as Wong Fei Hung and applied it to another Chinese folk hero, the titular Fong Sai-yuk. He plays it strictly naive. His mom kicks ass. His dad is the odd one out.
The comedy is an unusual kind of Chinese slapstick that may not hit the mark with a large portion of a Western audience.

There's a kung fu contest that has to be seen to be believed; it's both a choreographer's nightmare and an unforgettable triumph. You’ll be screening that scene to friends for months.

4 unconventional uses for chairs out of 5