Xiao ao jiang hu zhi: Dong Fang Bu Bai (1992)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

Siu-Tung Ching
Stanley Tong

Writers:

Louis Cha (novel)
Tin-suen Chan (writer)

Release Date:

25 March 1992 (South Korea)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy

Plot:

With an entirely new set of actors, this movie continues the story from Swordsman (1990). Blademaster...

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts | Warrior | Swordsman | Messiah | Betrayal

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Jet Li	...	Ling Wu Chung
Brigitte Lin	...	Asia the Invincible (Dong Fang Bu Bai)
Michelle Reis	...	Kiddo
Waise Lee	...	Hattori
Rosamund Kwan	...	Ren Ying Ying
Kar Lok Chin	...	Saru
Fennie Yuen	...	Blue Phoenix
Shi-Kwan Yen	...	Wu (as Yee Kwan Yan)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kwok Leung Cheung	...	Eunuch Hong
Shun Lau	...	Zen
Chi Yeung Wong	...	Interpreter
Wah Yeung
On-on Yu	...	Cici

Also Known As:

Siu ngo gong woo ji: Dung Fong Bat Baai (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Swordsman II (Hong Kong: English title)
The Legend of the Swordsman (USA) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

107 min (Hong Kong version) | 99 min (US version)

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | Japanese | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R

Company:

Film Workshop

Trivia:

Was the highest grossing film in China for 1992.

Quotes:

Asia the Invincible: Ling, it is due to my love for you which is why I am not fighting at my full strength but yet you try your very best to hurt me?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ying xiong: Cause - The Birth of Hero (2002) (V)

Hyperkinetic fantasy actioner

You know it's going to be a wild ride when bodies are being chopped in half five seconds into the film. The manic pace of this film never lets up, the assault of flashing swords, flying bodies, snakes, needles, throwing stars, whips, needles and kitchen sinks (all right, not really, but I think you get my point) is almost too much to absorb all in one sitting. But what really makes the film is the striking performance by Brigitte Lin as the villain. She's fast becoming my favourite HK actress, and her wicked performance here is a big reason why. Her character is so captivating that the next "Swordsman" film was apparently centered around her character. The only letdown is that for the bulk of the film, she's dubbed (with a male voice), but since that's integral to the plot, I'll let it slide. For fans of HK fantasy/action films, this is very much worth your while.