The Magic Blade

Contains cannibalism, exploding peacock feathers, ninjas who turn into trees, people getting chopped in half and blown up, crater-sized plot holes, nonsense proverbs, and a scene where one guy escapes death by having practiced for 20 years to move his sinuses by an inch. It's an absolutely stupid movie that makes Master of the Flying Guillotine feel underwhelming.

But at the same time, there's a sophistication to its dreamlike, fantasy feel in that it roots the martial arts/wuxia thing firmly in the enduring realm of myth and legend. There are twists and role reversals that make no sense other than to drive home the moral of the film, unlikely dialogue motifs, and some of the sets border on scenery porn. It's like watching a proverb play out.