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  • Warning: Spoilers
    One of Chor Yuen's last 'martial world' stories for Shaw. A far cry from the quality of the ones he was making 6-7 years previously and there's a cheat at the beginning with clips of Ti Lung, David Chiang and Alexander Fu Sheng making you think this is going to be an all-star collaboration. Instead we're stuck with Tony Liu in a story about the quest for an antidote and the usual betrayal and plotting that takes place en route.

    Yuen appears to have been smoking a fair bit of opium during production because that's the only reason I can find for the drug-inducted garish visuals and quirky FX work. The colour scheme is spot on but the film is let down by awful costumes and generally lacklustre fight choreography, although Yuen Wah is always welcome. Some reliable actors in support including Lo Lieh and Sun Chien, but everyone present has done better work and it only springs into life right at the end.
  • In this film, there are 5 main clans ruling the martial world, each representing one of the 5 elements - fire, metal, water, wood and earth. Each year they hold a martial arts competition to decide which one of the 5 clans will rule the world. The story is centered around one of these tournaments, as a catastrophe arises when an evil samurai killer shows up 49 days before the start and tries to assassinate the current leader who happens to be from the Water clan.

    This movie ranks up there with all the other excellent Yuen Chor adaptations of Ku Long novels, such as "Killer Clans" and "Magic Blade". I don't think I have ever seen a Shaw Brothers movie with the word "Sword" in the title, that wasn't great. If you are a wuxia fan, this is a must watch. It has all the elements that make a good wuxia film: superb fight choreography and fantastic techniques; engaging storyline and plot; great sets, wardrobe and photography. You won't be disappointed.