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Tsui Siu Keung, Kao Hsiung, Ka Sa Fa, Norman Chu, Damian Lau ... see more see more... , Flora Cheung , Casanova Wong , Sui Keung

Even prior to becoming a recognizable name with such superior entertainments as A Chinese Ghost Story, visionary filmmaker Ching Siu-tung directed this spectacularly effects-laden action-fantasy. Alon... read more read more...g with the same year's Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain, the techniques employed here paved the way for the extravagant spectacles which soon came to dominate Hong Kong cinema. The plot concerns a martial arts contest between China and Japan which was held once every ten years during the Ming dynasty. Set in the days leading up to one such contest, the Chinese fighter Bo Ching-wen (Damian Lau) and a Japanese contestant, Lord Hashimoto (Norman Tsui), discover that their nations have conspired to fix the contest. It seems that a local martial arts master who believes that his daughter should be China's official contestant has conspired with a villain posing as a monk to kidnap the top fighters in the competition. The fake monk commands a team of skilled ninjas who commit the abductions -- in one memorable scene swooping down on their victim on silent kites -- and it is up to Bo and Hashimoto to set matters right. The plot itself, however, is merely a backdrop for an array of thrilling fight scenes and entertaining special-effects set pieces which are all the more impressive for being among the first of their kind in Hong Kong cinema. Flora Cheung and Eddy Ko co-star. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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79% liked it

2,167 ratings

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Siu-Tung Ching, Casanova Wong, Damian Lau, Flora Cheung, Norman Chu, Sui Keung, Tony Ching Siu Tung

Release Date: January 1, 1982

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DVD Release Date: August 29, 2000

Stats: 143 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (143)

  • DragonEyeMorrison
    June 27, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Rad-tastic and fun as hell old school wuxia that goes straight to the point. Typicall plot about secret papers, your usual tournament or the like and what not. It's still a fun ride from beginning to end, never getting dull and with some of the most creative and delirious sword f... read moreight sequences that has been put into film. Heck, even with all the sillyness going around, the main focus of the story is quite well told, showing the motivations of the two main characters in a very convincing way. You will go for the ninjas, but you will stay for the story...and the ninjas.
  • kenstachnik
    July 29, 2007
    kenstachnik
    Awesome little hk classic. Chinese vs Japanese Styles...exploding ninjas...crazy voltron burrowing ninjas...naked lady ninjas...the list goes on and on
  • lesleyanorton
    January 14, 2011
    lesleyanorton
    Chinese Shaolin monk and Japanese samurai warriror battle it out in this confusing (at first) and pretty silly in places story set in the MIng dynasty. The pace is all over the place, like a car on a cold morning, but luckily, every time it threatens to stall, in come a bunch of ... read moreexploding ninjas to the rescue.

  • cacutshaw
    February 14, 2007
    cacutshaw
    A Shaolin vs Samurai, to the death! Ninjas galore and a fun story about honour (what else?) with some great imagery. Plus a suprising amount of wacky violence. This is a goodun.
  • undeadfeature
    August 14, 2008
    undeadfeature
    An amazing martial arts epic. Everything is so over the top and stylistic it passes all expectations. There's giant ninjas, crazy sword work, and compelling action. This also boasts some of the best wire harness work I've ever seen on film. They just don't come much better than t... read morehis.
  • joyouskiss
    August 14, 2007
    joyouskiss
    Kind of left a bit to be desired, the ending wasn't quite realistic... However its just a minor inconvience. All in all the fight and swordsmanship scenes are cool.
  • LamestGuyEver
    May 20, 2007
    LamestGuyEver
    Ninja in the air! Ninja underground! 20-foot-tall Ninja who morph into naked hot chicks! If you've got a case of beer and a night to kill, this movie will suit you fine.
  • ozarksavage1977
    January 8, 2007
    ozarksavage1977
    Shaolin vs samurai. Some nice fights, great wire work and a naked lady ninja. Would that be a ninjette?

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Critic Reviews

John J. Puccio
January 4, 2004
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

I went into the film convinced it was going to be just another bloody, mindless muddle. I came away not only impressed, but more respectful of the genre. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 21, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

July 30, 2003
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Click to read the article Full Review

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