Chu Liu Xiang zhi You ling shan zhuang

Another Shaw Brothers movie for Ti Lung, this is actually the third in a series of SENTIMENTAL SWORDSMAN stories. I should note that I haven't seen the first two instalments in the series, although I understand that they're not required viewing as there's not really any back story in this movie.

What we get is a convoluted story - one of those ones in which seemingly every character is busy double crossing the others, nobody can be trusted, and there are double and triple agents - and a multitude of action scenes shot in the inimitable Shaw Brothers style. Ti Lung plays the titular hero who is sent undercover into the 'Ghostly Village', which is occupied by various thieves and bandits, in order to uncover an assassination plot in which a local prince is doomed to die.

Although this isn't a supernatural film there are some spooky moments in it, such as a ghostly figure flying through the trees. It's largely a grounded production although the outlandish costumes and sets remain as impressive as ever. The action is invariably focused around swordplay and while it's not quite top-tier Shaw quality, it certainly makes the running time fly past. Lung is effortlessly cool and I was particularly gratified to see Lo Lieh playing something other than the usual stock villain. It's a bit too confusing in places to be truly great, but it's still engaging viewing.

This is one of the last of Yuen Chor's wuxia epics for the Shaw studios. While he created some better films during the 1970's this is certainly one of his best from 1980's.

Ti Lung once again reprises his role as the Sentimental Swordsman, although this time he's armed with an iron fan since he ditched the sword in a previous film. The film starts with the honest swordsman, in a surprising move, attacking the kindly Eighth Prince in his bedroom. The prince survives the attack and sends the best martial artists after Ti Lung. The swordsman flees to the legendary "Ghost Village" a place only inhabited by criminals. A mysterious stranger in black is also after Ti Lung. Ti Lung gets to the village but he finds himself in the middle of intrigue and spooky happenings.

Once again we have a parade of colorful and strange martial artists. One man has a mighty thumb of gold, another rings a bell that shakes trees. Characters regularly move around by jumping from one concealed trampoline to another. There's a big, well choreographed fight every six or seven minutes and the sets are over the top kitsch. In other words, it's a lot of fun. There's barely any connection to the previous Sentimental Swordsman films except that Ti Lung is the main character and characters related to characters from the previous films show up to kill the swordsman.

Good Chinese martial art fantasy. Enjoy it.