THE DEADLY BREAKING SWORD feels by the plot description very similar to the 'martial world' tales put out by Chor Yuen in the late 1970s, but in the hands of Sun Chung it's something very different in scope and feel. Certainly the trappings and the action and the costumes are all very similar to those seen in Yuen's movies, but Chung delivers a dark psychological drama here with a greater depth of character intensity than other plot-focused adventures. Ti Lung plays one of his darkest heroes, a skilled fighter who excels in murdering rival champions, while Alexander Fu Sheng lightens the mood with one of his goofy turns. The plot isn't in-depth but it does feature a wealth of character roles for the likes of Ku Feng, Shih Szu, Lily Li and Michael Chan Wai-Man. The action is bloody and brutal. It's not perfect, there being a long lull in the middle where nothing much happens, but it certainly picks up for a garishly violent climax.
Review of The Deadly Breaking Sword
