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 Duel to Death More at IMDbPro »Xian si jue (original title)

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8 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
A great intro to the wonderful world of kung fu film!, 30 January 2004
Author: insightstraight from The wilds of New Mexico

Beautiful, confusing, chaotic. Motivations hard for us westerners to understand. (The great combat is fought not for riches or territory, but only for honor.) Gleefully bends the laws of physics, and plays with your reason in the finest HK (Hong Kong) tradition.

I have shared this film with folks who had not previously experienced HK film, and they were instantly captivated. Or should I say captured. By the Ninjas.

Because -- this film's certainly got the Ninjas! Surf Ninjas! Sand Ninjas! Exploding Ninjas! Tree Ninjas! Flying Ninjas! Roof Ninjas! Giant Ninjas! Kite Ninjas! Naked Girl Ninjas! (Oh, that long-haired Naked Fu...)

Just as with life, every time things quiet down in this film, you may be sure the Ninjas will pop up to keep things lively.

Watch this and be captured. You have been warned.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Last of the Old School? Or, First of the New School?, 8 July 2006
8/10
Author: masercot from Manassas, Va

This was a good martial arts flick. There were good special effects, enjoyable fight sequences and decent acting; moreover, there was something that you don't see the Chinese movies from that era: A sympathetic Japanese character.

Not to say that the Japanese champion (played by Norman Chu) is a good person...far from it; but, he is honorable. He is also three dimensional. He is kind to children and not a thug. If you've seen martial arts movies with Japanese characters, you can understand how different this is.

If you already like Chinese Kung Fu movies, this one is worth an evening...

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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Swords clang and blood flows in this classic Hong Kong flick!, 18 January 2004
10/10
Author: Miyagis_Sweaty_wifebeater (sirjosephu@aol.com) from Sacramento, CA

Duel to the Death (1982) is Ching Siu-tung at his best! Classic Kung-Fu at it's best. See wire work and kinetic martial arts at it's best. The plot is old hat (China vs. Japan) but the action is pure eye candy! Ching Siu-tung went on to become on of the elite action directors in the Hong Kong Cinema (check out A Better Tomorrow II, The Killer and The Heroic Trio films and see why!) The movie was re-released in the United States but it's the cut version. I advise you to seek out the uncut Hong Kong version, you wont be disappointed!

You can see that this movie is still very influential. Even to this day film makers such as "Q" love this film.

Highly recommended!

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Great japan/china martial and philosophy confrontation !!, 19 April 1999
10/10
Author: Alexandre Bender (alex_bender83@hotmail.com) from Canada

This is one of the five best swordplay movies I have ever seen as it includes the contrast between two oriental countries: China and Japan.The story is summarized by: The greatest warrior of Japan comes to China to obtain a ''Duel to the death'' against China's greatest warrior: and this story leads to a series of superb sword confrontations showing each country's style of swordfighting. Ching siu-Tung does not only emphasizes on the action but also includes some nice elements that will become his trademark in terms of visual effects and camerawork. This one is a must-see for his many esthetic qualities and for the breathtaking swordfights!! 9.5/10

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5 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Great looking early film by Ching Siu Tung, 8 August 2002
8/10
Author: Bogey Man from Finland

Ching Siu Tung is among the most talented "wire fu" action and martial arts directors in the Hong Kong film industry. He has made such classics as A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy, Swordsman trilogy, Witch From Nepal and Heroic Trio 1 and 2 (with Johnnie To). Duel to the Death (1982) is among his very early directorial efforts (as far as I know, this was his FIRST film as a director), and this film shows his great talents and visual eye. The film tells about the traditional sword fight contest in which the best fighter of Japan and best fighter of China duel, and in most cases, to the death. In this film, these two sword masters become friends and soon they have other enemies to fight. The plot is not the most important thing in these movies. The great visuals and cinematic magic are the things which make these Orient films so unique compared to others.

The incredible color world is shown for the first time at the very beginning of the movie as the multi colored leaves and trees are in the peaceful countryside and temple. The colors are breathtakingly beautiful and captured very effectively on camera, which Ching is so talented to use. His angles and movements with the camera create a tension and intensity of its own, and just watch a film like Heroic Trio (1992) or Chinese Ghost Story (1987) and you know what I mean. He is equally brilliant as director as a cinematographer, and he works also as a stuntman in his/others' movies, too. There are couple of totally stunning images in this film, and they are as fantastic as in Ronny Yu's masterpiece Bride With White Hair (1993), starring Brigitte Lin. Bride's magic was created by shooting the whole film at night (exteriors) and adding artificial light to create the visuals, but Duel to the Death's magic was created by using natural lights and all the colors of peaceful and pure daytime nature.

The sword fight scenes are as great as can be expected by this director. They are very fast paced and use plenty of wires to add to the irrational atmosphere. There are also weird and flying ninjas who can turn into one big human and do things no one can do, so this film is full of elements from fairy tales which don't follow any rational rules. The editing is occasionally perhaps little too confusing and fast, and it is the negative point in these fight scenes. Then again, we must remember Ching was just so young in the directorial field so these little flaws are understandable especially when we remember how professional and great most of his subsequent films are. The impact of the striking fight scenes is heightened even further by the use of blood in the fight scenes little like in the Japanese Baby Cart (1972-1974) films. The fights in Duel to the Death are pretty gory and thus become more fierce and effective in their symbolism. Especially the fights near the end are totally over-the-top with those ultra fierce throwing stars which have to be seen to be believed. The film has great finale which lasts pretty long, but this film is still pretty calm as there are long segments involving something else than just fights, but that is of course allright, if these calm segments are handled with talent and care, like in this film. One Ching Siu Tung film which becomes sadly too slow moving and pointless at one point is his horror story Witch From Nepal (1985, starring Chow Yun Fat) which should not have been so slow and uninteresting in its middle part.

After all, Duel to the Death is about the motifs and reasons for these "duels" in which the fighters have to fight at the expense of their own lives. The main characters themselves question why this all has to be how it is, and isn't there any peaceful way to use martial arts and its philosophy. These are the things Bruce Lee knew the answers for. These philosophical elements make Duel to the Death of course more interesting and noteworthy piece of cinema, and thankfully Ching Siu Tung is always willing to discuss some interesting topics in his films alongside their visual and cinematic bravura.

I think the negative things in this film are only those in the editing department and that the plot turns don't occasionally make too much sense and some of the characters should have been written more carefully and with little more heart. The film has also perhaps little too striking attitude towards other countries, most notably Japan, but not as underlining as in Tsui Hark's epic Once Upon a Time in China (1991). Some of these historical fight films tend to be little too patriotic and naive, but fortunately Duel to the Death is not so bad, and the final image of the film is very unpatriotic, too. After all, this film has so many positive things and elements, I think this is among the greatest historical martial arts epics made in Hong Kong (of those I've seen) and thus I'm very glad for having the opportunity to see this early film by Ching Siu Tung.

Duel to the Death gets 8/10 from me.

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5 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
This movie is one of the best "Kung-Fu Theater" movies ever!, 25 March 2000
10/10
Author: AstroMan-3 from Columbus, OH

This movie has it all! Fast paced combat scenes, beautiful cinematography, compelling characters, and an epic plot of honor and betrayal. As I watched this movie, it was at once a really cool kung fu film and an intelligently written, acted, and directed film. Trust me on this one! If you're a fan of this genre at all, then check this film out.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Possibly one of the best pure martial art movies ever, 18 October 2006
9/10
Author: Chung Mo from NYC

While the Shaw movie machine seemed to be trapped in the 1960's, director Siu-Tung Ching filmed what turned to be the start of the new wave of kung fu epics and the closing of the door of the old wave.

Everything is thrown into this film, ninjas, a crazy old master in the Shaolin Drunkard tradition, flying kung fu, Japanese vs. Chinese, chambara, Shaolin monks, a super fighting woman, a puppet show, a talking cockatoo, severed limbs, Chang Cheh style blood flow, King Hu style anti-gravity kung fu. The only thing missing is the 18 Bronze Men. What distinguishes this from the other films from the time is the exceptional quality Siu-Tung Ching put into this film. The photography is really good and the script is much better then I expected. Somehow all the strange things that happen flow with the story instead of making you shake in disbelief.

The film is stylistically influenced by Japanese chambara although I would suspect that Japanese martial artists would take issue with the samurai sword work on display. Ballet dancer Flora Cheung throws herself into the fighting really well. The ninja do some very crazy things. The music track is actually good!

Highly recommended, this film should be as well known as some Shaw films from the same period.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
THE Perfect Kung-Fu Action Film, 19 February 2006
10/10
Author: EVOL666 from St. John's Abortion Clinic

DUEL TO THE DEATH is an incredible film. Admittedly, I'm not the kung-fu film expert (gore and sleaze being more my forte...), but I can recognize a great film when I see it...and DUEL is one of the most enjoyable films I've seen in a VERY long time. I don't throw out 10's often, but I really can't find anything wrong with this one.

DUEL is about a tournament that's held between China and Japan's best swordsman. Both competitors are absolute experts in their techniques, and hold honor and patriotism in the highest regard. But along the trek to the tournament location, there are numerous hinderances thrown at our "heroes". Flying ninjas, disappearing ninjas, burrowing into the ground ninjas, poison-wielding ninjas (did I happen to mention the ninjas???....) try to trip up our worthy combatants at every step. Throw in the hosting clan's jealousy at not being allowed to participate in the duel, and a plot by the Japanese shogun to rig the fight - and you have non-stop, insane, kung-fu ninja action...

The influence that this film has had on other modern martial-arts action films is undeniable. Films like KILL BILL, HERO, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS and NINJA SCROLL give obvious nods to this masterpiece. I really can't rave about this one enough. The cinematography, choreography, costumes, settings, the amazing high-flying acrobatics...everything in DUEL is absolutely top-notch. Being a relatively big Japanese pinky/exploit film fan, I could have used some more nudity and sleaze...but this isn't that kind of film. Judged on it's own merits, DUEL TO THE DEATH is the PERFECT martial-arts film, and deserves a look from any action fan. Highest Recommendation - 10/10

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4 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Jewel in the crown of sword fighting movies, 1 June 2005
8/10
Author: FilmFlaneur from London

Duel To The Death is one of the last old school Hong Kong martial arts epics, made by Shaw Brothers at the tail end of their golden age of production. But there is no sense of a dying fall here, as the film is a fast moving, colourful and extremely enjoyable sword fighting film that, upon its release, was received to high critical acclaim in the east. Its reputation in the west is less widely established - something the recent anamorphic release, with supporting commentary and documentary extras, should go long way to correct.

Based around a familiar rivalry between the respective martial arts systems practiced by China and Japan, Duel To The Death's plot premise is relatively simple, taking place in the during the Ming dynasty. It's a generations-old challenge between the two countries, lately revived and scheduled to take place again in a venerated venue, the Holy Sword House. Japan sends its top swordsman to compete against the representative of its ancient enemy, and this long-anticipated fight will be one to the death. As directed by Ching Siu-tung, the resulting drama, rich in historical recreation and well shot in glowing colours, is spectacular and fairly influential. Enriched by a strong touch of gore and with some inspired wirework - a technique which was to become increasingly prevalent, his work is often cited as having ushered in a new age of Chinese action dramas.

At the heart of his film is the relationship between Hashimoto, the Japanese fighter/ swordsman (Norman Tsui-Keung) primed for the betterment of his lord and country and the young Chinese master, the 'Lord of the Sword' Po Ching-wan (Damien Lau). A subplot focuses on attempts to wreck the fair fight as planned, notably the employment of ninjas to steal martial secrets and abduct leading Chinese martial artists. But these fearsome and persistent ninjas aren't ordinary fighters. They attack while masked, or naked or giant sized; they explode while hugging their foes, fire rockets, drop down to attack from broad battle kites, bounce off trees, as well as flash disconcertingly from visible to the invisible. None of their tricks really distract from the increasing respect between Po Ching-wan and Hashimoto in the meantime, although Po also grows emotionally attached to a female martial fighter Sui Man (Flora Cheung) whose duplicitous father is the Lord of Holy Sword House. The relationship between the two contestants gradually grows more complex but Hashimoto, who eventually has to face the claims of competing loyalties (orders from the Shogun and his own sense of honour) has the most complicated set of decisions to make and his final actions, which attempt to reconcile two irreconcilable strands of tension, provide the most arresting moments in the film.

Ching Siu-tung's most celebrated film in the west is A Chinese Ghost Story (aka: Sinnui Yauman), although most recently he was action choreographer on House Of Flying Daggers (aka: Shi mian mai fu). As has been noticed by others, one of his trademark strengths is to tell a traditional story well, but in a fantasy setting breaking free from the conventions of social realism (a non-naturalistic style which divides those audiences who love and who loathe so-called 'wire fu'). Duel To The Death, his debut feature, already shows this predilection. Another characteristic is his use of multiple setups to film action stunts, before editing the fragments into a whole martial play, a way of working which has also become more current. There's plenty of opportunity to show off moves like this between participants in a swordplay movie frequently contrasting and comparing the martial techniques of two proud societies and their representatives.

Thus Ching Siu-tung's fight choreography includes the varying fighting styles of Japanese samurai (and Ninjitsu) techniques, as well as the Shaolin techniques and swordplay. Those familiar with spaghetti westerns may also find some echoes in his work here, especially when the director films his heroes progressing against barren landscapes towards the start of the film to music which sounds (to these ears at least) vaguely south of the border. He's also not reluctant to add some bizarre touches of his own, such as the slicing into two halves of an evil ninja as required, or the inclusion of an exploding head as part of a climatic encounter. To be honest, once established, the narrative is not that engaging, apart from the increasing suspense as the two young champions look set to face off each other in the deciding contest - which, when it finally occurs, is filmed in the dramatic and expressionistic setting of a rocky coastline. Perhaps he is less successful in suggesting any burgeoning romance between Sui Man and the Chinese fighter but, given the main focus of the narrative, this is not a distraction.

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1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Wondrous wirework swordplay gem, an enthralling and powerful classic, 23 October 2009
9/10
Author: t-birkhead from United Kingdom

Duel To The Death is something of an important point in the history of Hong Kong action cinema, being the directorial debut of Ching Siu Tung, famed for his pioneering use of extensive wirework and other tricks to take the wuxia, or fantasy swordplay genre, to astounding levels. Nowadays he is best known for handling the choreography of the recent hits Hero and House Of Flying Daggers for Zhang Yimou, but this film is where he first took off, and its a serious rip-snorter. The story concerns an important duel performed between Chinese and Japanese sword masters in order to maintain peace between the two countries. Thus the film follows the two masters and their parallel courses, whilst sinister shenanigans involving ninja's and general skullduggery threaten to derail everything. Like most of the best of this genre, the film isn't really all about fighting. It is most concerned with honour, the different kinds of honour and the conflict between them, fuelled by the conflict between national philosophies. The behaviour of the different characters is shaped variously by personal honour, familial and national honor, whilst the difference between Chinese and Japanese philosophy is clearly delineated. Fortunately while the film has a solid backbone of characters and ideas, these don't distract from the important business of action, there are a good number of action scenes and they even get bloody towards the end. A few kooky highlights involve ninjas, getting up to all sorts of gnarly tricks, burrowing, flying and explosive wielding among other shenanigans. The two leads are ably played by Damian Lau as the Chinese champion and Norman Chu as his opponent, whilst support is provided by Flora Cheung and Eddy Ko plays Chu's handler. One of the minor problems with the film is that Flora Cheung lacks a strong character, whereas the others are all pretty well self determining and get to have control she has more of a textbook female character, and though she performs well and is pretty striking its a real shame to see such a pretty standard element in an otherwise sparkling film. There are also one or two fight scenes that could definitely have gone on for longer and the martial talents of some of the cast weren't put to the kind of use they could have been to give the film that extra push. I mean, its not like this is trying to be a restrained film so I think certain scenes should have been longer, also a bit more in the way of ground based traditional fighting would have been good, in order to show off the talent involved. Generally though, this is a great film and a really terrific debut for Ching Siu Tung. Highly recommended to wirework and swordplay fans, one of the genre's highlights I think.

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