Not being very well acquainted with the martial arts genre, I've watched a few Shaw films recently, this being the earliest. I see a lot of raving about this movie for its significance, but standing on its own merits I felt it had some narrative flaws and was not as enjoyable as the slicker adventures that followed in the 70s.
Tonally, the film was a bit erratic. At times it felt like a family musical, especially with the introduction of some DIckensian pauper children feeling like a scene out of Oliver! The antics of Drunken Cat brought comic relief, but then this would be tempered by some fairly brutal violence.
Narratively, there is a shift towards the end from the focus being on Golden Swallow vs. Jade-Faced Tiger to Drunken Cat vs. the abbot. This was rather unsatisfying as the anticipated showdown between the film's chief protagonist and antagonist is dialled back in favour of a storyline rivalry introduced very late in the day and which is resolved just as swiftly, with very little drama.
Overall, the film was fine: good sets and locations, fun characters, good choreography etc. but just lacking something in the story to make it truly exciting.
Tonally, the film was a bit erratic. At times it felt like a family musical, especially with the introduction of some DIckensian pauper children feeling like a scene out of Oliver! The antics of Drunken Cat brought comic relief, but then this would be tempered by some fairly brutal violence.
Narratively, there is a shift towards the end from the focus being on Golden Swallow vs. Jade-Faced Tiger to Drunken Cat vs. the abbot. This was rather unsatisfying as the anticipated showdown between the film's chief protagonist and antagonist is dialled back in favour of a storyline rivalry introduced very late in the day and which is resolved just as swiftly, with very little drama.
Overall, the film was fine: good sets and locations, fun characters, good choreography etc. but just lacking something in the story to make it truly exciting.