Duel to the Death

Once every ten years, a Japanese/Chinese martial arts duel takes place - only this time, the two young finalists find themselves embroiled in dark conspiracies to rig the fight. This simple Gu Long-style storyline is merely an excuse for director Ching to bring the flamboyant action choreography of his wuxia television successes to the big screen. Using his characteristically inventive filming techniques (including metric montages, collision editing and wires suspending actors high in the air for the shooting of flying and leaping sequences), Ching makes even feats of superhuman ability and gravity-defying stunts seem utterly believable. The ninjas fly high into the air, plunge deep underground and ride kites through the sky, concluding with a final battle along the edge of a teetering seaside cliff - a scene soon hailed as a wuxia classic. The brilliance of the scene lies in its daring action and desolate atmosphere, conveying a pervading sense of regret rarely seen either before or since.