TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969)

TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969)

Runme Shaw produces a good straight forward wuxia yarn with TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969), our first film of 1969. There are no problems whatsoever with director Doe Ching's  work and as a matter of fact his direction is very much above par. However, there is a flaw in the script from writer Chiu Kang-Chien. Lets take a look.

Our story begins with Chang Qi Liang also known as the TWIN SWORDS OF DOOM and Hero Lu Chun Yee also known as the Jade Unicorn on a field amongst a mountain range for a duel. The are both reading letters presumably written by each of them for the other and afterwards gentlemanly and honorably begin the duel. Chang Qi Liang defeats Hero Lu with his unique weapon but is immediately overcome with grief over his win and retires from the Jiang Hu and refuses to kill for three years. 

SPOILER ALERT: Now, if you have read my previous 30 reviews you know I like to write spoiler-free reviews, if I can do such a thing for such old movies but in this case there are two things that are NEVER revealed in this movie and I would rather mention them, than not, so it does not diminish one's enjoyment of this movie. One is: what was in the letter the heroes wrote to each other and the other is why Chang Qi Liang is devastated over his killing of Hero Lu. The additional factor of not speaking Mandarin Chinese means that something more could have been revealed that was not translated in the subtitles but there's nothing we can do about that as the movie is rare enough as it is, only available in VCD, if you can find it at all. So with a movie released in 1969 we just have to live with the fault in the movie and carry on. It happens sometimes. Aside from these two things the movie is very straight forward and I liked it very much as you will see. 

It is three years later and Chang Qi Liang is struggling and living with his parents taking on odd jobs to help make ends meet. It just so happens that the house where he and his parents live is part of the territory of The Ghost Gang. The Ghost Gang is a huge underworld criminal organization engaged in all kinds of criminal activity. The leader is called the Ghost King, and his lieutenants are known as The Five Great Killers, namely: Red Killer, Yellow Killer, Green Killer, White Killer and Black Killer. The Ghost Gang employs scores of down and out citizens across China in their operations and supply weapons and masks to their henchmen.

Qi Liang's latest odd job is as a paladin carrier. Unfortunately for Qi Liang, the passenger happens to be  the provincial governor of Han Dan whom the Ghost Gang has decided to rob and assassinate this rainy night. Unfortunately for the Ghost Gang, when they decide to kill all possible witnesses Qi Liang goes on automatic kill mode and wipes out the entire kill crew. Unfortunately for Qi Liang (okay, last one, I promise) the Yellow Killer is the cleaner for this job and sees his kill crew accomplish the job but get wiped out and so he tracks Qi Liang to his parent's house and kills both of his parents. 

The Yellow Killer's next move is an elaborate ambush on Qi Liang while Qi Liang is looking for his parent's killers and the Ghost King. The battle between them leaves Qi Liang wounded as well as poisoned. His weakened body is found by a troupe of martial arts performers and the girl who finds his body, Lu Yin-er, takes an immediate interest in him. Yin-er and her father treat Qi Liang for the poisoned wound and when he recovers they give him a ride to Qi Dou Town (He is still looking for the leader of the Ghost Gang) while they go on to Lu He Village to perform. 

Qi Liang runs into three Ghost Gang henchmen at a Qi Dou Town Inn he stops to rest and learns (after "smacking them around") that the Ghost King is headed to Lu He Village! Qi Liang races to Lu He Village but is too late to catch the Ghost King ram sacking the whole village. Lu Yin-er and the sole survivors of the martial troupe (her sister and father) tell Qi Liang of the plan they learn of the Ghost Gang's robbery intentions at Qi Dou Town (!) They decide to go together to Qi Dou Town and put an end to the Ghost Gang terror for once and for all. (Woooo ! What a story!!)

TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969) stars Ling Yun as the troubled and vengeful son Chang Qi Liang, he is a handsome actor and goes on to do many a great wuxia movies for Shaw Brothers. Ching Li plays Lu Yin-er, with her cute self and is so girly and adorable you can barely resist her. Her real life father, Cheng Miu, plays her father in this movie, if you noticed the resemblance and she becomes a major beauty in the Shaw Brothers stable of beautiful women. Chen Hung-Lieh plays Ma Lok and Yau Ching plays the mayor of Qi Dou Town's wife and their parts are probably better appreciated if you can speak Mandarin.

HONORABLE MENTION: Lam Kau as the Ghost King, Chieh Yuen as Yellow Killer, Cheng Lui as White Killer and Lau Gong as Black Killer

FIGHT TIME: TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969) has no action director in spite having seven (7) full fight scenes by my count for an action packed movie with some pleasant subplots that might even cause you a laugh or two. Everyone performed well so we have no "HONORABLE MENTION" for this review. 

I would not at all be surprised if TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969) was somehow an adaptation of some form of Chinese literature. The story seems very involved and cut short in some places giving an overall feeling of being scaled down. In spite of this, the movie as a whole still thoroughly entertains, even without a fight choreographer and I absolutely recommend it for all viewers and collectors alike! See you next time. 

If you liked this review please comment on the blog, become a follower of the blog, join me on my Facebook account by sending me a message first and then a friend request so I know who I am friending (  https://www.facebook.com/Michael529P  ) and like my Facebook page: SHAW Brothers Kung Fu Movies 1965-1986. I thank you and would appreciate it very much!

NEXT UP: KILLERS FIVE (1969)

THE BELLS OF DEATH (1968)

THE BELLS OF DEATH (1968)

Greetings everyone and welcome back. Sir Run Run Shaw is back at us with a very interesting production and he has brought veteran director Yueh Feng with him. Along with his "shakey cam" Yueh Feng has visualized a wuxia film with a strong slasher/horror flavor to it, adding a tremendous amount of tension to the fight scenes. This unique blend of genres is given a subtle boost by rookie screen writer Chiu Kang-Chien first script that adds small details to some of the events in the movie that surprised at least me and gives the characters a lot more depth than the typical revenge movie. I just want to say right quick that a lot of movie hobbyist miss out on some interesting movies because they eliminate movies en mass because of what year they were released. That is a mistake. Right off the bat this movie has a lot going for it. Let's check out the plot.   

Three ruffians on horseback are on their way to a town called Jiangbei but they lose their way and ask a young man atop a tree for directions. He is kind enough to give them directions but one of the three ruffians goes back to thank him by hurling three arrows at him. Fortunately the arrows are off their mark and he is unharmed. As the ruffians continue on they stop at a river and while they are enjoying the water they spot a young woman who seems to have just finished washing clothes. They frighten her away but they plot to track her down and have their way with her. Sure enough they reach her home and slaughter her mother, father and baby brother. As fate would have it the young man atop of the tree that gave the ruffians their directions to Jiangbei was the young woman's younger brother as well. When the young man reaches home and discovers the slaughter he is overcome with two emotions: grief and the desire for revenge. 

Chang Wei-Fu packs a few belongings and then burns down all that remains of his life in Bei He Village. He takes his mother's bracelet, a wiry circle of silver bells, and strings it around his neck, a reminder of his mission of vengeance, his mother's bracelet become the bells of death. He begins his journey to Jiangbei to hunt down the three murderers of his family, to get revenge. As he journeys to Jiangbei he comes across an elder in a straw hat holding a cane sword surrounded by eight armed men. Observing from a distance he hears the armed men call themselves "The Eight Heroes Of Yanzhou" as they give the old man an ultimatum: "surrender or die"! 

Chang Wei-Fu watches in anticipation of the old man's certain death but instead the elder quickly and skillfully dispatches all eight assailants and calmly walks away totally unscathed. At first stunned by the unexpected events, Wei-Fu quickly recovers and trails the elder for a day and a night, nonstop without food or drink begging the elder to take him as his student. After seeing his determination and hearing his story the elder decides to accept Chang Wei-Fu as his disciple and they stay in the mountains and train for five (5) years. 

When we next see Chang Wei-Fu it is he who is wearing the elder's straw hat and carrying the elder's cane sword evidently not only becoming the elder's student be now being the elder's martial heir. Chang Wei-Fu heads straight into Jiangbei to find the three murderous ruffians and blaow! He is suddenly struck from behind and nearly knocked over. It is a damsel in distress running for her life and her freedom from debt collectors that use young girls to settle money matters. Oh yeah, it gets real interesting from here!

THE BELLS OF DEATH (1968) is perfectly cast for effect and that is what makes this a great film but NOT for its kung fu  but, hold on --there isn't anything wrong with that. Remember it is still only 1968 and the standards for kung fu have yet to be set let alone be established so we can be generous knowing in the future the kung fu standard will be established, but this is very much an excellent film. Chang Yi is Chang Wei-Fu and he acts in a strong and stalwart manner as a young man (not a teen) fulfilling his obligation of honor revenge for his family's murder and his elder sister's kidnapping. It is a solid performance and is perfect in juxtaposition to the maniacal psychotic antics of the three ruffians played by Ku Feng, Tien Shun and Lam Kau with Lam Kau' character being the most stable of the three but whenever any one of them is on screen that there is a sense that anything could happen, bravo. 

However the best supporting actor of this film must go to Chin Ping, yes, that Chin Ping in an non-action role as the totally believable damsel in distress and the character that allows us to invest emotionally in the outcome of the film while keeping the stalwart determination of the hero intact. Perfect casting indeed.

HONORABLE MENTION: I don't know why there is any doubt but Sammo Hung Kam-Bo is clearly in this movie, wearing a head covering but still clearly him so I included a screen shot for proof. 

FIGHT TIME: Hey, welcome to my fight analysis for THE BELLS OF DEATH (1968). There is no one credited with the fight choreography in this movie. I counted five (5) fight scenes and they all come after the first third of the movie is over. The techniques are well done but are done in by the shaky cam that director Yueh Feng seems to be quite fond of, not that he over does it this time. I must just admit that I am not a fan of this technique. Fortunately the horror film aspect of the movie is its greatest attraction and the kung fu is but a wonderfully added plus.

Eerie, creepy, spooky, and scary are just some of the adjectives that come to mind when I think of many of the scenes from THE BELLS OF DEATH (1968). The overall theme of the entire movie of how randomly scary the world can be, even if you are just minding your own business is often used in today's movies aimed at the teen audience. I would put this movie up against any slasher or Halloween themed movie produced at any time and so yes I enthusiastically recommend this movie for all audiences and collectors of Shaw Brothers classics except maybe, when watching it, you might just leave the lights on.  See you next time.

UP NEXT: THAT FIERY GIRL (1968)