venoms5
01-17-2008, 06:23 PM
CLAN FEUDS 1981 (Released in early 1982) Action ***1/2 /blood **1/2 /Movie ***1/2
Ti Lung (Ti Zhong Tang), Lo Mang (Yun Zheng), Chen Tzu Chia (Wen Dai Dai), Pai Piao (Li Luo Yang), Kuan Feng (Leng Yi Feng), Lily Li (Leng Ching Ping), Sun Chien (Little Prince), Ko Fei (Ai Tian Fu), Yang Tsing Tsing (Mute Assassin), Liao Li Ling (Shui Ling Guang), Ching Mao (Master Diao), Yang Chi Ching (Master Yun), Chan Shu Peng (Feng Jiu You), Ai Fei (Situ Hsiao), Teng Wei Hao (Yun Keng), Gou Lai Ga (Leng Ching Shuang)
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Two young lovers, Yun Keng and Ching Shuang belong to opposing clans. Their relationship is a secret for a time. Once Master Diao, head of the Great Banner Clan, learns of this treachery he must execute his son by way of quartering. Ti Zhong Tang as well as Yun's hot headed brother, Yun Zheng try and coax the old man out of having his son put to death but to no avail. Just before the act is carried out, Ti knocks Yun Keng unconscious and he is willingly replaced by one of his brothers who is quickly killed. Master Diao and Ti swear to reveal the truth to no one. Ti vows to locate the whereabouts of the beautiful Ching Shuang so the two can be reunited in the hopes that their love will one day rebuild the Great Banner Clan.
This is the basic storyline of this filmic adaptation of the Gu Long novel. Below is a detailed synopsis of the remainder of the film followed by a brief review.
Yun Zheng traces the stolen horse of their enemy, Leng Yi Feng back to Maple Resort, their Clan Stronghold, to retrieve his dead brothers head and attempts to take Leng's head in the process. Ti Zhong Tang arrives to help and notices Leng Ching Ping, Leng's skilled daughter amidst the fray. The two clash swords briefly until Leng asks Ti to take her hostage. Meanwhile a masked stranger watches from afar. While Ti is distracted by Yun Zheng's attempts to kill Leng's daughter, the mysterious stranger tosses a white powder on their horses in the hopes of locating the secret hideout of the Banner Clan.
When Leng Yi Feng learns he has fostered "two double dealing bitches", after finding out Ching Ping is with child the father being the supposedly dead Yun Keng, Smiling Tiger Situ Hsiao tries to make her abort the baby with a pill. She manages to escape along with her sister who has a rendezvous with Ti Zhong Tang to inform him of an impending attack on the Banner Clan by her father and his disciples. Yun Zheng sees the two of them talking in the brush and assumes the two are conspiring together. Ti stops Yun so Leng can get away. Yun then demands that Ti be executed for this act of treason. Master Yun tells Ti that out of respect for his father, he will let him live. However, the infuriated Yun Zheng hassles his father that if he lets Ti live, then his brother died in vain. Yun begins to raise his sword at Ti when Master Yun strikes him with a dart. He then gives Ti a special blade his father had made years before. A sword with a wine pot in the handle. Now "expelled" from the Banner Clan, Ti takes the comatose Yun Zheng and begins his journey to rebuild the Banner Society.
Whilst on the road, Ti runs into a number of mysterious characters and enemies of his Clan. He sees the Smiling Tiger perched atop a rock partaking in a drink and a meal. He is invited over which enrages the foolhardy Yun Zheng even further that Ti would sit with one of their enemies. Situ Hsiao asks him of the whereabouts of the Secret Manual as well as the Light of the Sun Jewel, both treasures of the Banner Clan. Smiling Tiger reveals his true intentions and while he fights with Ti, a wagon approaches and a woman named Wen Dai Dai emerges. She incapacitates Yun Zheng and has him taken away as he has information of the Clan treasures. Smiling Tiger exits and Ti sees that Yun has disappeared but finds a clue near where he was taken.
Yun awakens to find himself in the bed of Wen Dai Dai. He wants to leave but Wen, with her bewitching power over men, manages to convince him to stay and gives him another pill to put him out again just as Smiling Tiger shows up. The two are conspiring to obtain the Banner treasures. Situ Hsiao only wants the coveted martial arts manual while he agrees to give the priceless jewel to the seductress.
Meanwhile, Ti happens upon a dank cave which houses a detailed, large scale model of Shaolin Temple with a riddle on the front in connection with the clue he found where Yun was kidnapped. Suddenly, a woman in animal skins appears and tries to fight Ti. During the fight, they both notice they share the same fighting style. Ti questions who taught her and the girl pulls him away to another part of the cavern which contains a pagoda statue that houses a box bearing the marks of the Banner insignia. Escaping the traps, Ti retrieves the box and upon opening it, reveals the Blade Manual of the Banner Clan. There is also a note leaving a clue as to the whereabouts of the Light of the Sun jewel. Ti questions the girl where she got the box but she knows nothing. Suddenly, a strange woman with a scarred face emerges calling for Shui Ling, the young girl living within the cave. Ti asks about the gem and the woman says she that a man gave it to her 17 years prior. Upon learning Ti is a member of the Banner Clan, the woman begins to lose her faculties and proclaims a ghost is in her midst. After the woman chases Shui Ling further into the cave, Ti goes back to the model of the temple and discovers the gem hidden inside also containing another clue telling the appropriator to seek out Li Luo Yang to learn about the rise and fall of the Banner Clan.
At the same time, the wicked Wen Dai Dai works her magic on Yun Zheng obtaining information on location of the famous Clan jewel. Li Luo Yang is mentioned and the two head off to his annual auction of priceless ornaments. While Yun Zheng sleeps, Wen stealthily meets with Smiling Tiger about Li Luo Yang's association with the Banner SOciety and their plan to strike. Ti Zhong Tang is nearby and eavesdrops on their intentions. Ti notices someone in his room.
Upon his return, he finds Shui Ling, the girl dressed in animal skins from the cave, only this time she is dressed as a lady. Shui says she was sent by her mother (the scarred woman from the cave) to retrieve what Ti had taken from the box. Ti questions her as to her mother's relationship with the Clan and where she got the jewel. Shui Ling doesn't answer and Ti strikes a pressure point incapacitating her as it is time for him to attend the exhibition.
Before the auction begins, a number of odd characters are in attendance, a blind man and his mute female partner as well as an uncouth burly man among them. One of the attendees, unimpressed with the selection, asks Li if he has anything else of value for sale. Ti stands forth and displays his Clan's Light of the Sun jewel which instantly grabs the attention of Yun Zheng and other assassins in the room. Li asks what he wants for it but Ti, clearly aware of the consequences, says he will discuss it privately with any buyer and to find him at the Five Happiness Inn. Immediately after, someone in the room attempts to kill Ti with a poison dart but fails. It is soon learned that the Blind man and deaf woman were the assassins.
Later that night, Li Luo Yang goes to Ti's room. Ti asks him about his father Ti Zhen Shan and where he can be found. Ti shows him the jewel case. Li says that his father was supposed to have come his auction some 25 years ago but never made it having since disappeared. Ti is determined to find out the truth about his father. The cunning Miss Wen is the next visitor to Ti's room. She tries her charms on him but they don't work. Yun Zheng breaks in proclaiming Ti a traitor to the Clan and the murderer of his brother. The two fight briefly but Ti manages to allude Yun. He and his deceiving lover take off. Ti goes back to his room and discovers Shui Ling has been taken. He is attacked again this time by the Blind swordsman, Ai Tian Fu and his female companion, the silent assassin. Ti defeats Ai in a duel and for sparing them, he takes Ti to where Shui Ling was taken. It is revealed Situ Hsiao, the Smiling Tiger had hired the two killers. Ti appears and sits once again with the untrustworthy swordsman. While the two drink warily of one another, a young man watches them from the bushes. Ti tells Situ Hsiao that although he sides with Leng Yi Feng, he doesn't share his sentiments. Smiling Tiger says that if Ti will hand over the manual then the two of them can become good friends. Ti of course refuses resulting in a sprung trap by Smiling Tiger which Ti narrowly escapes. The two duel once more until Situ Hsiao retreats. Shui Ling has again been snatched from under Ti's eyes. He finds a note from the young man who moves without sound, the Little Prince who tells him to meet with him in the valley ahead.
Ti meets with Little Prince who tells him that in order to take the girl from Lu Shan Mansion he must accomplish two tasks-one is to take the Prince's wine cup away from him. The second task entails a duel with four female fighters-Wind, Thunder, Rain and Lightning. Ti subdues them but before he and Little Prince can become acquainted, the vicious Leng Yi Feng and his men show up unexpectedly looking for Ti Zhong Tang. All of Leng's followers seem to want something whether it be the beautiful Shui Ling or the kung fu manual of the Banner Clan. Ti and Little Prince take on Leng and his group. During the fight, Ti is hit in the face with some poison smoke. He falls into a hidden wall wherein lies a mysterious woman perched atop a pedestal. The woman helps Ti remove the poison and thrusts him back out into the fray. A trap emitting deadly smoke saves the heroes. The old woman turns out to be Little Prince's mother. To save Ti from the poison, she transferred Jia Yi power into Ti's body. She then gives him a kung fu manual and details how she came to obtain it. 20 years earlier a Mr. Ti had entrusted her with the book and said to deliver it to the most treacherous Clan member when he arrives. The old woman then expires. Ti then leaves Little Prince in search of Leng Ching Shuang, the young woman with whom must be reunited with Yun Keng.
Later, Feng Jiu You, a brutal swordsman who practices the lethal Five Poison palm skill and carries an unusual Blood sucking sword which drains the blood of those stabbed with it, kills some men in a restaurant. Yun Zheng and Miss Wen, who is seriously ill, arrive in a tiny village which is also occupied by Leng Ching Shuang who has been raising her child in anonymity. Miss Wen has now changed her ways and is no longer interested in obtaining the Light of the Sun jewel. Leng brings her some medicine and realizing who she is, Yun stops her momentarily as she explains the little child is Yun Zheng's nephew. Leng gives the child to Miss Wen then suddenly impales herself on Yun's blade wanting to join her lover who, unknown to her, is still alive.
Leng Yi Feng meets with the devilish Feng Jiu You about wiping out the remaining Banner Clan. A cook is brought in who knows where Leng's daughter is and spills the info about Yun Zheng being in her company as well the birthing of the boy. Feng kills the cook then realizes they are being spied on by Ti. He takes on Leng and his entire Clan single-handedly. Leng Ching Ping secretly repays Ti's earlier favor by saving him. Meanwhile, Leng Ching Shuang is buried behind the Tofu shop when her sister drops in to attack Miss Wen. Yun Zheng stops her and the group finally mend their ways only for the Smiling Tiger to attack them. Miss Wen is killed trying to save the child. Smiling Tiger threatens to kill the kid lest they hand over the kung fu manual. Ti Zhong Tang arrives and makes the exchange. Smiling Tiger exits and Yun Zheng gives chase. Ti goes after him so they can return together. Yun is ambushed by Leng and his entire army and the vile Feng Jiu You. The blind and mute assassins show up to help the heroes. The blind Ai Tian Fu takes the child as instructed and Ti and Yun Zheng, badly wounded, manage to escape. Before he dies, Ti tells Yun that his brother is still alive and that he couldn't be told as the information would ruin the Clan should it have been known.
After burying Yun Zheng, Ti learns that Li Luo Yang has been killed by Leng Yi Feng and that his father has been hiding out on Zhang Chun Island. Ti arrives to find a strange, frozen abode encased in ice and frost. He finally finds his father, the Night Emperor, although apparently not alive and enclosed within an ice coffin alongside his mother, the Day Empress. The old man inside says he also worked for the Clan and that Ti's mother died not long after he was born and that Li Luo Yang had her buried in the Ice Castle. Ti then learns that the crazy woman from the cave was once saved by his father and the two had a child together, Shui Ling Guang, Ti's step-sister. Because of the terrible fighting between the two warring Clans, Ti's father gave the gem to his mother, the scarred woman from the cave, Shou Rou Song, and sent her to hide out in Han You Cave where she waited for her husband to come. After many years of waiting, she went mad and disfigured herself. Questioning why the old woman from Lu Shan Mansion had the kung fu manual, she was Ti's father's first love and bore her a son as well-the Little Prince, Ti's step-brother. Thinking he would abandon his children, the old woman had stolen the manual. Feeling guilty for his lovers actions, he left Ti with Master Yun and retreated to the island to be with his wife. Ti asks how this old man knows so much but then suddenly remembers that Shui Ling and Little Prince like each other so he must hurry back to stop them from doing anything drastic as the two are brother and sister. After Ti leaves, the old man opens the ice coffin and pushes aside what is a fake man. He cries over the woman's perfectly preserved body...
Ti arrives at the old temple where he instructed the blind assassin Ai Tian Fu to take the child. Upon entering, he finds Master Diao and also Yun Keng who feels sorrow that so many have died so that he may live. Ti learns also that Ai succumbed to injuries some time ago after reaching the temple. Little Prince and Shui Ling are also there. Ti stops them from marriage. He tells Yun Keng to look after them as he goes to meet for a final showdown with Leng Yi Feng.
All the characters show up at Maple Resort during the finale including the old man from the Ice Castle and the crazy woman from the cave who calls him Ti Zhen Shan! He was alive all along. Revenge is meted out and Ti Zhen Shan, the founder of the Great Banner Clan explains to Ti that because he brought about the downfall of his Clan, he couldn't face his son and let him think he was in fact dead. In giving Master Yun the treasured jewel, he refuses and intead hands the title of Banner Clan Chief to Ti Zhong Tang thinking his sons are all dead. Ti then tells him that Yun Keng is still very much alive. Master Diao appears holding Master Yun's grandson, the child of Yun Keng and the now dead Leng Ching Shuang. Ti Zhen Shan is then reunited with his two other children, Shui Ling and Little Prince. He then dies knowing that the Clan is at peace and will be rebuilt restoring the Great Banner's name.
One of a number of classy Wuxia movies to come out of Shaw Brothers, it is also a very confusing story the product of condensing a voluminous novel into a 90+ minute film. There are literally dozens of characters each with their own side story and there are still a number of characters you learn either very little or nothing about. Even still it's an enjoyable movie even if you don't quite know what's going on most of the time. The framework of the film is basically a ROMEO & JULIET backdrop melded with swordplay motifs. In addition to numerous colorful characters are the plentiful and exotic Shaw Brothers sets. You get trap filled caverns and an Ice Castle among the exuberant set design. The costumes themselves are impressive especially those of the Banner Clan members. They're very reminiscent of what you might find in CONAN THE BARBARIAN.
Ti Lung isn't particularly memorable as Ti Zhong Tang but he is during his fight scenes. You get to see him perform some kicks mixed in with his swordplay. Actually, it's not really fair to judge Ti Lung's acting (not that it's all that big of a deal) as there is a plethora of actors hogging the screen much of the time. Aside from the fight scenes, Ti Lung isn't given lots to do save for asking questions and finding clues or getting certain characters out of harms way.
Lo Mang is good, though as Yun Zheng who begins the film as a hot-headed, ill tempered and impulsive swordsman. As the film progresses, he grows into a more mature man who learns discipline only to be cut down in the films best sequence outside of the final fight. He survives the battle but dies after Ti has whisked him away.
Phillip Ko is awesome in his brief screen time as the blind swordsman which may or may not be inspired by Japan's ZATOICHI. Being unfamiliar with Gu Long's novel I can't really say. Ko pulls off some great moves and displays some charisma as well as getting a few good lines before his exit from the film. Forms specialist Yang Tsing Tsing portrays his mute partner. She gets to show off some moves as well only not as much as in other films like TREASURE HUNTERS (1981).
Arguably, the most memorable character in the film would be Feng Jiu You who has a clawed, green hand and possesses a blood sucking sword(!) which relieves his victims of their red stuff.
One of a number of colorful exponents for this lively and entertaining swordplay movie, the choreography is far more brutal and aggressive than what is found in Chu Yuan's more mannered film versions of Gu Long and Jin Yong novels. Handled by Yuen Chueng Yan from the famed Yuen Clan, he himself, like his more famous relation Yuen Woo Ping, has appeared in and choreographed countless movies over an illustrious career spanning near 40 years.
For Wuxia fans most definitely but kung fu fans should enjoy the energetic fight scenes only be prepared to get lost in the story and multitude of characters if you're not paying complete attention to what's transpiring on screen.
Ti Lung (Ti Zhong Tang), Lo Mang (Yun Zheng), Chen Tzu Chia (Wen Dai Dai), Pai Piao (Li Luo Yang), Kuan Feng (Leng Yi Feng), Lily Li (Leng Ching Ping), Sun Chien (Little Prince), Ko Fei (Ai Tian Fu), Yang Tsing Tsing (Mute Assassin), Liao Li Ling (Shui Ling Guang), Ching Mao (Master Diao), Yang Chi Ching (Master Yun), Chan Shu Peng (Feng Jiu You), Ai Fei (Situ Hsiao), Teng Wei Hao (Yun Keng), Gou Lai Ga (Leng Ching Shuang)
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Two young lovers, Yun Keng and Ching Shuang belong to opposing clans. Their relationship is a secret for a time. Once Master Diao, head of the Great Banner Clan, learns of this treachery he must execute his son by way of quartering. Ti Zhong Tang as well as Yun's hot headed brother, Yun Zheng try and coax the old man out of having his son put to death but to no avail. Just before the act is carried out, Ti knocks Yun Keng unconscious and he is willingly replaced by one of his brothers who is quickly killed. Master Diao and Ti swear to reveal the truth to no one. Ti vows to locate the whereabouts of the beautiful Ching Shuang so the two can be reunited in the hopes that their love will one day rebuild the Great Banner Clan.
This is the basic storyline of this filmic adaptation of the Gu Long novel. Below is a detailed synopsis of the remainder of the film followed by a brief review.
Yun Zheng traces the stolen horse of their enemy, Leng Yi Feng back to Maple Resort, their Clan Stronghold, to retrieve his dead brothers head and attempts to take Leng's head in the process. Ti Zhong Tang arrives to help and notices Leng Ching Ping, Leng's skilled daughter amidst the fray. The two clash swords briefly until Leng asks Ti to take her hostage. Meanwhile a masked stranger watches from afar. While Ti is distracted by Yun Zheng's attempts to kill Leng's daughter, the mysterious stranger tosses a white powder on their horses in the hopes of locating the secret hideout of the Banner Clan.
When Leng Yi Feng learns he has fostered "two double dealing bitches", after finding out Ching Ping is with child the father being the supposedly dead Yun Keng, Smiling Tiger Situ Hsiao tries to make her abort the baby with a pill. She manages to escape along with her sister who has a rendezvous with Ti Zhong Tang to inform him of an impending attack on the Banner Clan by her father and his disciples. Yun Zheng sees the two of them talking in the brush and assumes the two are conspiring together. Ti stops Yun so Leng can get away. Yun then demands that Ti be executed for this act of treason. Master Yun tells Ti that out of respect for his father, he will let him live. However, the infuriated Yun Zheng hassles his father that if he lets Ti live, then his brother died in vain. Yun begins to raise his sword at Ti when Master Yun strikes him with a dart. He then gives Ti a special blade his father had made years before. A sword with a wine pot in the handle. Now "expelled" from the Banner Clan, Ti takes the comatose Yun Zheng and begins his journey to rebuild the Banner Society.
Whilst on the road, Ti runs into a number of mysterious characters and enemies of his Clan. He sees the Smiling Tiger perched atop a rock partaking in a drink and a meal. He is invited over which enrages the foolhardy Yun Zheng even further that Ti would sit with one of their enemies. Situ Hsiao asks him of the whereabouts of the Secret Manual as well as the Light of the Sun Jewel, both treasures of the Banner Clan. Smiling Tiger reveals his true intentions and while he fights with Ti, a wagon approaches and a woman named Wen Dai Dai emerges. She incapacitates Yun Zheng and has him taken away as he has information of the Clan treasures. Smiling Tiger exits and Ti sees that Yun has disappeared but finds a clue near where he was taken.
Yun awakens to find himself in the bed of Wen Dai Dai. He wants to leave but Wen, with her bewitching power over men, manages to convince him to stay and gives him another pill to put him out again just as Smiling Tiger shows up. The two are conspiring to obtain the Banner treasures. Situ Hsiao only wants the coveted martial arts manual while he agrees to give the priceless jewel to the seductress.
Meanwhile, Ti happens upon a dank cave which houses a detailed, large scale model of Shaolin Temple with a riddle on the front in connection with the clue he found where Yun was kidnapped. Suddenly, a woman in animal skins appears and tries to fight Ti. During the fight, they both notice they share the same fighting style. Ti questions who taught her and the girl pulls him away to another part of the cavern which contains a pagoda statue that houses a box bearing the marks of the Banner insignia. Escaping the traps, Ti retrieves the box and upon opening it, reveals the Blade Manual of the Banner Clan. There is also a note leaving a clue as to the whereabouts of the Light of the Sun jewel. Ti questions the girl where she got the box but she knows nothing. Suddenly, a strange woman with a scarred face emerges calling for Shui Ling, the young girl living within the cave. Ti asks about the gem and the woman says she that a man gave it to her 17 years prior. Upon learning Ti is a member of the Banner Clan, the woman begins to lose her faculties and proclaims a ghost is in her midst. After the woman chases Shui Ling further into the cave, Ti goes back to the model of the temple and discovers the gem hidden inside also containing another clue telling the appropriator to seek out Li Luo Yang to learn about the rise and fall of the Banner Clan.
At the same time, the wicked Wen Dai Dai works her magic on Yun Zheng obtaining information on location of the famous Clan jewel. Li Luo Yang is mentioned and the two head off to his annual auction of priceless ornaments. While Yun Zheng sleeps, Wen stealthily meets with Smiling Tiger about Li Luo Yang's association with the Banner SOciety and their plan to strike. Ti Zhong Tang is nearby and eavesdrops on their intentions. Ti notices someone in his room.
Upon his return, he finds Shui Ling, the girl dressed in animal skins from the cave, only this time she is dressed as a lady. Shui says she was sent by her mother (the scarred woman from the cave) to retrieve what Ti had taken from the box. Ti questions her as to her mother's relationship with the Clan and where she got the jewel. Shui Ling doesn't answer and Ti strikes a pressure point incapacitating her as it is time for him to attend the exhibition.
Before the auction begins, a number of odd characters are in attendance, a blind man and his mute female partner as well as an uncouth burly man among them. One of the attendees, unimpressed with the selection, asks Li if he has anything else of value for sale. Ti stands forth and displays his Clan's Light of the Sun jewel which instantly grabs the attention of Yun Zheng and other assassins in the room. Li asks what he wants for it but Ti, clearly aware of the consequences, says he will discuss it privately with any buyer and to find him at the Five Happiness Inn. Immediately after, someone in the room attempts to kill Ti with a poison dart but fails. It is soon learned that the Blind man and deaf woman were the assassins.
Later that night, Li Luo Yang goes to Ti's room. Ti asks him about his father Ti Zhen Shan and where he can be found. Ti shows him the jewel case. Li says that his father was supposed to have come his auction some 25 years ago but never made it having since disappeared. Ti is determined to find out the truth about his father. The cunning Miss Wen is the next visitor to Ti's room. She tries her charms on him but they don't work. Yun Zheng breaks in proclaiming Ti a traitor to the Clan and the murderer of his brother. The two fight briefly but Ti manages to allude Yun. He and his deceiving lover take off. Ti goes back to his room and discovers Shui Ling has been taken. He is attacked again this time by the Blind swordsman, Ai Tian Fu and his female companion, the silent assassin. Ti defeats Ai in a duel and for sparing them, he takes Ti to where Shui Ling was taken. It is revealed Situ Hsiao, the Smiling Tiger had hired the two killers. Ti appears and sits once again with the untrustworthy swordsman. While the two drink warily of one another, a young man watches them from the bushes. Ti tells Situ Hsiao that although he sides with Leng Yi Feng, he doesn't share his sentiments. Smiling Tiger says that if Ti will hand over the manual then the two of them can become good friends. Ti of course refuses resulting in a sprung trap by Smiling Tiger which Ti narrowly escapes. The two duel once more until Situ Hsiao retreats. Shui Ling has again been snatched from under Ti's eyes. He finds a note from the young man who moves without sound, the Little Prince who tells him to meet with him in the valley ahead.
Ti meets with Little Prince who tells him that in order to take the girl from Lu Shan Mansion he must accomplish two tasks-one is to take the Prince's wine cup away from him. The second task entails a duel with four female fighters-Wind, Thunder, Rain and Lightning. Ti subdues them but before he and Little Prince can become acquainted, the vicious Leng Yi Feng and his men show up unexpectedly looking for Ti Zhong Tang. All of Leng's followers seem to want something whether it be the beautiful Shui Ling or the kung fu manual of the Banner Clan. Ti and Little Prince take on Leng and his group. During the fight, Ti is hit in the face with some poison smoke. He falls into a hidden wall wherein lies a mysterious woman perched atop a pedestal. The woman helps Ti remove the poison and thrusts him back out into the fray. A trap emitting deadly smoke saves the heroes. The old woman turns out to be Little Prince's mother. To save Ti from the poison, she transferred Jia Yi power into Ti's body. She then gives him a kung fu manual and details how she came to obtain it. 20 years earlier a Mr. Ti had entrusted her with the book and said to deliver it to the most treacherous Clan member when he arrives. The old woman then expires. Ti then leaves Little Prince in search of Leng Ching Shuang, the young woman with whom must be reunited with Yun Keng.
Later, Feng Jiu You, a brutal swordsman who practices the lethal Five Poison palm skill and carries an unusual Blood sucking sword which drains the blood of those stabbed with it, kills some men in a restaurant. Yun Zheng and Miss Wen, who is seriously ill, arrive in a tiny village which is also occupied by Leng Ching Shuang who has been raising her child in anonymity. Miss Wen has now changed her ways and is no longer interested in obtaining the Light of the Sun jewel. Leng brings her some medicine and realizing who she is, Yun stops her momentarily as she explains the little child is Yun Zheng's nephew. Leng gives the child to Miss Wen then suddenly impales herself on Yun's blade wanting to join her lover who, unknown to her, is still alive.
Leng Yi Feng meets with the devilish Feng Jiu You about wiping out the remaining Banner Clan. A cook is brought in who knows where Leng's daughter is and spills the info about Yun Zheng being in her company as well the birthing of the boy. Feng kills the cook then realizes they are being spied on by Ti. He takes on Leng and his entire Clan single-handedly. Leng Ching Ping secretly repays Ti's earlier favor by saving him. Meanwhile, Leng Ching Shuang is buried behind the Tofu shop when her sister drops in to attack Miss Wen. Yun Zheng stops her and the group finally mend their ways only for the Smiling Tiger to attack them. Miss Wen is killed trying to save the child. Smiling Tiger threatens to kill the kid lest they hand over the kung fu manual. Ti Zhong Tang arrives and makes the exchange. Smiling Tiger exits and Yun Zheng gives chase. Ti goes after him so they can return together. Yun is ambushed by Leng and his entire army and the vile Feng Jiu You. The blind and mute assassins show up to help the heroes. The blind Ai Tian Fu takes the child as instructed and Ti and Yun Zheng, badly wounded, manage to escape. Before he dies, Ti tells Yun that his brother is still alive and that he couldn't be told as the information would ruin the Clan should it have been known.
After burying Yun Zheng, Ti learns that Li Luo Yang has been killed by Leng Yi Feng and that his father has been hiding out on Zhang Chun Island. Ti arrives to find a strange, frozen abode encased in ice and frost. He finally finds his father, the Night Emperor, although apparently not alive and enclosed within an ice coffin alongside his mother, the Day Empress. The old man inside says he also worked for the Clan and that Ti's mother died not long after he was born and that Li Luo Yang had her buried in the Ice Castle. Ti then learns that the crazy woman from the cave was once saved by his father and the two had a child together, Shui Ling Guang, Ti's step-sister. Because of the terrible fighting between the two warring Clans, Ti's father gave the gem to his mother, the scarred woman from the cave, Shou Rou Song, and sent her to hide out in Han You Cave where she waited for her husband to come. After many years of waiting, she went mad and disfigured herself. Questioning why the old woman from Lu Shan Mansion had the kung fu manual, she was Ti's father's first love and bore her a son as well-the Little Prince, Ti's step-brother. Thinking he would abandon his children, the old woman had stolen the manual. Feeling guilty for his lovers actions, he left Ti with Master Yun and retreated to the island to be with his wife. Ti asks how this old man knows so much but then suddenly remembers that Shui Ling and Little Prince like each other so he must hurry back to stop them from doing anything drastic as the two are brother and sister. After Ti leaves, the old man opens the ice coffin and pushes aside what is a fake man. He cries over the woman's perfectly preserved body...
Ti arrives at the old temple where he instructed the blind assassin Ai Tian Fu to take the child. Upon entering, he finds Master Diao and also Yun Keng who feels sorrow that so many have died so that he may live. Ti learns also that Ai succumbed to injuries some time ago after reaching the temple. Little Prince and Shui Ling are also there. Ti stops them from marriage. He tells Yun Keng to look after them as he goes to meet for a final showdown with Leng Yi Feng.
All the characters show up at Maple Resort during the finale including the old man from the Ice Castle and the crazy woman from the cave who calls him Ti Zhen Shan! He was alive all along. Revenge is meted out and Ti Zhen Shan, the founder of the Great Banner Clan explains to Ti that because he brought about the downfall of his Clan, he couldn't face his son and let him think he was in fact dead. In giving Master Yun the treasured jewel, he refuses and intead hands the title of Banner Clan Chief to Ti Zhong Tang thinking his sons are all dead. Ti then tells him that Yun Keng is still very much alive. Master Diao appears holding Master Yun's grandson, the child of Yun Keng and the now dead Leng Ching Shuang. Ti Zhen Shan is then reunited with his two other children, Shui Ling and Little Prince. He then dies knowing that the Clan is at peace and will be rebuilt restoring the Great Banner's name.
One of a number of classy Wuxia movies to come out of Shaw Brothers, it is also a very confusing story the product of condensing a voluminous novel into a 90+ minute film. There are literally dozens of characters each with their own side story and there are still a number of characters you learn either very little or nothing about. Even still it's an enjoyable movie even if you don't quite know what's going on most of the time. The framework of the film is basically a ROMEO & JULIET backdrop melded with swordplay motifs. In addition to numerous colorful characters are the plentiful and exotic Shaw Brothers sets. You get trap filled caverns and an Ice Castle among the exuberant set design. The costumes themselves are impressive especially those of the Banner Clan members. They're very reminiscent of what you might find in CONAN THE BARBARIAN.
Ti Lung isn't particularly memorable as Ti Zhong Tang but he is during his fight scenes. You get to see him perform some kicks mixed in with his swordplay. Actually, it's not really fair to judge Ti Lung's acting (not that it's all that big of a deal) as there is a plethora of actors hogging the screen much of the time. Aside from the fight scenes, Ti Lung isn't given lots to do save for asking questions and finding clues or getting certain characters out of harms way.
Lo Mang is good, though as Yun Zheng who begins the film as a hot-headed, ill tempered and impulsive swordsman. As the film progresses, he grows into a more mature man who learns discipline only to be cut down in the films best sequence outside of the final fight. He survives the battle but dies after Ti has whisked him away.
Phillip Ko is awesome in his brief screen time as the blind swordsman which may or may not be inspired by Japan's ZATOICHI. Being unfamiliar with Gu Long's novel I can't really say. Ko pulls off some great moves and displays some charisma as well as getting a few good lines before his exit from the film. Forms specialist Yang Tsing Tsing portrays his mute partner. She gets to show off some moves as well only not as much as in other films like TREASURE HUNTERS (1981).
Arguably, the most memorable character in the film would be Feng Jiu You who has a clawed, green hand and possesses a blood sucking sword(!) which relieves his victims of their red stuff.
One of a number of colorful exponents for this lively and entertaining swordplay movie, the choreography is far more brutal and aggressive than what is found in Chu Yuan's more mannered film versions of Gu Long and Jin Yong novels. Handled by Yuen Chueng Yan from the famed Yuen Clan, he himself, like his more famous relation Yuen Woo Ping, has appeared in and choreographed countless movies over an illustrious career spanning near 40 years.
For Wuxia fans most definitely but kung fu fans should enjoy the energetic fight scenes only be prepared to get lost in the story and multitude of characters if you're not paying complete attention to what's transpiring on screen.