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Starring
:
Ti
Lung
Ching
Li
Ku
Feng
Ouyang
Pei-Shan
Cheng
Ke-Wei
Kwan
Hoi San
Ku
Kwun-Chung
Shum
Lo
Director
:
Chu
Yuan
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ROVING
SWORDSMAN (1980)
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
After
being saved from impending arrest by the timely intervention
of a mysterious swordsman, a known bandit finds himself
enlisted by the Murung family in their bid to rule the martial
world. Their plan is to steal a famous manual that details how
firearms can be produced and to then mobilise their army
against China. At the head of this evil plot is a swordswoman
who is the last living Murung, her assistant 'Chameleon' and a
band of deadly assassins intent on tracking down the manual.
Unfortunately for them, the detailed book is in the possession
of a righteous family who are ably protected by legendary
swordsman Shen (Lung) and who have no intention of relinquishing
their treasure. As the Murung-led clan think of fiendish
schemes to achieve their goal, the supremely intelligent Shen
remains one step ahead of the enemy.
'Roving
Swordsman' is the kind of swordplay film that artists like Ti
Lung and Chu Yuan were churning out in their sleep during the
Shaws heyday. The main difference here, though, is that this
is a production that doesn't look to the works of Gu Long for
inspiration. This immediately means that 'Roving Swordsman'
has a far less enigmatic storyline than films like 'Clans
Of Intrigue' and 'The
Jade Tiger'. While many may pine for the baffling
plot-twists and outrageous double-crosses, there is something
comforting about the relatively linear plot that 'Roving
Swordsman' employs. There are a few moments of duplicity, but
they are used sparingly. Therefore, even though I would call
myself a fan (with a small 'f') of Gu Long adaptations,
'Roving Swordsman' is an intriguing move away from his
conventions.
While
'Roving Swordsman' scores points for keeping the plot
straightforward, it does seem to run out of steam well before
the end of its modest running time. While the battle of wits
is entertaining a could have been expanded upon, the finale is
overlong and unoriginal. Even in 1980 the 'fight in a hall of
mirrors' must have seemed a mite tiresome especially when it
goes on for as long as it does here. The majority of the
swordplay genre doesn't necessarily require exceptional
choreography to succeed, but the final twenty minutes are
possibly the production's weakest section.
Though
this late Chu Yuan/Ti Lung feature isn't near the genre apex,
it at least offers a few reminders of why Chu Yuan's
directorial style is more appealing than many of his contemporaries.
As is always noted, Yuan's productions always boast above
average set design with each environment managing to have an
atmosphere all its own. This means that it stands out in this
very crowded genre and acts as a reminder as to why the style
of Chu Yuan still appears striking to this day. 'Roving
Swordsman' can be criticised for its lack of polish in many
areas, but its visual vibrancy remains impressive.
It
may be a routine swordplay flick that ambles along with little
revolutionary, but 'Roving Swordsman' is nonetheless watchable
enough to warrant a purchase. Ti Lung - the consummate
professional - plays the invincible hero with expected élan
while the supporting cast are solid enough to offer fine
supporting to the leading man. The vehicle for their talents
may not leave a long-lasting effect on the viewer, but there's
far worse on offer - just don't expect a masterpiece.
Rating:
 
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