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WHAT
PRICE SURVIVAL (1994)
A.K.A.
- One Armed Swordsman '94
Reviewed
by Pat King
When
Wang Ching Kuo (Tsui Siu Keung) wins a duel against Pai Fu Kuo
(David Chiang), Ching Kuo demands that Fu Kuo hands over his
son rather than taking his life. Fu Kuo's son Ning (Wu Hsin
Kuo) grows up not knowing who his real parents are and Ching
Kuo has led him to believe that Fu Kuo is responsible for
their death. With an intense desire for vengeance Ning tracks
Fu Kuo down to take revenge. Ching Kuo, knowing that Ning is
not Fu Kuo's match enlists the help of
Wu An Kuo (Damian Lau) to assist in defeating Fu Kuo.
As Ching Kuo had planned Fu Kuo is defeated and killed.
However Ning sequentially discovers that Fu Kuo was in fact
his real father. Ning confronts Ching Kuo, but unable to
overpower him Ning finds himself on the run with Ching Kuo's
daughter Hsiao Lian (Charlie Yeung). However Ning must face
him again.
'What
Price Survival' was initially billed as a remake of the Chang
Cheh classic 'One
Armed Swordsman'. However this is not the reality as all
the main characters keep all their limbs until the final
showdown. Anyone who wants to see a new take on 'One Armed
Swordsman' however, should instead check out Tsui Hark's 'The
Blade' made the following year.
The
performances are all adequate and the presence of veterans
Tsui, Chiang and Lau are a definite plus point for this film.
I would however be inclined to question Wu Hsin Kuo's ability
to carry a film as the real tedium begins with David Chiang's
exit from the film. The cinematography is also of a very high
standard. The praise however ends therein.
Director
Daniel Lee later took the helm of 'Black
Mask' starring Jet Li. However despite having Yuen Woo
Ping as action choreographer, it still took some criticism
over the MTV style camera and editing techniques employed
during the action sequences. 'What Price Survival' may be the
evidence that Daniel Lee was the guilty party as the same
problem persists, only to a larger degree. While some
sequences aren't that bad others begin to verge on being
unwatchable making it hard to admire the choreography.
Ultimately the action remains rather tedious, which is a shame
when you consider that Tsui Siu Keung and Damian Lau were
participants in some of the industry's most notable sword
battles in Ching Siu Tung's 'Duel to
The Death'.
'What
Price Survival' is also very poorly paced. It plods along very
slowly then at several points threatens to speed up only to
disappoint. This happens most notably when Ning confronts
Ching Kuo. It feels as though the film is really about to gain
momentum only to become more tedious than all that had
preceded it.
'What
Price Survival' is nice to look at on the surface but is
ultimately very tedious and the action sequences make for
insufficient compensation. All in all, dull and boring.
Rating:
  
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