The Sentimental Swordsman

Another archetypical Yuen Chor project. A martial arts film that wins points with its atmospheric sets and moody presentation, but can't quite impress with its action scenes. In many ways, Chor is the yin to Cheh Chang's yang, the two of them made a great pair who helped showcase and establish different sides of the Shaw Bros legacy.

When the wife of a renowned martial artist is targeted by the Plum Blossom Master, he doesn't hesitate and sets out to protect his wife. What he doesn't know is that people are plotting against him, and before he even realizes he is suspected of wanting to kill his wife. He'll need to clear his name, but that won't be easy.

The Shaw Bros sets tend to look pretty fake regardless, which is why I like the fact that Chor used that to his advantage. The attention to detail mixed with the moody use of color and lighting give his film a much-needed boost. The rest is pretty standard Shawn Bros fare, not bad but very much by the numbers. A solid entry in Chor's extensive oeuvre.