Holy Flame of the Martial World

Tony Lou Chun-Ku's 1983 Hong Kong film follows a brother and sister seeking revenge for their parents' deaths. They search for a legendary sword and meet booby-trapped temples, demons and cult-like clans along the way. The film carries wuxia as far as it will go in a fantastical direction. Flying swords, beams from palms and transforming bodies are ordinary elements; logic is not sought and the fights abandon physics entirely. It is one of the late works of the Shaw Brothers studio. The effects are handmade and look naive today, but the choreography and pace are above the standard of the period. The narrative is crowded and moves through a large number of characters quickly. Who it's for: those who like fantastical wuxia and eighties Hong Kong productions. Who it's not for: viewers looking for realistic fight scenes; the film is supernatural throughout.