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The Swordsman Details

1990 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 551 members

The first of the opulent epic series, starring Cheung as the original tippling Swordsman Ling, who, with his sidekick Kiddo, must return a magical scroll to its rightful place in the Imperial palace. Inaugurates the lavish production style and dynamic cinematography that echo throughout the series--as well as the ebullient, .. Read more

Starring Jacky Cheung, Sam Hui, Ching-Ying Lam, Shun Lau
Director Siu-Tung Ching, Ching Siu Tung
Genres Action/Adventure, World Cinema

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The Swordsman cover art

The Swordsman

The first of the opulent epic series, starring Cheung as the original tippling Swordsman Ling, who, with his sidekick Kiddo, must return a magical scroll to its rightful place in the Imperial palace. Inaugurates the lavish production style and dynamic cinematography that echo throughout the series--as well as the ebullient, infectious theme song, "Hero of Heroes."

Starring Jacky Cheung, Sam Hui, Ching-Ying Lam, Shun Lau
Director Siu-Tung Ching, Ching Siu Tung
Studio E1 ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 53 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Action/Adventure, World Cinema
Language DVD: Cantonese, Chinese
Hearing-impaired English
Released DVD: 19 May 2003
Production year: 1990
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Swordsman

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  • "...A whirlwind of a movie....It has a blithe spirit, a sense of humor, style to burn and a genuine aura of enchanting screen magic..."

    • Los Angeles Times
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

  • Rather tendentiously credited to the veteran King Hu (it was supposed to be a comeback film for the director of A... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of The Swordsman

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  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Disappointing

    Being a bit of a Hong Kong film nut, I knew that The Swordsman had a reputation as a ground-breaking martial arts extravaganza. I also own Swordsman 3 (aka The East is Red)which is a typical slice of Hong Kong madness and which I really enjoyed.

    However, Swordsman 1 is pretty disappointing. As usual there are an astounding amount of characters with different motivations all vying for screen time and complicating the plot no end, but the fight scenes (which is what Hong Kong movies are all about)were poorly shot, lacked urgency and were generally very confusing.

    However, you do get the original Mr Vampire priest - Lam Ching Ying - singing a whimsical (and appalling) song and the usual mistaken-sex comedy moments that no self-respecting Hong Kong film from the '80s could do without.

    Below average.

  • Most recent members' review of The Swordsman

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  • Rated - 1 star

    Swordsman

    I was looking forward to watching this film, but I felt the hype was more than the film. It was a bit of a let down.

    Hope the sequel is much better.

      • A customer from London
      • Posted 16 Jan 2009 17:02

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Rating breakdown

551 Member ratings
  • 100
38
  • 90
23
  • 80
65
  • 70
73
  • 60
120
  • 50
78
  • 40
55
  • 30
40
  • 20
37
  • 10
22

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    • The Swordsman

    • The Swordsman
      The first of the opulent epic series, starring Cheung as the original tippling Swordsman Ling, who, with his sidekick Kiddo, must return a magical scroll to its rightful place in the Imperial palace. Inaugurates the lavish production style and dynamic cinematography that echo throughout the series--...