The Blade (1995)
The Blade is a 1995 Hong Kong martial arts film co-written, produced and directed by Tsui Hark, starring Vincent Zhao, Moses Chan, Hung Yan-yan, Song Lei, Austin Wai, Chung Bik-ha and Valerie Chow. This film is notable for its unusual style, which includes dramatic close-ups, employment of colour gels, and frenetic camera use during the fight sequences. In 2014, Time Out polled several film critics, directors, actors and stunt actors to list their top action films, and The Blade was ranked 43rd on the list. In 2009 Quentin Tarantino named The Blade one of his Top 20 favorite films released in the past 17 years.
Plot:
Ding-on is an orphaned blacksmith working in Sharp Foundry, which is run by his master, a friend of his deceased father. The master’s daughter, Ling, who narrates the movie, is romantically attracted to both Ding-on and his colleague, Iron Head. One day, Ding-on and Iron Head see a monk fending off a group of thugs, who later ambush and kill him in revenge. Iron Head is so furious that he identifies himself as someone from Sharp Foundry and taunts the thugs to fight him. The master is angry when he hears of Iron Head’s reckless behaviour so he punishes him. Iron Head holds a grudge against Ding-on for telling their master about the incident.
He becomes even more unhappy when their master announces his decision to make Ding-on his successor.
That night, Ding-on overhears a conversation between Ling and her grandmother, and learns that his father died while saving Ling’s father from Flying Dragon, a notorious heavily-tattooed assassin. Ding-on desires to seek revenge so he takes his father’s weapon, a broken sword (the titular Blade), and bids his master farewell. Ling tries to catch up with him but runs into trouble with the thugs. Ding-on hears Ling’s screams for help and returns to save her. He fights with the thugs but loses his right arm and falls off a cliff.
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Cast:
- Vincent Zhao as Ding-on
- Moses Chan as Iron Head
- Hung Yan-yan as Flying Dragon
- Song Lei as Ling
- Austin Wai as Ling’s father
- Chung Bik-ha as Blackie
- Valerie Chow as prostitute
- Michael Tse as Skeleton
- Chan Wing-chung as monk
- Chin Tsi-ang as Ling’s grandmother
- Szema Wah Lung as Uncle Wah
- Yuen Bun as bandit chief
- Collin Chou as Fast Saber