Cast Member: Wu Ma

This film is a true classic, outdoing other period pieces ‘Drunken Master’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in China’. Go get it!

If you enjoyed the previous two films or perhaps have an affinity for the more old fashioned Shaw Brothers movies, then you’ll no doubt find something to appreciate in ‘The Sword And The Lute’.

While it hasn’t aged well in comparison to ‘Come Drink With Me’ and even some of Chang Cheh’s early work, it still proves to be a mildly diverting Shaw Brothers’ swordplay film.

A four-star movie that, due to its heavy-handed closing shots, loses half a star; the same idea was used with much more sophistication at the end of ‘Anonymous Heroes’.

‘The Water Margin’ is the kind of grandiose masterwork that is enthralling and, despite the presence of three accomplished directors, has a remarkable consistency to it.

‘Those Merry Souls’ has a strong cast, some genuinely funny moments, and a bizarrely entertaining plot.

Although not his most important film and certainly not his most famous, ‘Three Against The World’ is a welcome addition to the Andy Lau canon and certainly worth catching.

‘To Err Is Humane’ provides further proof of Sammo Hung’s versatility and makes a pleasant addition to his vast filmography.

Perhaps the greatest flaw found within this well-made, yet uninspiring swordplay film is its reliance on theatrical melodrama rather than tension or real emotion.

As with the rest of the series, the comedy in ‘Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars’ may not appeal to everyone but there’s certainly enough action on display to entertain any fan of Hong Kong cinema.

Sammo completists or very forgiving genre fans may want to exert the effort to find this relatively rare film, but even they will come away disappointed.

Jackie has never looked better in a one-on-one fight, and while the story is barely memorable, it is still another excellent addition to Hung’s filmmaking resume.