Genre: Drama

‘The Hero Of Swallow’ retains a few likeable old-school qualities that just about save it from falling below the three star mark.

For anyone who wants a change from the late-70s kung fu comedy cycle, ‘The Heroes’ is a film that is heartily recommended.

Chang Cheh’s ‘The Heroic Ones’ is an ambitious and sumptuous martial arts epic that set a benchmark for Shaw Brothers at its time of release.

However smartly presented this big budget hit is, it is the dry Korean eccentricity, Bong Joon-Ho’s confident orchestration and the actors at the forefront who make this so captivating.

This slice of social-realism is about as far from the stereotypical Shaw Brothers output as can be imagined, though that should not deter viewers looking out for this well-acted, well-paced piece of Hong Kong cinema.

Ichikawa has put together an attractive and professional interpretation of one of Japan’s beloved characters.

Though the comedy is perhaps too obtrusive at times and does little to advance the film, there is lots to offer fans of the genre.

Director Frankie Chan does, to his credit, use some intriguing environments and fully capitalises on the grandeur of the wild landscape. However he pays little intention to any logical development of plot or characters.

Any Sammo Hung fan would love this film, as would anyone who enjoys old-school martial arts flicks.

Popular in its day ‘The Jade Bow’ now is more of historical interest for fans of wuxia pien, its thrills done bigger and better elsewhere.

Even fans of the convoluted martial world of the swordplay genre may find ‘Jade Tiger’ a tiresome 90 minutes.

‘The Kid’ offers very little that’s new or different. Nonetheless it commands the attention with some earnest acting and straight-forward directing.