Sharkflei
Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.
Bergorks
If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.
Philippa
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Isbel
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
dafrosts
Having just watched Jimmy Yu Wang in One-Armed Boxer, and enjoying it, I figured this would be just as good. Boy, was I wrong. Jimmy Yu Wang is wooden in his depiction of Silver Roc Xiao Pang/Hsiao Peng. He doesn't have the charisma here that he exuded in One-Armed Boxer. He seems more like a man in serious need of Lamictal.His obsession with Golden Swallow (Cheng Pei-Pei), is so intense he frames her for murders by leaving her Darts at every scene. He wants to draw her out. Setting her up for them murders of many villains was his only option? A letter would have done a better job. And, she wouldn't be dealing with nutjobs coming out of the woodwork to exact revenge for things Silver Roc did.I felt so bad for Golden Whip Han Tao (Lieh Lo). He saved Golden Swallow from from certain death. He nursed her back to life. He even sparred with her to keep her Kung Fu levels above par. And, she spends 3 years (Yup, Han Tao spent 3 years at her side) pining over the unrequited love of Silver Roc. Han Tao puts up with it because he too is in love with her.Silver Roc, when not setting Golden Swallow up, spends most of his time at a brothel with Mei Niang (Chiu Sam-Yin). He uses her as, a substitute for Golden Swallow. You know the saying, if you cant be with the one you love, love the one you're with - however, Silver Roc makes it quite clear he has no feelings for Mei. He'd rather wax nostalgic over Golden Swallow, kill any baddie that crosses his path and of course, set Golden Swallow up for his crimes. Yeah, talk about toxic love.Han Tao follows Golden Swallow in her search for Silver Roc. She needs to decide which one she loves more. It's quite clear from the moment she realizes Silver Roc is her old school chum, that her heart belongs to him. She constantly reminds Han Tao he's been friend-zoned.The men finally meet and prepare to duel. Silver Roc's attempts to act all cool and nonchalant come off more annoying than impressive. His attitude is not believable, in my honest opinion. He spends most of the time looking like he'll collapse from a lack of sleep.The best parts of this film are the brief, and a I do mean brief, appearances of other well known Shaw Brothers Actors. Lau Kar Leung and brother Wing are baddies who are bumped off by Silver Fox. Ku Feng is a father who's son is accused of stealing a goose because the accuser wants Ku Feng's house to add to his property. Sadly, the boy kills himself to prove his innocence and Ku Feng is murdered by the accusers cronies.If you blink, you'll miss Wang Kuang-Yu as Lin Qian and Cliff Lok as Fang Ying, who are both killed off by Golden Swallow in a fight at a restaurant. The best moment is seeing David Chiang Da Wei as an eavesdropping brothel clerk. Now, there's someone who could have breathed the missing life into Silver Roc. David Chiang Da Wei would have given Silver Roc his signature over confident smirk and it would have made this movie pop. Silver Roc and Han Tao's duel is merely a precursor to more unrequited love confessions between Silver Roc and Golden Swallow. Han Tao misinterprets Silver Roc's leap toward him and stabs Silver Roc mid-air. Silver Roc was actually aiming for Poison Dragon Wang Xiong (Yeung Chi-Hing). Xiong was sneaking up on Golden Swallow and Silver Roc wanted to protect
her.The dying Silver Roc demands Han Tao take Golden Swallow home, so she can't watch Silver Roc die. But, it's okay for Mei to hang around for the final curtain. Silver Roc hangs on to kill off a few more baddies before doing his version of James Cagney's "Made it Ma. Top of the World" from White Heat.Golden Swallow and Mei bury Silver Roc between Golden Swallow's and Han Tao's homes. Yeah, that wouldn't be an issue for any man. Han Tao packs up and announces he's leaving - a good choice. He assures Golden Swallow they'll never meet again - also a good choice.This is not a good Jimmy Yu Wang movie. It is, a great fight film. If you like checking out Shaw Brothers' actor in their younger days, this is one to watch. Otherwise, skip it.
dworldeater
Golden Swallow was a sort of sequel to King Hu's classic Come Drink With Me and the name of the film. Golden Swallow is also the name of returning character by actress Cheng Pei Pei, but is more of a vehicle for Jimmy Wang Yu. This is much different from Come Drink With Me, but is also a classic in its own right. This was directed by Chang Cheh and is a very sharp looking, action packed and well put together swordplay film. Performances are excellent and Cheng Pei Pei becomes involved in a love triangle between the righteous Iron Whip( Lo Lieh) and the ruthless Silver Roc(Wang Yu). Together the three of them must fight off an evil kung fu clan that Silver Roc had ticked off, but targeted Golden Swallow. In this film Wang Yu shines as revenge seeking anti hero as he slaughters a slew of bad guys in a gory fashion. He lives in a brothel and is greatly admired and adored by the ladies that live there. He is a great swordsman indeed, if you get my drift. But, what a cool character and Wang Yu does a great job in carrying the film while stealing a little thunder from Cheng Pei Pei and Lo Lieh, who both did an excellent job as well. Lo Lei is best known for playing villains, but he is great here as the heroic and honorable Iron Whip. Golden Swallow is very bloody and action packed and a very good earlier film from the legendary Chang Cheh.
poe426
SILVER ROC (a.k.a. GOLDEN SWALLOW) features Wang Yu (again sporting more eyeliner than a $5 hooker) as yet another of those swordsmen whose Magic Sword Technique fells attackers by the dozens with but a single stroke. (Which is one of the reasons I prefer kung fu movies to swordplay movies: taking a swipe at a crowd of extras with a sword and having them all topple like tenpins- spurting blood- is nowhere near as interesting as some good, old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat.) We see Wang Yu in action early on against a band of mountain bandits, whom he proceeds to lay waste with sword and darts. He leaves behind his calling card, a golden dart- suggesting it's all the handiwork of Golden Swallow (Cheng Pei Pei). While she pines for Roc, he spends his spare time in a brothel. Oh, he composes a poem to her (and never fails to leave HER calling card behind at the scenes of carnage he's unleashing), but he DOES live in the brothel... When he singlehandedly decimates the local branch of The Golden Dragon Clan, he once again leaves behind her calling card. Golden Swallow, meanwhile, has to carefully fend off the subtle amorous advances of Golden Whip, Han Tao (Lo Lieh, in perhaps his most sympathetic role ever). We glimpse David Chiang in a bit part as a brothel guard, but, despite the title, this one's all about Wang Yu. The "Coup De Grace" move he's known for (an air-borne attack, courtesy of some Old School wirework) is seen only once, and it doesn't quite live up to its reputation. Not Chang Cheh's best by a mile, but not terrible, either.
Boba_Fett1138
This movie quite surprised me. Not only because it's such a great one but because I liked it even better than its predecessor "Da zui xia" as well."Da zui xia" was already a surprising good movie, that besides was a genre defining one. It was one of the first 'modern' Kung Fu movies, with plenty of sword fights and action in it. But this is perhaps why I liked this sequel better; it's even more action filled! Not only does the movie feature some amazing and spectacular fight choreography in it but it's made even more spectacular and amazing thanks to the way it got shot. It has some absolutely wonderful cinematography in it, especially during all of its fight scenes. I also quite liked the hand-held camera-work during some of the sword-fights. I'm not too sure about but I believe that this is something I have never seen before in a genre movie like this.Because the movie is so action packed, it becomes a truly entertaining one to watch, with a pleasant fast pace to it as well. The story still finds some room to throw in a love-story as well but it does this in a quite original way. It's a sort of love triangle love-story that plays out nicely for its story.The character played by Pei-pei Cheng gets pushed somewhat more to the background this time but it's OK, since the movie brings in a lot of more awesome characters to replace her with. What I like about the character's is that you're constantly changing your opinions about them. Some of them start out as villains, who eventually turn out to be good guys after all.It's not featuring a that complicated or well written story but it's serving its purpose well for the movie. It takes the movie to lots of beautiful looking places, where we meet all kinds of awesome characters, who often get into a fight with each other. Seriously, I can't see how someone could not like this movie, even when you aren't very familiar with the genre yet. It's simple entertainment but oh so well made and brought to the screen! 9/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/