This is the third time I watched this movie in the past six years so I decided to add a review. Typically I start by summing up the initial action to make sure we are talking about the same movie. Some of these old martial arts movies have many titles. No chance of that problem with this movie.
Chang Yi started as a leading man at Shaw Brothers in 1967 with King Cat. He had no martial arts skills initially but anyone can tell by watching his progression of movies over just four years that this guy has been training hard off camera. I estimate he is at black level in this film and he gets better in years to come. He will continue with many lead roles then to lead villains. But not at Shaw Brothers as his star is dimming there already. His last lead roles at Shaw Brothers were in 1972 and he even was even deleted from a movie that year (Finger of Doom).
Ivy Ling Po was a top star for Shaw Brothers. (If the only movie she ever made was "The Love Eterne" she would be no less famous.) She started acting as a young teenager in the 1950s but by now she was in her thirties. Asian actresses tended to marry wealthy men at that time and disappear from the public eye. Ivy did just that and retired to Canada. Suddenly in 2002 she had a career resurgence and a concert tour.
Overall this was a good movie for story and action. I have two small complaints. I did not like the hokey weapons such as the Shaking Trident and the Retractable Dragon Sword and the Shield of Smoke and Darts. I can understand the action directors wanting to be creative but I think China has plenty of interesting authentic weapons and that's all you need. Also the large cat head or devil head (I can't even tell what it is supposed to be) behind Ku Feng's throne looks like a toddler drew it. The pulsating lights in the eyes made it look dumber still.
Anyway, still rated above average and recommended by this fan.
