Hong Kong powerhouses Derek Yee and Tsui Hark team up to bring this lavish, beautifully made production to the fans. A loose remake of 1977's fantastic Death Duel which starred Derek Yee in the lead role - both of which are a take on the novel by Gu Long, this update was made for the 3D market although still highly impresses when watched as normal.
While a little confusing in the long-run, of which I put down to its main leads Kenny Lin and Peter Ho looking too much alike as well as its interconnecting flashbacks, the film does entertain enough to keep you watching - finally ironing itself out in the later half.
With incredible sets and locations (some of which are CGI enhanced), beautiful costumes and non-stop swordplay/wire-fu action, Swordmaster is a stunningly polished version of films such as Zu Warriors; Swordsman 2; Moon Warriors; Bride With White Hair and many more - and to me, falls very easily alongside those classics as one of the best in its genre.
Kenny Lin (Taking of Tiger Mountain; The Great Wall) strangely enough reminds me of Kenny Ho (Red Wolf; Project A 2) and impresses as the lead of the film, hiding in a brothel and neighbouring village as Useless Chi, avoiding the troubles and nightmares that plague him from his earlier days with his father and cult leader Hsieh, played by the wonderful Norman Tsui Siu Keung.
Peter Ho as the tattooed face assassin Yen Shi San is just brilliant, with his opening scene on the snowy bridge setting the pace for the rest of the film and taking part in the most of the films major action scenes wonderfully choreographed by the fantastic Yuen Bun and Dion Lam.
With plenty of great characters and performances, there is hardly a slow moment throughout the whole film, with every shot beautifully framed and captured, it just keeps your eyes glued to the screen for its full running time. Swordmaster may suffer from a few minor CG flaws as well as the aforementioned story telling at the beginning, but its a damn near perfect wu xia film and one I have enjoyed re-watching time and time again...
Overall: A stunningly action-packed revisit to HK's golden years in style, Swordsman is highly recommended!
