I'm a fan of both Wu Tang and HK martial arts films.
This movie is good as a kung fu flick, great if you are a Wu Tang fan, just to hear the samples in context.
But as a standalone its quite uneven.
The costumes are pretty decent. Many other films of this era are less picky about such details. I don't know if any are historically accurate, but they at least fit the actors, and have some details.
Sets are not too bad either.
The lighting and cinematography are mediocre. So you have a strange circumstance where you are looking at pretty well dressed actors in a believable set, but the camera is barely in focus lighting seems to mostly be single point or available light. And its 4:3 aspect ratio further takes it down a notch in presentation.
The acting is nothing to write home about. But its really the story that stinks. Its just kind of meanders and there isn't a real compelling story arc or character development.
However the fight choreo is pretty decent.
Thought it might even be Yuen Wo Ping.
Its really one of those films where you are twiddling your thumbs while people are talking then a fight breaks out and it has your attention again.
I'm being a little hard on it because its an 80's film. But it comes off like a 60's or 70's film. It should have better production value. Look at Jimmy Wang Yu's Master of the Flying Guilllotine. It's from 1976 but had better lighting and cinematography. The story is a trite, but it at least has a B plot. And some great characters!
Despite all my quibbles Gordon Liu is great.
