Chik Ming Sing (Ti Lung) is about as vicious as a cold-blooded killer can be: raised by the bloodthirsty Hung (Ku Feng), leader of the infamous Iron Boat Clan (whose hideout looks like the inside of a giant ship, with a potbellied eagle overlooking the main room), Chik will kill at the drop of a (sedge) hat. In flashbacks, we learn that he was mortally wounded during one raid, but was found and befriended by the "Kwai" family (not the patriarch's real name). For the first time in his life, he has experienced kindness. Once he has recuperated, he leaves and rejoins his wayward companions. Their next raid turns out to be- surprise- the home of the "Kwai" family. Chik tries to stop the slaughter, but fails. Chik later kills a pregnant woman, who turns out to be the wife of Cheuk Yi Fan (Alexander Fu Sheng), before being banished from the Iron Boat Clan. Chik encounters Cheuk (way back at the beginning of the movie) without knowing who he is. As things progress, Cheuk learns that Chik intends to die at his hands. Not your typical tale of vengeance, and an outstanding movie overall.
Review of The Avenging Eagle
