Review of The One-Armed Swordsman

'The One-Armed Swordsman (1967)' is surprisingly light on action considering that it's often credited with kick-starting its martial arts genre. The way in which the eponymous swordsman earns the 'one-armed' portion of his name is also somewhat underwhelming, if relatively subversive. Most of the movie follows its protagonist's recovery and budding relationship with the woman that saved his life, with a side-plot of clashing clans eventually forcing our hero to take up the sword once more. Though it is somewhat slow, the flick has a handful of entertaining action sequences and a generally engaging central drama. Can the protagonist get back to his former formidable self? If so, should he? Themes of honour, duty and the cyclical nature of violence resonance throughout the piece. They keep things relatively interesting even during the thing's less eventful segments. When the action does kick off, it's well-choreographed and exciting. It hits the pulpy sweet spot you'd expect it to. 6/10