This is the second in the SAM trilogy, a much more action-packed entry into the series than the first film, WHITE LOTUS CULT.
In this Sam (To Siu Chung) battles against the corrupt Chinese officials who would allow the evil Foreigners to smuggle opium into the country against the express wishes of the Emperor. This really was a problem in China during the closing years of the 19th Century and ultimately led to the Boxer uprising.
Here, Sam enters a martial arts tournament, using the White Lotus skills he learned during the first movie, in order to win enough money to repay debts run up by his pal Tsan with a bunch of unsavoury Triad opium dealers. Needless to say, Sam wins, but this brings him to the attention of some highly-placed Chinese officials. Sam teams with the Imperial Investigator and the decent Admiral Kuan (Yue Hoi) to root out the corrupt individuals behind the opium trade.
In addition, Sam's relationship with Tieh (Yip Chuen-Chun) is put to the test when the villain's daughter Keke (Fennie Yuen), whom we glimpsed briefly in the first movie, develops a crush on Sam and does her best to steal him away from Tieh.
All in all, SAM THE IRON BRIDGE (CHAMPION OF MARTIAL ARTS) is a well-executed, lavishly-budgeted and superior entry in the field of martial arts movies and is well worth 91 minutes of anyone's time.
In this Sam (To Siu Chung) battles against the corrupt Chinese officials who would allow the evil Foreigners to smuggle opium into the country against the express wishes of the Emperor. This really was a problem in China during the closing years of the 19th Century and ultimately led to the Boxer uprising.
Here, Sam enters a martial arts tournament, using the White Lotus skills he learned during the first movie, in order to win enough money to repay debts run up by his pal Tsan with a bunch of unsavoury Triad opium dealers. Needless to say, Sam wins, but this brings him to the attention of some highly-placed Chinese officials. Sam teams with the Imperial Investigator and the decent Admiral Kuan (Yue Hoi) to root out the corrupt individuals behind the opium trade.
In addition, Sam's relationship with Tieh (Yip Chuen-Chun) is put to the test when the villain's daughter Keke (Fennie Yuen), whom we glimpsed briefly in the first movie, develops a crush on Sam and does her best to steal him away from Tieh.
All in all, SAM THE IRON BRIDGE (CHAMPION OF MARTIAL ARTS) is a well-executed, lavishly-budgeted and superior entry in the field of martial arts movies and is well worth 91 minutes of anyone's time.
