While they are hardly alone, no one in Hong Kong cinema carries a reputation quite like The Shaw Brothers. With rare exception one can rely on their features for outstanding martial arts action and gorgeous visuals, and a standard of high quality in all other regards is just a common bonus. Rest assured that with fluid, fast-paced, artistic fight choreography and stunts that first expectation is fulfilled; as we're treated to phenomenal, heavily detailed sets, costume design, hair and makeup, and some swell practical effects, the second expectation is also well met. In those ways that we anticipate most from the famed production company, 'The spirit of the sword' delivers just what we came for. Unfortunately, however, in other critical capacities this picture is far less impressive, and to be frank the viewing experience is troubled, if not also aggravating, and genuinely exhausting. I can't believe I'm saying this, but in all honesty, this is the first Shaw Brothers title I've seen that outright disappointed me.
Between the editing and even more so the direction, the pacing in these ninety minutes is untenably swift from moment to moment even in individual scenes, diminishing all possible impact of action and story alike. On paper that story has some value, yet it hamstrings itself for the fact that the antagonist to be revealed in the third act turns out to be a figure whose villainy had been indicated within the first few minutes. It's the aching dullness of kids' cartoons: "Gosh golly, who could the bad guy be behind the nefarious plot this week? The same bad guy as every other week?! Wow, no way!" Furthermore, in execution that story suffers not only from the forced pacing, but from dialogue and scene writing that poorly communicate plot development, and any details, while squashing the narrative into a length of film that is too small for it. As a result, the whole narrative just feels terribly unwieldy, reduced from suitable potential to a gawky, clumsy mess. Moreover, there are times when the dialogue and scene writing share baffling traits with too many instances of the direction and cinematography, and some practical effects: there is a flummoxing, childish simplicity, lack of sophistication, and extremely on the nose approach taken toward some odds and ends that is plainly off-putting. Despite the finesse that the movie illustrates at its best, there is an unpolished sloppiness to wide swaths of the length that almost suggests the uncareful artificiality we suppose of low-budget family-friendly fare.
How could there be such a glaring disparity between the fight choreography, and the aesthetics and visuals at large, set against woefully sloppy construction in numerous essential ways? What happened here, as compared to most anything else the company churned out? I don't think it's literally true but there comes a point where it feels like there is less action than there is dubious plot development; there definitely comes a point where the best strengths of the production no longer compensate for its weaknesses. Admittedly I couldn't pinpoint when that was, but I can say that the minutes drag by, and in all sincerity 'The spirit of the sword' feels about twice as long as it is. It's not 100% rotten, but for all the terrific features that The Shaw Brothers made, boasting the same worth this does but without its flaws, why would we want to spend time here in the first place? No doubt other folks will watch this and find it highly enjoyable; I'm sad that I sat to watch assuming the greatness I always do of so storied a production company, and step away wishing I had chosen something else to watch. Check it out if you want, I won't stop you, but as far as I'm concerned you should skip right past this and keep browsing.
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