Shu Shan – Xin Shu shan jian ke (1983)

Shu Shan – Xin Shu shan jian ke: Directed by Hark Tsui. With Adam Cheng, Brigitte Lin, Damian Lau, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung. A Chinese soldier in an ancient civil war flees the battlefield and gets caught up in a fantastical quest to save the world from evil.

“This eye-popping, special-effects-laden Asian fantasy is a real feast for the eyes. It stars Yuen Biao as a soldier who, fed up with the constant and seemingly pointless civil war, deserts his platoon only to find himself caught in another battle. He escapes the battle by falling off a cliff, but descends unharmed into a cave, where he is rescued from an attack by glow-eyed flying demons by a fantastic warrior with a magical flying sword. He goes under the tutelage of the warrior, who is reluctant to take on a new pupil. What follows, words cannot aptly describe. Suffice it to say, itu0026#39;s an absolutely frenzied mix of action, special effects and bizarre, magical occurrences. The action is non-stop and the editing is laser-paced. I was absolutely exhausted by the end of the film. The cast is likewise first-rate. I was impressed especially by Sammo Hung in a dual role: as Yuen Biaou0026#39;s soldier buddy, and as Long Brows, the ancient priest who holds the Blood Monster at bay using his u0026quot;sky mirroru0026quot; and magical extending beard and eyebrows…Youu0026#39;d have to see it to understand. Suffice to say that thereu0026#39;s many moments in this film that will have you thinking, u0026quot;I have no idea whatu0026#39;s going on, but it sure *looks* cool.u0026quot; Trust me, you wonu0026#39;t be able to tear your eyes from the screen.”