Review of Swordsman, The

Introduction

A quick glance at the disc details for this disc shows not one but 6 directors, and this isn`t a collection of short films, it`s just one. Four directors are credited in the opening credits, and the ever reliable Tsui Hark is on hand as a producer and also got stuck in to a bit of directing.

The story is outlined above, essentially a fantasy tale concerning the hunt for a missing scroll, with lots of deception along the way.

How does this broth that was overseen by so many cooks taste?

Video

A 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer greets us on this disc (cropped from the original 1.85:1 I believe, but I don`t know why). It`s not quite up to the usual Hong Kong Legends standards, but it`s not far off. It`s still pretty good given the age of the print - almost entirely free from dust and dirt, but with some traces of grain, and a lack of detail at times.

Visually this film contains a hell of a lot of wire-work (it`s a fantasy tale after all), so if this is not your bag, stay well away. And despite being called The Swordsman, the swords are a little thin on the ground (for my liking anyway). Fans of this genre should love this film, as there`s plenty of action throughout with different styles, moves and weapons used along the way. A visual treat.

Audio

A DD5.1 Cantonese soundtrack, which appears to be a remix of the original soundtrack. The remix is very subtle (once again, that`s a nice way of saying that they haven`t done very much with it), and this isn`t a soundtrack that will test your speakers. It`s almost entirely directed at the front soundstage. Dialogue is fine, and there`s not a lot else to say. There is a cheese-filled "singing bit" during the film, but that`s why fast forward was invented.

There`s also an English dub track which I didn`t sample heavily, although it sounded ok when I did.

Features

Another Hong Kong Legends DVD almost inevitably means another commentary track from Bey Logan. He is his usual "full of information" self (as ever), and it`s yet another of his commentary tracks that`s well worth listening to. Surely the undisputed king of commentary?

Playing second fiddle to the commentary this time round are 2 interviews, with Yuen Wah and Cecilia Yip, and they cover their work on the film, as well as some more general comments on Hong Kong film-making.

You can also find trailers for the film, and trailers and information about other DVDs from Hong Kong Legends and their new spin-off Premier Asia.

Conclusion

A very good and very entertaining film, presented on a solid DVD. The best tribute I can pay is that you can`t really "see the joins" between all the different directors that got involved in this project. You`re too engrossed in the action unfolding before your eyes, loving every minute of the fight scenes.

As I mentioned earlier, there`s a heavy emphasis on the wire work in this film, so if this is not your thing then stay away. I know I`m repeating myself, but I think it`s important to do so. However, if you enjoyed the Once Upon A Time In China series, Iron Monkey or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, then this is another film for you to seek out.

The disc itself is good, with reasonable picture and sound backed up by an excellent commentary and a couple of interviews.

Well worth adding to your Hong Kong Legends collection!