Swordsman II (Xiao ao jiang hu zhi dong fang bu bai, 1991)

Ching Siu-Tung

Hong Kong

110 mins, color, Cantonese (English subtitles)

How many films can one see just because Brigitte Lin is in them? I don't know, I have yet to reach my limit. SWORDSMAN II, the sequel that was made only because of the unexpected popularity of its predecessor, in turn spawned a sequel of its own (usually known as THE EAST IS RED) due to the unexpected popularity of Asia the Invincible, the character played by the talented Lin. This film is regularly showered with copious praise and tends to appear in many Top 10 lists of HK aficionados. It is also given as an example of Ching Siu-Tung's skills as director and Tsui Hark's talent as a producer. I think that the film is overhyped.

If one is into magic swordplay, wirework up the wazoo, "sword energy" tearing up people into gazillion of remarkably bloodless pieces, an innumerable host of "stances" that involve everyday actions, like sucking in people's heads, and scrolls whose mastering requires, ahem, somewhat unconventional methods, then SWORDSMAN II is the film to see. It is also the film to see if one digs Brigitte Lin (as one should) or if one wants to see various beauties fall for Jet Li in his glory days before he started doing these awful action flicks this side of the pond.

Unfortunately (for me), Ching Siu-Tung ruined what could have been a captivating story by his excessive attention to flying people and body parts, unhealthy addiction to wide-angle camera lenses, and obnoxious choice of Cantopop. With his usual style-over-substance approach, he skillfully snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and turned a potentially explosive film into a staple of swordplay flick theaters. A few words about the story and why it could have been great.

As common to HK films of this genre, the background involves feuding factions of a sect. The original leader, Master Wu (Yan Yee Kwan), has been betrayed and imprisoned by his rival Asia (Brigitte Lin), who has castrated himself in order to master the magical skills of a secret scroll. Ling (Jet Li) travels with his female companion Kiddo (Michelle Reis) to a meeting with other brothers from Wu Tang, so that the group can renounce fighting and retire to some mountain. Incidentally, Ling also wants to meet with Ying (Rosamund Kwan), whose affections he shares.

This relationship drags Ling into the internecine quarrel within the sect for Ying is Wu's daughter. When Ling and Asia accidentally meet, Ling takes the evil master for a woman (as anyone would, she looks gorgeous) and instantly falls for her. In an ironic twist, the physical change has also transformed Asia from a merciless warrior into a "woman" in the sense that s/he develops an attraction toward Ling as well. The two loiter together on several occasions, but Asia never speaks a word lest her/his voice, which has not mutated yet, reveals the true identity.

Eventually, Ling, who is completely unaware of who he has fallen for, succeeds in liberating Wu and restoring him to his clan leadership. This pits Ling squarely against Asia and results in a direct confrontation. Ling, burdened by the doubt that he has spent the night with a man, unleashes his martial skills with unmatched hatred, which Asia, unwilling to use her powers to the full because of her love for Ling, cannot parry.

If it were not for the stupid wire-fu, this story would have been a tear-jerker. Not only is the idea interesting in THE CRYING GAME sort of sense, but the notion that a physical change leads to spiritual transformation is also appealing. Oddly enough, the characters that were supposedly positive, like Ling, turn out to be heartless and affectionless scoundrels. The wicked Asia, on the other hand, emerged as the woman, whose belated conversion fails to save her. (Wu, by the way, is a rotten filthy murderer, who should have been left in his prison to die. He also laughed in a manner most noxious to one's health.) Kiddo and Ying are the most straightforward characters, whose misfortune is to fall in love with the drunkard Ling, who has no problem cavorting with any skirt that passes his way.

Brigitte Lin is simply unforgettable as the (wo)man betrayed by her lover, a role that she reprised, with greater success, in THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR. Although I did not believe for a minute that she was a man (despite the manly voice-over), her skill in portraying the range of emotions running from gentle vulnerability to fierce determination, is self-evident. It is also notable that she never displayed any satisfaction from killing her opponents, unlike the bloodthirsty Wu. Jet Li is OK, but nothing spectacular. The wire-fu affliction of the director prevents him from utilizing his great martial arts skills. The rest of the cast is forgettable (except perhaps Rosamund Kwan, but only for her looks).

If one can ignore what this film is most famous for, then it is definitely a piece of cinema worth seeing.