Rating:

Aka: BLOOD DYNASTY / DYNASTY OF BLOOD

Stars: David Chiang, Chen Kuan Tai, Ti Lung, Ching Li

Director: Chang Cheh

Fight Choreography: Liu Chia Liang

1973, Hong Kong, Shaw Bros.

During the Ching dynasty a government official by the name of Ma Hsing I (Ti Lung) meets two brothers Chang Wen Hsiang (David Chiang) and Huang Chung (Chen Kuan Tai) who are stealing to earn their living. Sooner or later they are planing to join the rebels to fight the dynasty but Hsing I changes their minds with his determination to glory. Toghether they form an army and start taking over areas to grow stronger. Ma leaves his brothers and their troops in search for more power and glory. Years later the brothers and their men are invited to join their blood brother who now is a respected and powerful general. The generals abuse of power leads to some dramatic scenes and Chang Wen Hsiang ends up in court.

 

I haven't seen a lot of Shaw Brothers films and this was my first one. It's supposedly based on actual facts from the Chinese Ching dynasty about the famous general Ma Hsing I.

This is an epic costume drama and considered to be Chang Cheh's finest work and it was critically acclaimed and a success world over.

The fights are a little slow and not acrobatic at all, but they’re more than watchable and the excellent plot makes up for that, actually it’s one of the best I’ve seen.

One of the many things that I liked was the fact that it all starts at the end and while David Chiang is telling his story it goes back to the beginning of the story. Very original.

 

Ti Lung is at his prime showing his acting skills as the general and using a straight sword at the beginning and also a form or two from him. His role here is darn impressive and lloks really heroic as the general.

David Chiang is a great actor too and has a couple of average fighting scenes. And shows some three sectional staff work.

Chen Kuan Tai however is not to great as an actor here and and his martial abilities are not shown to the fullest. He uses the butterfly swords. Still, this movie made an instant star out of him.

There are also some over acting guys that seem never to stop rolling down the mountain when they're killed.

If you can get this masterpiece in original language buy it without doubt, and make sure it's in widescreen so you don't miss anything from the well planned and beatiful scenes.

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