Shui yue men (1978) Poster

(1978)

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5/10
The star had limited on screen time
ckormos15 December 2020
The swords man stops about eight riders and kills them all for revenge. David Chiang arrives at night and kills him. Looking glamorous in gold, David visits a musician. They discuss death. Next, his master orders him to kill more bad guys. He meets his target's cute daughter. He hangs around with her, waiting for father to return home. Because he his hot for the daughter he spares the father. Master now sends men to kill the traitor, David Chiang.

He does not kill the men sent to kill him. A mysterious man in black appears. (Mars?) He kills them all. Two one-armed guys attack next. David defeats them but does not kill. Again, the man in black kills them. Later, four guys discuss revenge.

David and his girl arrive at her uncle's place. The four guys discuss if they are doing the right thing. They are attacked by ninjas. Cut to a windy street where a guy in black approaches Jason Pai Piao. He is a sword for hire and hired to kill David. They fight and admire each other's skill so much I thought they were going to turn gay.

David learns someone killed his father. The four guys think David killed his own father. The musician is back and he accused David of killing THEIR father. David accuses the uncle. David is poisoned but everyone is alive for the final fight.

I have the DVD version. It has four other fights from different movies as bonus material. It plays as wide screen but the picture seems cropped and too close up. The fights are average for the year and that's all I rate it.
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4/10
A minor Shaw imitation
Leofwine_draca4 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
STRIFE FOR MASTERY is one of many cheap wuxia films that David Chiang shot after departing from the Shaw Brothers studio. This one sees the star playing the usual white-clad hero who just so happens to be the son of a feudal lord. At the film's outset, Chiang is tasked with taking down a top assassin who has been plaguing the countryside, but our hero has a crisis of conscience and can't complete his job. He also disappears for long stretches of the screen time, unfortunately, and those who replace him aren't very interesting. The acting is sub-par and the most fun comes from spotting familiar faces in minor roles (Jason Pai Piao, Mars, Fat Chung) and the ways that this film tries so hard to be a Shaw movie.
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9/10
Great Classic Kung-Fu Film!
PoBoSox3 September 2005
Known as Flaming Swords, this film is a great example of a classic Kung Fu movie. Shaw Brother's former movie star, David Chiang, plays the role of a son sent out by his father to execute a criminal. While the story finally begins to unfold, major conflict is taken to his own family, and those closest to them help wage battle.

The fighting sequences are unbelievable (well thought up and choreographed). The dubbing comes out to be a bit cheesy at times, but acceptable with a good plot that can be hard to follow unless you listen carefully.

This film is remembered to be David Chiang's last old school Kung Fu movie. The story is a wonderful mystery with a big surprise ending that ends with a brutal but great execution.

I give the film a 9/10 for its time, and a high recommendation to those who love old school Kung Fu films.
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