The Magic Blade (1976)

If you are in the mood for a movie with--an assassin disguised as a tree and another who hides underground; cannibalism; explosive go pieces, baskets, and peacock feathers; poisoned blades, darts, food, drinks, creeks and incense; people cleaved in half and blown up; people literally disarmed; a human chess battle (long before Harry Potter); and almost non-stop sword action and kung fu this might be for you.

Lo Lieh isn't dressed in black as usual but a fashion conscious lord of some sort. Fast swordsman but not exactly the sharpest blade in the drawer. Ti Lung is fast and smart. Good thing because they have to fight for their lives against greater forces from beginning to end. Few people are who they seem to be and betrayals abound. As do plot holes. It seems like everyone is an assassin in disguise-an old woman, children, women, men, a man with a woman's voice. Hidden underneath the blood and subterfuge is a sad morality tale about power and money. The sets and costumes are top-notch for a kung fu film. It's one of those fun, forgettable kung fu flicks that makes for an entertaining 90 minutes if you don't ask too much from it.

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