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This one had its moments, but ultimately was a run of the mill for me. I got frustrated with the motivations not making sense.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
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Audience Member
David Chiang is rather joyless in the lead role, so it makes for a less charming character. Despite being a martial arts expert, Liang is poor, thin, but principled. With his trusty horse, he wanders looking for a job. An engaged couple who must transport a large shipment of silver are in need of help, with their Uncle In no longer a kung fu expert. There's not much going in this movie, as the love triangle goes nowhere, characters don't ask for help (theme), but ultimately the ending amounts to nothing and this martial arts film left me cold. Despite having Chang Cheh at the helm, and Ti Lung co-starring, Have Sword, Will Travel is a bit light on the storytelling and the film suffers for it.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
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Audience Member
The most unlucky swordsman in history becomes entangled in a plot of jelousy, violence and deception-and the gal isn not that nice... A martial art western not too well aged, except for the fascinating final battle in the dark, towering pagoda, where climbing and descending stairs symbolyze the high and lows of life, despite merits. Blasted money!
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
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Audience Member
Cheh Chang, Shaw Brothers Studio's best known and most prolific film director, with such films as the Five Deadly Venoms and One-Armed Swordsman. Chang was a pioneer of what is known by some as "heroic bloodshed"; films that emphasize brotherhood, loyalty and honor. In Have Sword Will Travel he tries to create a love triangle between Siang (Ti Lung), his fellow master fighter and fiancée (Li Ching) and David Chiang's character. The bloody climatic battle in an a tower is not to be missed!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/14/23
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Audience Member
I am a Shaw Brothers-fan since years and own many of their newly remastered films on DVD.
The most are from the 70s and the story is often thin, the fight scenes are sometimes unspectacular, but THIS one beats them all.
Likable, heroic characters played by Ti Lung (the badass) and Li Ching (both kick asses, also the woman), a stranger, a Clint Eastwood-esque guy played by David Chiang, the plot twists and shots of blood spurting, dying enemies in slow-motion make this movie so great.
"Have Sword, Will Travel" is one of the first (1969) and one of the best Wuxia Eastern films ever.
Wuxia is the combination of heroic characters, warriors, a beautiful landscape (set), an adventurous story with flying (wirework), jumping (trampoline) characters (like "Hero", "House of flying Daggers", "Grouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") and many artistic scenes / shots in slow-motion.
The characters and sets in this movie are great, overall it's amazing, especially the bloody and totally unexpected finale in the pagoda, this is chinese cinema at it's best!
Many of the best Martial Arts films were made in the 60s, back then they used gallons and gallons of fake blood and turned the brutal killings of many many enemies into art.
The fight scenes are very well made, brutal and gory and not cheesy at all (like in the late 70s).
I will not post any spoilers here (regarding the story) because fans of Martial Arts films and the Shaw Brothers should check this out.
A Shaw Bros Wuxia masterpiece, a definite must see! (10/10)
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/07/23
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Audience Member
story is somewhat boring and predictable... otherwise I like the photography and martial art direction
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
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