Bastard Swordsman is a damn good kung fu movie and the most interesting kung fu movie i found recently.Directed by Chin-Ku Lu with his most famous flick Holy flame of the martial world(1983) you will know this movie will packed with a ton of awesome over the top kung fu battle you need to be see to believe.I really like the underdog concept in this movie:A nobody guy slowly turned into a kung fu master with one of the weirdest kung fu technique ever put on screen.The wire work in this movie is unbelievable from normal sword fight to middle air sword fight with a lot of cheesy special effect.There are many memorable fight scene in this movie but the one stand out the most is the final fight.Watch it you will not be disappointed

Just when you thought the Shaw Bros. could only do damn good martial arts films, the go and top that with wuxia movies. Here is a quick run of the film. Tsui Siu Keung is constantly picked on and bullied by the other pupils because he is an orphan. His master (Qing Song)is a very unconcern person about Tsui feelings because the last 20 years he has lost every duel with the Invincible Clans' master.

Qing Songs' master is non other than Wilson Tong, whom has learned the Silkworm technique, but can't master it because he is not a virgin. Lo Meng (Toad of the 5 Deadly Venoms) has very good sword fighting skills. You really don't see him much, but his parts were very good. Tsui is actually learning kung fu in secret by an unknown master whom turns out to be Qing Song. The plot gets even thicker when we find out that Qing Song is actually Tsui father.

I could go on and spoil the rest for you, but then you wouldn't see the movie. The Bastard Swordsman is a very good contender in the Shaw Bros. vs Golden Harvest bout. This movie scores big on it's action and swordplay. Also check out New Tales of The Flying Fox, another damn good wuxia from the Shaw Bros. And if you want an even bigger helping, please check out The Return of the Bastard Swordsman. Shaw Bros goodness for the soul.

BASTARD SWORDSMAN was made during the period that Shaw Brothers were going back to the wuxia genre that had made them famous in the 1960s, with the added addition of fantastic elements and magical dimensions enhanced by the craze for 1980s-era special effects. Other films from this era include BATTLE WIZARD, HOLY FLAME OF THE MARTIAL WORLD, BUDDHA'S PALM, and SHAOLIN PRINCE, although Tsui Hark's non-Shaw film ZU: WARRIORS FROM MAGIC MOUNTAIN is by far the most famous.

Watching BASTARD SWORDSMAN, it's apparent just how much of the style of a film like this inspired the 1990s wire work heavy martial arts wuxias that were so big in Hong Kong. As for the film itself, it's more than watchable, although not up there with the likes of SHAOLIN PRINCE. The fantastic elements of the story are a little silly here and the viewer must be willing to sit through scenes of flying and giant silkworm cocoons and the like if they're going to enjoy it.

I liked the way that the under-appreciated Norman Chu (who burnt up the screen in HONG KONG GODFATHER) gets a good role in this, playing the usual put-upon servant who turns out to be a martial arts master. The supporting players are well drawn and include the imposing Tony Liu of INVINCIBLE ENFORCER fame. There are even small roles for three Venoms stars: Sun Chien, Wang Li, and Lo Meng, although none of them get much to do, particularly the first two, and Lo Meng just sort of disappears. The plot was a little complex and confusing for my liking although the action scenes are fun and help to keep things enjoyable. A sequel, RETURN OF THE BASTARD SWORDSMAN, followed.