Getting off the train, I saw a sign stating that due to extensive works being done, that a coach service to Manchester would be running over the August Bank Holiday,and that long delays should be expected.
Disappointed that after seeing Iron Mistress (1969-also reviewed) I sadly will not be able to see the next screening at the HOME cinema in Manchester of their obscure Taiwan Wuxia Action season.
Searching online to see if the title had come out on disc, I was happy to stumble on a print online with English subtitles, lead to me being able to visit a city called dragon.
View on the film:
Entering the city to her first leading role, Feng Hsu (in what was only her second screen credit at the time) gives a blazing performance as Shang, whose bone-crunching take downs of those standing in her way is performed with a finesse by Hsu, that is matched by Hsu expressing in her body language the quick-witted edge Shang uses to outsmart all those she is spying on.
Moving into script writing and directing after working with Hsu as an assistant director on Dragon Inn, co-writer (with Han Wu) / director Chung Hsun Tu & The Wheel of Life (1983-also reviewed) cinematographer Yeh-Hsing Chou follow Shang into the city with an ultra-stylized, via rolling thunder ground level panning shots, razor sharp, Wuxia jump-cuts on Shang soaring in the air, and tantalizing crash-zooms on the unique weapons used to try take Shang down.
Whilst the screenplay by Tu and Wu oddly slide Shang's spy mission to the back for a rather abrupt ending, Tu reveals in his directing debut an eye for a tense espionage mood of excellent superimposition's and distorted wide-shots capturing Shang fighting to keep everything under cover, in a city of dragons.
Disappointed that after seeing Iron Mistress (1969-also reviewed) I sadly will not be able to see the next screening at the HOME cinema in Manchester of their obscure Taiwan Wuxia Action season.
Searching online to see if the title had come out on disc, I was happy to stumble on a print online with English subtitles, lead to me being able to visit a city called dragon.
View on the film:
Entering the city to her first leading role, Feng Hsu (in what was only her second screen credit at the time) gives a blazing performance as Shang, whose bone-crunching take downs of those standing in her way is performed with a finesse by Hsu, that is matched by Hsu expressing in her body language the quick-witted edge Shang uses to outsmart all those she is spying on.
Moving into script writing and directing after working with Hsu as an assistant director on Dragon Inn, co-writer (with Han Wu) / director Chung Hsun Tu & The Wheel of Life (1983-also reviewed) cinematographer Yeh-Hsing Chou follow Shang into the city with an ultra-stylized, via rolling thunder ground level panning shots, razor sharp, Wuxia jump-cuts on Shang soaring in the air, and tantalizing crash-zooms on the unique weapons used to try take Shang down.
Whilst the screenplay by Tu and Wu oddly slide Shang's spy mission to the back for a rather abrupt ending, Tu reveals in his directing debut an eye for a tense espionage mood of excellent superimposition's and distorted wide-shots capturing Shang fighting to keep everything under cover, in a city of dragons.
