This movie is also known as "They Died for the Princess" and that's the spoiler, indeed, the entire story right there. My "official" copy is widescreen but is missing quite a few frames and there are some abrupt cuts in the action. If you have watched "The Hidden Fortress" this movie will be familiar. I would consider it an adaptation rather than a remake or rip off. In "The Hidden Fortress" a palace maid sacrifices herself as a body double for the princess. That powerful act takes place off screen, however. In this movie the same act is the climactic moment on screen. But what about the fights? It's 1968 and the fights are typical of that year. The leading man swings his sword and five stunt men go flying off in every direction. Most of the action is in the last twenty minutes or so and does get better. The style of the fighting is more typical of a samurai movie of the same decade rather than a kungfu movie. It's worth a watch for fans of the genre at least to say you found a copy and watched it.
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