Seven Swords (DVD) (2-Disc Set) (US Version) DVD Region 1

However, rather than ordering the army to carry out these orders, the government solicits the use of mercenaries, offering a bounty for the head of each rebel but such are the riches promised that the innocent are murdered as ruthlessly as the rebels. Mercenaries, regardless of their allegiances prior to the Qing Dynasty, see this edict as a means to become amongst the wealthiest of men. As they cross the land, whole towns fall before their swords with neither women nor children spared. And yet, when the situation becomes most bleak, word comes of a single warrior carrying out attacks on the army of General Fire Wind (Sun Hong Lei). As news spreads, Fire Wind grows increasingly concerned at these attacks, believing them the first sign of a popular uprising against his men, which will continue to grow if not swiftly dealt with.

After one such attack, this man, Fu Qingzhu (Lau Kar Leung), is ambushed by Fire Wind's men and injured. He is followed out of the village and is thought to be hiding in Bowei Fortress, home to the Heaven and Earth Society, which, due to its history of martial arts being used in defense against bandits, is where Fire Wind is preparing to send his army next. On arriving at Bowei Fortress, badly injured and barely able to speak, Fu warns of Fire Wind's approach but, remembering him as a state executioner, they ignore his warnings in favor of throwing him into a makeshift prison, from where he will be tried and sentenced to death for past crimes. But with the help of Fang, the daughter of the governor of the fortress, Fu escapes with Han Zhibang (Lu Yi) and Wu Yuanying (Charlie Young), leading them to Mount Heaven, where they seek help from Master Shadow-Glow, a legendary swordsmith.

Shadow-Glow listens carefully to the words of Fu Qingzhu and offers him assistance - four swordsmen and three weapons. Accepting the swords of a master craftsman, Fu, Han and Wu lead Xin Longzi (Tai Li Wu), Yang Yuncong (Leon Lai), Mu Lang (Duncan Chow) and Chu Zhaonan (Donnie Yen) down from the mountain to Bowei Fortress, where three-hundred of Fire Wind's men awaits them. Slaughtering them, the Seven Swords move on Fire Wind's castle but a surprise awaits them as two old friends meet and realize that a simple fight to the death will not settle the mistrust between them...

It may be that I am something of a novice with Asian cinema but Seven Swords comes as something of a mixed bag of styles. In a very simple sense, it is an epic mix of martial arts and swordplay - a kind of Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven but with a great deal more blood and onscreen severing of limbs. But it is also interrupted by flights of imagination wherein straightforward scenes are given a delicately studied air. In one respect, this gives Seven Swords a beauty that will be familiar to anyone impressed by Hero or House of Flying Daggers. It gives Seven Swords an occasionally muddled feel about it, with events occurring off-screen and, as an audience, one learning about it through a recollection that may or may not be a trusted one. There is a certain dreaminess to the film that, though visually appealing, leaves one unsure of the truth in events. Add to this much back-story and Seven Swords concludes as a treat for the eyes but not for one's love of storytelling.

But the battles, which are sure to be the main attraction for some of the audience for this film, are wonderful, if not as poised as Hero. Instead, Seven Swords is closer to the horrors of Seven Samurai, doing away with the thunderous rainstorms and replacing them with a cold wind that blows into the eyes of the warriors, leaving dirty, dusty towns soaking with the bright red blood of fallen rebels. The opening battle is a perfect example of the style of the film with Fire Wind's troops laying waste to an entire village, their gray complexions and black armor standing out against the brief glimpses of blood on the ground. Director Tsui Hark maintains this look throughout the film, occasionally placing the action in a different location but never forgetting that a beautiful backdrop makes the frenzy of a battle all the more memorable.

However, being adapted from a novel by Liang Yu Shen, it does feel as though much was lost between page and screen. The problem with an ensemble film such as this one - and it happened in The Magnificent Seven as much as it does here - is that characters tend to get lost. The seven swordsmen here do not get an equal amount of screen time and Seven Swords tends towards the stories of Dragon Sword (Chu, Donnie Yen), Unlearned Sword (Fu, Lau Kar Leung), Deity Sword (Han, Lu Yi) and Heaven's Fall Sword (Wu, Charlie Young). So it may be that they are the most interesting characters in the film - though in denial of their feelings both Deity and Heaven's Fall Swords are drawn towards one another. There is a subplot regarding Dragon Sword's rescuing and love for Green Pearl (Kim So Yuen), a Korean woman enslaved by Fire Wind - but Transience, Celestial Beam and Star Chaser Swords do tend to get lost in the action. Add to that a long-winded journey through the mountains, a siege and the uncovering of a traitor, as well as one worrying how keenly one should follow the many characters who wander into the story, and Seven Swords is often a meandering epic, one that could well have done with having its story made more succinct.

For the battles alone, though, this is often a great film, not only looking extraordinarily beautiful but thrilling and often hugely exciting. Whilst some of the wire work is very obvious, the sword fights and martial arts work are of a very high standard as is the score and, mostly, the direction. More's the pity, then, that the story rambles as it does. Had Seven Swords been that bit more direct, it would have been a better film and so much more powerful. And yet, even during its frequent diversions, Seven Swords looks terrific and maybe for that, one's prepared to forgive it a great deal.

By Eamonn McCusker - DVD Times