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Released by: Vivendi/Dragon Dynasty
Released on: 6/29/2010
Director: Chang Cheh
Cast: Jimmy Wang-Yu, Chiao Chiao, Tien Feng, Essie Lin Chia
Year: 1969
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The Movie:
In 1967, famed Shaw Brothers director Chang Cheh would team up with Jimmy Wang Yu to direct the film that would make Wang Yu a household name (and if he's not a name in your household, well then maybe it's time to get your priorities straight, bucky). That film was The One Armed Swordsman, and it would go on to spawn a pair of sequels, a Zatoichi (Zatoichi Meets The One Armed Swordsman starring Wang Yu and Shintaro Katsu) team up, and a whole lot of knock offs. Dragon Dynasty released the original film on DVD in North America a few years ago and now, through Vivendi, has made the wise decision of unleashing this sequel. Made quickly a year after the original film in 1968, this is a picture that upped the ante by quite a margin in the bloodshed department. With Chang Cheh once again directing and handling the script and with Jimmy Wang-Yu once again in the lead role, all signs pointed to a repeat of the first picture's success.
When the movie beings, a martial arts tournament is being sponsored by an unknown and mysterious man referred to as 'Unknown Nemesis' Ling Hsu (Tien Feng) as a ploy to trap a bunch of his unsupecting rival martial arts experts. When Fang Yang (Wang Yu) learns of this devious plot, he decides to leave the peaceful life that he's made for himself on the farm he operates with his beautiful wife, (the incredibly adorable Chiao Chiao, reprising her role from the first film in the series) to go and save the captives from 'Unknown Nemesis' Ling Hsu. Of course, it all hits the fan and Unknown Nemesis has more than a few tricks up his sleeves to ensure that, despite Fang Yang's formidable skills and unique fighting style, it will be anything but easy for him.
Shot with Chang Cheh's typical knack for creative weapons based fighting scenes and glorious (not to mention insanely dramatic) bloodshed, Return Of The One-Armed Swordsman is a better film than its predecessor in many ways. While the first film has to spend a lot of time with the set up and the subsequent training that Fang Yang must go through in order to become who he is, when this sequel begins that's already been dispensed with. This allows the film to basically cut right to the chase and deliver a series of excellent action set pieces and a fun, tournament based plot.
A colorful cast of supporting characters, made up of actors like Lei Cheng, Feng Ku, Ma Wa, Chai Tang, Chai-Liang Lie and Yeh Fang round out the cast nicely but Wang Yu steals the show here. He was never the most accomplished martial artist in the Shaw Brothers stable but his style stands out and his penchant for playing brooding, angst ridden characters was rarely better used than it was here. Plenty of backstabbing and treachery keeps the plot moving at a good pace, but it's the bloody and furious action scenes that you'll remember when the film is over. The Shaw Studio sets are employed really well here, giving the film that enjoyably artificial feeling in spots. Everything builds really well and at a fantastic pace in this picture, and it all leads up to one hell of a killer conclusion with noble Fang Yang taking on a veritable army of foes cleverly using a water wheel of all things to his advantage before his inevitable showdown with Unknown Nemesis. If the film has one flaw, it's that t his showdown is over just a bit too quickly but it's well shot and bloody enough that you won't soon forget it.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Return Of The One-Armed Swordsman is presented in its original 2.35.1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio in a transfer that is quite attractive. Colors look nice and natural and while shadow detail is a bit wonky and a couple of scenes approach softness, overall the picture is stable and clean. Black levels look good, there aren't any major problems with print damage and mpeg compression artifacts and edge enhancement are never problematic. Detail won't floor you and skin tones look a little waxy here and there, but this is certainly a decent looking picture.
Dolby Digital Mono Surround Sound options are supplied in both English and Mandarin with removable subtitles provided in English and Spanish. There aren't any problems with hiss or distortion and both mixes sound pretty clean though at times you'll probably notice some odd reverb. Generally, however, both tracks sound fine.
Aside from a static menu screen offering chapter selection, this release is completely barebones (unless you count the promo for other Dragon Dynasty titles that plays before you get to the menu screen).
The Final Word:
Vivendi's release looks okay and it sounds fine, though the completely barebones presentation is nothing to get too excited about. As far the movie itself? It's as good, if not better, than the first film in the series and it stands as one of the best films in Wang Yu's filmography. A tense, dramatic, and well choreographed martial arts film, The Return Of The One-Armed Swordsman is pretty much an excellent film in every way possible.