To increase the daily content for this blog, I’ve decided to start digging back into the archive and occasionally spotlighting one of the 300+ reviews I’ve written for the site thus far. Some of the movies that will be featured in “Retro Review” will be golden oldies, others could be classified as unappreciated gems, and still others will likely rank as unadulterated crap.

This first installment of Retro Review will be spotlighting — what else? — the very first review I ever wrote for LoveHKFilm.com — the Tsui Hark-produced 1990 film, Swordsman. When Kozo was looking for new reviewers way back in 2002, I contacted him expressing interest, and this review was my “try-out” for the site. Apparently, I passed the audition. Whatever its merits, in this early review, you can read not only my unbridled enthusiasm for Hong Kong cinema, but my initial interest in packing in as much detail and trivia as humanly possible.

I’ve since revisited the film after its digitally remastered DVD release, and, I still think Swordsman is a solid movie, especially considering the fact that it was directed by six people: King Hu, Tsui Hark, Ching Siu-Tung, Raymond Lee Wai-Man, Andrew Kam Yeung-Wah, Ann Hui On-Wah. It’s best seen with a back-to-back screening of Swordsman II, although Swordsman III: The East is Red is, at least for me, optional viewing only.

You can read my eight (!)-year-old review of the first film here.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 11th, 2010 at 8:56 am and is filed under King Hu, Sam Hui, Retro Review, Swordsman, Tsui Hark. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.