I saw Seven Swords again today, and thought I should put in a word or two about it. As most people who read this page know, (that’s right, all 4 of you)I like kung fu flicks. Put on any kind of Martial Art movie, I’ll enjoy it. From time-to-time, I find Kung Fu flicks which are modern (done within the last 20 years) and they usually tend to be pretty good, rarely there are the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” kind of movies that try to be moving or in some way profound with their story ot imagery, most only try half-heartedly, seeming more tongue-in-cheek than sincere. This was one of those. Like “The Warrior”, they favored action over drama and I think, made out fairly well.
The story is set in China, in the mid 1600’s, or so, an Imperial Decree has outlawed the practice of martial arts, or of training in the martial arts. As such, a roving band of killers, with Imperial authority, led by the crazed Fire-Wind, is attacking comunities who harbor fighters and killing everyone to present their heads for reward offered (3,000 silver peices, I think). He and his gange have slaughtered hundreds, perhaps even thousands, as they move through the country. A survivor from one of their attacks is found by a woman of a small settlement of warriors who warns of the approaching killers. Mistrusted, but greatful for the help, he ventures into the Mountains of Heaven and speaks to a great swordsmaster, who send him back with 3 swords of power, as well as his 4 best students, all of who bear weapons of power. He takes on of the swords, another is given to the woman who found him, and to a local man. The Seven Swords, as they’re known, repell the attack, and then follow up by making an attack on Fire-Wind’s base as he is unaware. With a break in the persuit, the village tries to flee as Fire-Wind regroups, fleeing to a system of caves. Along the way, a traitor is suspected when water and food is poisoned. Once they reach shelter, the greatest swordsman of the group, named Chu (played by Donnie-freakin’-Yen!), takes his invincible Dragon Sword to try an stop Fire-Wind by destroying his treasure hoard. (his soldiers wont fight if they aren’t paid, very anticlimactic) of course he’s captured and the former prisoner, who he’s in love with AND who conventiently knew where siad treasure hoard was, is mortally injured but makes her way back to the caves where she tells the rest of the group to save Chu. So they set out, and there’s a great big fight at the end, and the bad guy dies, and the good guys win, and then they decide to go try to get the emperor to repeal the edict that caused this whole mess, and ride off into the sunset. -THE END-
However, this does not mean the movie is bad, just a bit predictable. But, in all honesty, what movie, TV show, or book isn’t predictable. People like a certain amount of routine in their entertainment. You don’t need to focus on routine, it doesn’t stimulate you, and there is no thought involved. You can relax in a routine. The real problem I had was with the 4 virtually nameless swordsmen, as well and the virtually nameless enemy officers they fought. I understand how these movies go, Heroic Bloodletting and all, but they even tried to tack on little back stories to them in a brief sequence, they all have a tiny little bit of character play, but it just draws attention to their lack of character, if you ask me.
BUT there were several very cool fight scenes, with a bunch of wirework, some worked seamlessly, some, no-so-much. And there were a few ‘holy shit!’ moments where I had to back it up to see what had happened, and how. A lot of creativity in the fights, so little monotony. And it was a kind of fantasy, with the medieval fight scenes being the key note in the film. A good movie, but not a great movie. If you like kung fu movies, you’ll like this, if you like fantasy movies, you’ll like this. Heck I like both and I liked it!
Although the end fight, up-and-down between the walls of a narrow corridor with long swords, was a bit much, even for me.
7 out of 10
~Luby
Oh, and yes, it was a bit of an homoage to Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai
