Legend of the Liquid Sword is a 1993 Hong Kong wuxia comedy film loosely based on Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series. The film was written and directed by Wong Jing and stars Aaron Kwok as the titular protagonist.[2] The film inspired the title of American rapper GZA's albums Liquid Swords (1995) and Legend of the Liquid Sword (2002).[3]
Plot
The young Chor Lau-heung learns martial arts from Tuk-ku Kau-pai and has attained a high level of skill. His teacher sends him to Shaolin Monastery to attend a contest that is held once every ten years. On the journey, Chor meets Wu Tit-fa and Chung-yuen Yat-dim-hung. When Chor arrives at Shaolin, he fights with a Shaolin student called Mo-fa but neither of them is able to defeat each other. They decide to have a match again on another day. One night, Chor meets Mo-fa and strike up a conversation with her. Both of them decide to enter the palace in search of adventure. They disturb the prince on his wedding night but are accidentally caught in a trap and only manage to escape with the help of Chor's friends.
Meanwhile, Bat Prince breaks into Shaolin and kills Mo-fa's teacher, Tuk-ku Kau-pai and the Demonic Cult's leader. Bat Prince is actually the son of a Japanese ninja called Tin-fung Sap-say-long, and he wants to avenge his father. 17 years ago, his father came to challenge the three best fighters in China, but was defeated and committed suicide in shame. Bat Prince is not satisfied even after his victory and wants to dominate the Chinese martial arts world. Chor is injured by Bat Prince in a fight and loses his powers. Mo-fa brings him to the Holy Water Palace for treatment. Sui-mo Yam-kei heals Chor's wounds and teaches him new skills. Chor faces the Bat Prince in an epic battle.
Cast
- Aaron Kwok as Chor Lau-heung
- Chingmy Yau as Mo-fa
- Sharla Cheung as Sui-mo Yam-kei
- Anita Yuen as Lei Hung-sau
- Deric Wan as Wu Tit-fa
- Fennie Yuen as Chung-yuen Yat-dim-hung
- Norman Chui as Tuk-ku Kau-pai
- Gordon Liu as Shaolin master
- Wong Yue as Tin-fung Sap-say-long
- Lau Tsi-wai as Bat Prince
- Gloria Yip as So Yung-yung
- Winnie Lau as Sung Tim-yee
- Loretta Lee as Kung Nam-yin
- Wong Wan-si as Sui-pei Yam-kei
- Julian Cheung as Prince (guest star)
- Maple Hui as Prince's bride (guest star)
- Mai Kei as Emperor (guest star)
- David Tsui as Robber (guest star)
- Lee Siu-kei as Bully (guest star)
- Chun Wong as Eunuch Cho (guest star)
- Rachel Lee
- Lee Ka-ting
- Yu Kwok-lok
- Shing Fui-on
- Wong Hung
- Lau Shung-fung
- Yeung Jing-jing
DVD
Mei Ah Entertainment released a dual-subtitle DVD that they have since taken out of print. Xenon Pictures handled the U.S. release which basically contains the Mei Ah version with the only difference that the entire opening sequence was replaced with a card reading simply "Liquid Sword." The original burned-in subtitles are used.
Video
The full uncut print runs 12 minutes longer than the Mei Ah (Hong Kong) and Xenon (U.S.) releases and was released in Taiwan on video by ERA Home Video.
References
- ^ Legend of the Liquid Sword at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase
- ^ Legend Of The Liquid Sword (1993), retrieved 5 May 2021
- ^ Fernando Jr., S. H. (2021). From the Streets of Shaolin: The Wu-Tang Saga. Hachette Books. ISBN 978-0306874468.
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