Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain
1983, NR, 112 min. Directed by Tsui Hark. Starring Yuen Biao, Adam Cheng, Brigitte Lin, Sammo Hung.
REVIEWED By Marc Savlov, Fri., Dec. 3, 1993
This early (1983) forerunner of such Hong Kong hits as A Chinese Ghost Story and the Swordsman series features everything from ice palaces to “Blood Monsters” as it follows the exploits of a wandering swordsman and his sidekick. As is to be expected with any period Hark film, the action is nonstop – airborne duels, exploding demons, and thousands of yards of billowing silk make this visually arresting adventure a psychedelic treat. Liberal doses of blood, guts, and the broad humor that typified Hark's work in the mid-Eighties are here in abundance, and while Zu's plot has since entered into the realm of cliché, this remains one of Hark's most exuberantly entertaining films.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Marc Savlov, Sept. 14, 2012
Marjorie Baumgarten, Sept. 30, 2011
Aug. 7, 2022
April 29, 2022
Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain, Tsui Hark, Yuen Biao, Adam Cheng, Brigitte Lin, Sammo Hung