Most martial arts movies have a few good fight scenes and practically no plot - just random wandering to transition between the fight scenes or some kind of revenge vendetta. This one, however, has enough plot devices for five movies (secret societies, secret identities, romantic misunderstandings, petty jealousies) and some of the most elaborate martial arts scenes ever staged. Jet Li is likable as Fong Sai Yuk (a genuine hero to the Chinese, about whom tall tales are spun, sort of like Daniel Boone), a young do-gooder who seems perpetually caught up in one mess after another despite his good intentions. Veteran action actress Sibelle Hu, not surprisingly, steals the picture as Fong's future mother in law Tiger Lily, a sentimental romantic and kick-ass martial artist. She winds up accompanying him on his adventure to make certain he doesn't cheat on her daughter, thereby becoming a rare thing in the movies - a mother in law who is also an action sidekick! Any of the big set piece fight scenes are worth the rental, especially the one early in the movie on a huge and rather unsteady looking tower. Plus there is real humor here which is integrated into the situations rather than tacked on in the fashion of so many Chinese movies.
Very entertaining and can be watched again and again.
Very entertaining and can be watched again and again.