Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Sword of Swords Blu-ray Movie Review

The Sword of Swords is a first-rate action epic. The swordplay in The Sword of Swords is outstanding and audiences will be thrilled with the spectacle. Produced by Runme Shaw, The Sword of Swords is a must-see adventure with plenty of thrills for Shaw Brothers fans new and old. Starring Jimmy Wang Yu. Co-starring Pei-Pei Shu, Chung-Hsin Huang, Feng Tien, Miao Ching, Chih-Ching Yang, Sha- Fei Ouyang, Yunzhong Li, Ching Lin, Hao Li, Chia Tang, Tung Hu, and Ching Lee.

Ling Tseng-hsiao (Jimmy Wang Yu) seeks possession of a sword so well regarded it has earned the status of being a weapon of “exceptional brilliance” – and the weapon has helped to protect his people and his nation for a long time.  The weapon falls into the wrong hands when it is stolen. The villainous thief who stole the sword slaughtered Ling Tseng-hsiao’s entire family.

 The journey for Ling Tseng-hsiao takes him on a dangerous quest. Ling Tseng-hsiao seeks vengeance – after all, revenge is a dish best served cold. Ling Tseng-hsiao also seeks to gain respect as a swordsman – he hopes to earn recognition and to be known as the King of the Swords. Can Ling Tseng-hsiao defeat the villain and win back the sword?

Star Jimmy Wang Yu became an overnight sensation. Jimmy Wang Yu had managed to become a huge star with One-Armed Swordsman. As his fame and success grew rapidly, Jimmy Wang Yu returned for more martial arts glory with The Sword of Swords. The performance by star Jimmy Wang Yu was an impressive and fantastic turn by the actor. The actor brought a good sense of pathos to the role. Outstanding stunts are also on display. The stunt work adding to the exhilarating experience.

The score composed by Fu-Ling Wang (The Big Boss, The Proud Youth) is energetic and exciting – the music a great backdrop to the spectacle. Wang is a gifted composer and the music adds a sense of grandiose adventure. The score will sweep audiences off their feet. The poetic music is sublime. Remarkable.

The cinematography by Yu-Tang Li (Duel to the Death, Police Story 2) is lush and cinematic. The great cinematographic style is something that enhances the action and makes the filmmaking soar to even greater heights. The cinematography is artistic and sophisticated. There are many sequences in the film that feel as engaging as a work of art – a painting admired in a museum. Outstanding cinematography.

The art direction by Ching-Shen Chen (Lightning Fists of Shaolin, The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter) is top-notch, too. The art direction certainly helps the film to feel more ambitious and epic in scope. There is considerable scale to the film. The canvas of the art direction helps the film to feel as ambitious as a Hollywood production (perhaps – even better).

The costumes by Kamber Huang (Valley of the Fangs, Dragon Swamp) are elegant and well done. The costuming adds to the film and the experience. Huang is a talented costumer and the efforts were remarkably well done here. The costume designs are perfect for the characters and for the martial arts tapestry of the film.

Written and directed by Kang Cheng (The 14 Amazons, The Twelve Gold Medallions), The Sword of Swords is a must-see swordplay epic. The filmmaking is top-notch and The Sword of Swords is an irresistible Shaw Brothers production. Audiences will appreciate the scope and scale of the film. Breathtaking filmmaking and plenty of ambition, The Sword of Swords is a blast of action-packed majesty.

The Sword of Swords Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Sword of Swords is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The release sports a high bit-rate of 33 mbps. The Blu-ray release provides an impressive high-definition presentation. The presentation impresses with great color reproduction and outstanding visual finesse for the cinematography. A wonderful encode by Shout Factory and one that benefits by the healthy bit-rate encoding. The presentation capably handles the high-octane action sequences.

The Sword of Swords Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles).  The audio quality on the release is impressive. Dialogue is crisp and clear on the release. The score and soundtrack effects are well reproduced. The lossless encoding capably preserves detail in the presentation. The encoding is a solid effort by Shout Factory. The subtitles on the release are excellent as well.

The Sword of Swords Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston

Audio Commentary with Film Critic James Mudge

Original Theatrical Trailer (SD, 4:02)

Celestial Trailer (HD, 1:05)

The Sword of Swords Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Sword of Swords is an exciting and ambitious swordplay epic. Shaw Brothers fans will appreciate the epic adventure and the immense spectacle of the production. The filmmaking is top-notch and the film manages to tell a compelling story. The performances are engaging and star Jimmy Wang Yu is great. Jimmy Wang Yu quickly rose in fame because of roles like this one. The Blu-ray release features an impressive presentation. Highly recommended.