Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Thundering Sword Blu-ray Movie Review

The Thundering Sword is an essential swordplay action-epic from Shaw Brothers. Produced by Runme Shaw, The Thundering Sword is incredible and ambitious. The scope and scale of the film helps the filmmaking to soar. Starring Pei-Pei Cheng in the leading role. Co-starring Yi Chang as Yu Chien-wen, Pei-Pei Shu as Chin Hsia, Lieh Lo as Cheng Kun-yuen, Hung-Lieh Chen as Su Chao-wu, Feng Tien as Du-bi Tao-chang, Li Ching as Ke Erh, Wu Ma as Wang Yi-tien, Ti Tang as Kwan Tien-chang, and Mien Fang as Su Ting-feng. Fans of the Shaw Brothers films should consider The Thundering Sword an essential watch.

Su Chiao-chiao (Pei-Pei Cheng) is one of the most talented swordswomen around. Su Chiao-chiao is seeking a highly-sought and treasured sword known as the “Heave and Earth” weapon – a sword so powerful it can harness magic. With several fighters seeking out the sword for their own gains, things intensify as Su Chiao-chiao finds it her mission to obtain the sword at any cost.

Yet the sword is only a small part of the tale. A love triangle unfolds with Su Chiao-chiao torn between two men. As the daughter of the legendary Poison Master, can Su Chiao-chiao find true love on her journey or will everything end in tragic fate?

Pei-Pei Cheng is the impressive star of the show. Pei-Pei Cheng is an incredible action star and she is often regarded as one of cinema’s earliest female action heroes. The actress did her own stunts. An impressive sense of dedication is showcased by Pei-Pei Cheng. The star provided great charisma, charm, and devotion to her role. The performance is impeccable and the swordplay is terrific. It is extremely easy to see why Pei- Pei Cheng became such a beloved action star. The actress has magnetic and undeniable star power.

The art direction by Chi-Jui Chen (Five Fingers of Death, Return of the One-Armed Swordsman) is an incredible part of the production. The art direction is certainly first rate and the style of the film is significantly more ambitious with the design elements. The scope and scale impress and it adds something special to the entire adventure. The work done by Chi-Jui Chen is essential for the film.

The score composed by Fu-Ling Wang (The Big Boss, The Singing Killer) is one of the greatest highlights of the production. The music by Fu-Ling Wang is enormously ambitious, engaging, and exciting. The thrilling score is part of the DNA of the film. The music is remarkably thrilling and adds a sense of whimsy, scale, and adventure to the swordplay adventure.

The cinematography by Yung-Lung Wang (Five Fingers of Death, The Magnificent Trio) shines with great visuals. The cinematography is a perfect showcase for the feature-film. The stunning cinematography highlights the production values and the landscapes with impeccable ease. The film looks even more sophisticated and exhilarating as a result.

Edited by Hsing-Lung Chiang (The Avenging Eagle, Sons of the Good Earth), The Thundering Sword has a great sense of pace and rhythm. The editing is tight and concise. The swordplay is well edited and the sense of scale on display through the editing is enormous.

Written by Chiang Shen (The Twin Swords, Temple of the Red Lotus), The Thundering Sword is a fun and exciting adventure tale. Shen did a great job with the feature script. The dialogue is well written. These characters are fun to spend time with. The journey is one that is rewarding for audiences.

Directed by Teng-Hung Hsu (The Invincible Sword, The Twin Swords), The Thundering Sword is well worth watching for Shaw Brothers fans. The Thundering Sword is ambitious and entertaining. The enormous scope of the production helps to aid the filmmaking. Director Hsu did a remarkable job working with the cast and creating dazzling visuals for the action scenes. Don’t miss The Thundering Sword.

The Thundering Sword Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Thundering Sword is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The release features a high-bitrate presentation of 33 mbps. The transfer is excellent and there are a lot of strengths to the presentation. The visuals are crisp and engaging. The cinematography looks excellent and the color reproduction is one of the best attributes. The encode quality looks nice on the release as well.

The Thundering Sword Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release is presented in Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles). The lossless audio quality on the release is worthwhile. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The original score sounds fantastic on the release. The sound effects are well reproduced and implemented into the sound mix. The audio encoding is great and helps to showcase the soundstage.

The Thundering Sword Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

From a Western Perspective – Interview with Author Leon Hunt (HD, 27:30)

Never the Twain Shall Meet? – Interview with Critic and Author Kim Newman (HD, 21:47)

Celestial Trailer (HD, 1:08)

The Thundering Sword Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Thundering Sword is an ambitious and thrilling action-packed adventure. Fans of the Shaw Brothers films won't want to miss this one. Pei-Pei Cheng is terrific as the female action star. The performance is engaging and one can't help but be blown away by her remarkable accomplishment. The role was a great fit for the talented actress and she even does her own stunts. The Blu-ray release features an impressive presentation. The release also includes a selection of exclusive bonus features. Highly recommended.