How do you describe a movie like this? How do you rationalize pure insanity in a way that makes any sense? Hmm...maybe I just should not try. This is a pure example of how Wuxia can just go completely 'off of the rails' and not ground itself in any logic. If you look at this movie for normal storytelling and logic, you are just going to be disappointed. If, however, you can fall in line with the narrative's craziness and play along, you will have a damn good time. Have I piqued your curiosity enough yet? If so, read on to my review of...
The film begins with a long prologue about how a secret text of kung-fu knowledge exists and has been sought out by everyone. Eventually, one sect got their hands on it and, feeling that it was too dangerous to be let loose, kept it locked away. We see a mass of kung-fu masters at their gates asking to have it. One head lady fights with all of the people to get what she wants, but is put down when the Master (Sammo Hung) shows up. The young leader (Jet Li's father in the film) tells them that he will 'take care of the situation himself.' He proceeds to summon up a ton of energy and...cause his heart to shoot out of his chest! Holy crap! I bet you did not see that shit coming! When pressed on the issue by the others, his mother cuts her throat! Bear in mind that Li's character is there for all of this. At least that is the only tragedy of his life. Oh right, I forgot to mention how he was attacked earlier and 'could not learn kung-fu.' That wasn't important, was it?
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In present day, adult-form, Li learns about a secret technique that cure his unspecified ails. His Master explains that a crazy old master knew it, but he was bested in combat. He also tells Jet about how, despite being over 100 years old, he can still 'get it up.' Thanks, I needed to know that. His character's son bullies our hero for a while until he meets up with the defeated master from earlier. He manages to trick the man into attacking him with the Solar Stance, thus curing him of his ailment. Wow, it's hard to imagine why this got got defeated. By the way, the man has retained all of his power, in spite of his spine being broken and his body being chained to a rock. This also gives Jet amazing powers that outclass all of his other rivals, yet again proving that years of training are no substitute for sheer, dumb luck and/or magic. Unfortunately, the other clans have still not gotten over the whole issue with the sword and the ancient text. The evil people- including some warlords and a kung-fu vampire- are out to get him, although the good clans have some edginess to them as well.
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I'll be honest with you: this plot is nearly impossible to follow properly at this point. People betray each other, lots of fights break out and two guards joke about who they want to rape. Wait, that last part sounds bad...unfortunately, it is real. They at least balance this out by having the vampire guy bite someone on the ass. Wait, that only makes it worse. The real selling point of the film is not the humor or the story: it is the action! People fly in completely improbable ways, shoot energy and do not die, even seven or eight swords go into their chests. Near the end, Jet Li's character learns 'Magic Stance' by looking at some walls in a room that he is trapped in. It supposedly takes years to learn, but, as we know from that old Sci-Fi Channel commercial, Jet defies most laws of common sense. He kicks lots of ass with it, but, just to be strange, a plot device keeps him from using it in one of the final fights. His enemies are not bound by any rules, which becomes clear when they fire super-heated sand at our hero. Hey, don't look at me- I don't make this stuff up. He manages to kill them using a giant bell and the stick used to strike it. Unfortunately, just as it gets really good...it ends. Why? Because of the planned sequel that has yet to be made.
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Don't be too down. They are actually releasing the sequel to Sword and the Sorcerer this year. Anything is possible.
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If you look at this film as a normal movie, you will be sorely disappointed. It is complicated, confusing and, at times, completely dumb. Let's be honest though: this is Wuxia. Does logic and normality apply? If you want normality, watch Ran. If you want to see Jet Li fly around and battle a vampire, watch The Evil Cult. Is the DVD quality great? Not really. Is the subtitle work great? Again, not really. Like many films of this ilk, it suffers from problems related to the choice of white as the subtitle color. Hey guys, let me give you a hint: white is a very popular color in Wuxia movies. Why don't you pick gold or something next time? I can guarantee that you will not see another movie quite like Cult. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? You decide!
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Let's close out this week with a Wuxia movie set...in the present day? Will it work? Stay tuned...
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