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| Images courtesy of 88 Films |
88 Films have been picking up a number of the Shaw Brothers
titles from Celestine Pictures that haven’t made it to Arrow Video’s or Shout
Factory’s blu-ray compilation boxes and showering them with equally loving attention. With respect to packaging including collectible
slipcovers, double-sided sleeve art and in the case of director Tony Lou’s 1983
fantastical wartime martial arts actioner The Lady Assassin, the
boutique label originally based in the United Kingdom have made significant
efforts towards reaching the international crowd without the need for region
free disc players. With Tony Lou’s
second film in the same year as the bonkers psychedelic Bastard Swordsman,
The Lady Assassin though loosely based on a real period of Chinese
history represents early 1980s ShawScope martial arts swordplay arguably at its
peak including but not limited to a legendarily gory kill one can absolutely
trace to the first volume of Kill Bill.
The nefarious and scheming 4th Prince Yung Cheng
(Tony Liu) has been plotting for some time to steal the throne away from its
rightful 14th Prince against the Emperor’s wishes. Schmoozing his way into the hearts of Han
loyalists including but not limited to tasking ruthless female assassins with
eliminating any potential opponents, the 4th Prince promises the
Manchu rule with an iron fist will ease up on the loyalists once he takes
power. However upon seizure of the
throne, the 4th Prince reneges on the deal, sparking the ire of the
loyalists and close associates determined to overthrow him and restore the 14th
Prince. It doesn’t prove easy as dozens
of henchman and even Japanese elite assassins are brought into the battle with
deadly precision.
Written and directed by Tony Lou featuring breathtaking
scope cinematography by Philip Ma of the aforementioned Bastard Swordsman and
an interspersal of original music by Stephen Shing and So Jan-Hau in between a
bevy of library music Dawn of the Dead fans will recognize, The Lady
Assassin is a solid early-80s ShawScope effort. With arresting choreography and swordplay by
Yuen Tak, Poon Kin-Kwan and Choi Chung-Wing, the film features an extraordinary
closing kill that has to be seen to be believed while also offering up a
chapter of so-called Hong Kong Horrible History as glimpsed by Eureka
Entertainment’s quartet of Shaw Brothers historical actioners. Leanne Lau whose face graces the slipcover of
an iron-fisted assassin covered in streams of blood from a fresh kill is a
fiery heroine in this, caught on both sides of the battle for justice of the
throne. Tony Liu as the arch villain of
the piece is no stranger to Bruce Lee films, having starred in three of the
martial artist’s primary pictures and he makes an excellent antagonist here.
Another stellar package from 88 Films with a limited-edition
Shaw Brothers fans will want to snatch up immediately, The Lady Assassin bares
all the hallmarks of a ShawScope feature including but not limited to fast zooms,
tight close-ups and wickedly energetic fight scenes that almost come off the
screen into the auditorium itself. 88
Films completists will not be disappointed in the mixture of magical realism,
astounding physical feats and old fashioned good vs. evil melodramatics served
up here. As for the extras, the film
also includes a newly conducted interview with choreographer Poon Kin-Kwan as
well as a trailer and stills gallery.
One of the better early-80s offerings from Shaw Brothers incredibly
generated by its director in the same year as another standout ShawScope epic, The
Lady Assassin for the uninitiated and the seasoned viewers represents the
Shaw moniker arguably at its best.
--Andrew Kotwicki
