Search - Faster Blade Poisonous Darts on DVD

Slow blade

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 03/30/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Whenever a massive movie comes out -- such as "Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain" -- you can expect the studios to rush out anything similar. That was the case with "Faster Blade Poisonous Darts," which is beautiful and stars some great actors -- but the plot was apparently made up as they went along.

The story opens with three martial artists in a temple, guarding the priceless Jade Horse, and being menaced by a bunch of soldiers outside. Two of them venture out and are attacked by a bizarre demon-thing that springs out of a woman's stomach. The third is fatally injured, but escapes with the Jade Horse, and is rescued by a legendary warrior (Adam Cheng), who reveals that the Horse is not the real one.

Now forget that entire opening. Apparently the writer and director did, because nothing in it is ever referred to again.

Instead, our hero and his sidekicks manage to rescue a beautiful princess (Brigitte Lin) from a murderous cult that's about to sacrifice her. Upon finding her father dead and home burned, our hero takes her back to a paradisical place where his sisters reside -- but which isn't quite safe, since a seductive Indian woman captures his pals.

And things are getting even nastier, since secret assassins are appearing at random and killing various innocent people, including friends of the hero's. The only hint is an orchid left behind. Now the hero and his girlfriend must uncover who these demon assassins are, who the murderer is, and who is the one in charge of all this.

Confused yet? It's literally impossible to follow the movie, which careens from one subplot to another, with nothing to connect them.

With a plot that jumbled and confused, it's no wonder that there's nothing much going on that makes sense. We get Egyptian temples, beast-men, religious cults, sensual murders, and slinky Indian ladies who show up just to show up. Few of these things actually stick around for more than one scene, and even fewer have a reason to be there.

Cheng and Lin are brilliant actors, but neither one really has much to do in this movie. Cheng smiles sly and rubs his nose a lot, but we don't get any insights into the character. Lin is basically a confused-looking damsel who doesn't do much of anything until the last scenes. And I have no idea who most of the other characters are, because we're never told -- the only really interesting one is the creepy femme fatale.

The saving grace is the beauty of the movie. The haven that Cheng takes Lin to is an exquisite, open-air place draped with flowers, sort of a Chinese Rivendell. Flowers, smoke, bright trees and misty skies fill the other scenes. And the flying action scenes are suitably cool and stylish, with Cheng kicking butt with a fan.

Bad dubs aside, "Faster Blade Poisonous Darts" is literally the most incomprehensible kung-fu movie I have ever seen. It's a pretty spectacle, but anyone hoping for a plot is going to be incredibly disappointed."

Roc Tien does not star in this.

E. A Solinas | 07/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This film is really a Adam Chang Film and Roc Tien was one of the Swordsman who got his head slice by a little girl who has the ability to cut someones head off with her cape. Though Roc Tien had a small part and the movie itself is pretty weak its still kungfu none-the-less, I give it 4 star due because of the swordplay."

Adam Cheng shows off his fan style in this one.

Erik James | Orono, Me USA | 05/07/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Adam Cheng stars in this one not Roc Tien as the movie sleeve would suggest, and all the pics on the back do not actually appear in the film but none the less it is still a classic film. Some impressive and creative fights, and a lot of blood make this a very entertaining movie."