Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain
Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain
	Hong Kong promotional release poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	新蜀山劍俠
Simplified Chinese	新蜀山剑侠
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Xīn Shǔ Shān Jiàn Xiá
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	San1 Suk6 Saan1 Gim3 Hap6
Directed by	Tsui Hark
Written by	Shui Chung-yuet; Sze-to Cheuk-hon
Based on	Legend of the Swordsmen of the Mountains of Shu; by Huanzhulouzhu
Produced by	Raymond Chow
Starring	Sammo Hung; Yuen Biao; Brigitte Lin; Adam Cheng; Moon Lee; Judy Ongg
Cinematography	Bill Wong
Edited by	Peter Cheung
Music by	Kwan Sing-yau; Tang Siu-lam
Production; company	Paragon Films Ltd.
Distributed by	Golden Harvest
Release date	5 February 1983;
Running time	98 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (Chinese: 新蜀山劍俠) is a 1983 Hong Kong supernatural wuxia fantasy film directed by Tsui Hark and based on the xianxia novel Legend of the Swordsmen of the Mountains of Shu by Huanzhulouzhu. The film has been noted for combining elements of Hong Kong action cinema with special effects technology provided by a team of Western artists including Robert Blalack.^[1] It served as an influence for the 1986 American film Big Trouble in Little China.

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain received five nominations at the 3rd Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Action Choreography for Corey Yuen, Best Actress for Brigitte Lin, Best Art Direction for William Chang, Best Film Editing for Peter Cheung, and Best Picture.

Premise

During the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Qiao Shu [zh] army deserter Dik Ming-kei, who was chased by vampires in the mountain of Zu, is rescued by Master Ding Yan and becomes his pupil. When they were ambushed by the Blood Devil, devil chaser Siu Yu and his pupil Yat Jan came to their assistance. They managed to hold off the Blood Devil but they need to find the Dual Swords to destroy it.

Master Ding took the wounded Siu Yu to Celestial Fort and sought help from the Mistress, but he was poisoned by the Blood Devil and he surrendered to the Dark Force. Will Ming-kei and Yat Jan find the Dual Swords and destroy the Blood Devil?

Cast

Sammo Hung as Chang Mei / Red Army soldier
Yuen Biao as Di Ming-qi / Dik Ming-kei
Brigitte Lin as the Ice Queen
Adam Cheng as Ding Yin / Ding Yan
Moon Lee as one of the Ice Queen's guards
Judy Ongg as Lady Li I-chi
Corey Yuen as Devil Disciple Leader
Damian Lau as Xiao Ru / Siu Yu
Mang Hoi as Yi Zhen / Yat Jan
Norman Chui as the Heaven's Blade
Chung Fat as a Blue Army Commander
Dick Wei as a Blue Army Commander
Ha Kwong-li as Ji Wu-shuang / Chi Wu-chuang
Ka Lee as an Orange Army soldier
Fung Hak-on as a Devil Disciple leader
Yuen Miu as an Orange Army soldier
Sai Gwa-Pau as the boatman
Tsui Hark as a Blue Army soldier
Jørn Bertram as the Doctor

Reception and influence

In a 1991 Fangoria article by Tim Paxton and Dave Todarello, Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is referred to as "a film which freely intertwines Chinese myth and lore with Hollywood special FX and comic-book action. It's the proverbial rollercoaster of kung fu, magic, monsters, humor, tension, visual spectacle and gruesome bits."^[2]

Craig Lines of Den of Geek wrote that Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain "was a significant film for the Hong Kong 'New Wave' movement that revolutionized the industry in the late '70s", characterized by "young filmmakers [who] broke free from the traditional studio system to create weird, energetic and experimental movies".^[1] Lines praised the actors' performances and the martial arts choreography, and noted the film's "warm, full-hearted message of kindness and acceptance".^[1]

The film is considered an influence on John Carpenter's 1986 film Big Trouble in Little China.^[1]

Home media

The U.K. release of the DVD by Hong Kong Legends features an audio commentary with Tsui Hark and film critic Bey Logan.

The Hong Kong release of the DVD by Fortune Star Media features the Cantonese version of the film's trailer, as well as an interview with actor Yuen Biao.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lines, Craig (2 July 2018). "Zu: The Movie That Inspired Big Trouble In Little China". Den of Geek. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
^ Paxton, Tim; Todarello, Dave (October 1991). "From Asia with Blood - Part One". Fangoria. No. 107. Starlog Group, Inc. p. 58. ISSN 0164-2111.

External links

[lines-1] Lines, Craig (2 July 2018). "Zu: The Movie That Inspired Big Trouble In Little China". Den of Geek. Retrieved 1 February 2020.

[2] Paxton, Tim; Todarello, Dave (October 1991). "From Asia with Blood - Part One". Fangoria. No. 107. Starlog Group, Inc. p. 58. ISSN 0164-2111.

[1]

[2]

v t e Films by Tsui Hark
Films directed	The Butterfly Murders (1979) We're Going to Eat You (1980, also writer) Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind (1980, also writer) All the Wrong Clues for the Right Solution (1981) Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) Shanghai Blues (1984, also produced) Aces Go Places 3 (1984) Working Class (1985, also produced) Peking Opera Blues (1986, also produced) A Better Tomorrow III: Love & Death in Saigon (1989, also produced) Once Upon a Time in China (1991, also writer and produced) King of Chess (1991, uncredited, also produced) Once Upon a Time in China II (1992, also writer and produced) The Master (1992, also produced) Green Snake (1993, also writer and produced) Once Upon a Time in China III (1993, also writer and produced) The Lovers (1994, also writer and produced) Once Upon a Time in China V (1994, also writer and produced) The Blade (1995, also writer and produced) The Chinese Feast (1995, also writer and produced) Love in the Time of Twilight (1995, also writer and produced) Tristar (1996, also writer and produced) Double Team (1997) Knock Off (1998) Time and Tide (2000, also writer and produced) The Legend of Zu (2001, also writer and produced) Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002, also produced) Seven Swords (2005, also writer and produced) Missing (2008, also writer and produced) All About Women (2008, also writer and produced) Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010, also produced) Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011, also writer and produced) Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013, also writer and produced) The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014, also writer) Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017, also writer and produced) Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (2018, also produced)
Films written	A Better Tomorrow II (1987; also produced) A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991, also produced) Swordsman II (1992, also produced) New Dragon Gate Inn (1992, also produced) The Wicked City (1992; also produced) The East Is Red (1993; also produced) Once Upon a Time in China IV (1993; also produced) The Magic Crane (1993, also produced) Iron Monkey (1993; also produced) Black Mask (1996; also produced) The Era of Vampires (2002, also produced) Sword Master (2016; also produced) The Thousand Faces of Dunjia (2017)
Films produced only	A Better Tomorrow (1986) A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) The Big Heat (1988) I Love Maria (1988) The Killer (1989) A Terra-Cotta Warrior (1990) The Swordsman (1990) A Chinese Ghost Story II (1990) Shanghai Grand (1996) Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997) The Climbers (2019)
Collaborating director	The Banquet (1991) Twin Dragons (1992) Triangle (2007) Septet: The Story of Hong Kong (2020) The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) The Battle at Lake Changjin II (2022)

v t e Huanzhulouzhu
Novels	Legend of the Swordsmen of the Mountains of Shu Blades from the Willows
Adaptations	Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983 film) The Gods and Demons of Zu Mountain (1990 TV series) The Zu Mountain Saga (1991 TV series) The Legend of Zu (2001 film) Legend of Zu Mountain (2015 TV series)