Starring Petrina Fung Bo Bo, Lo Lieh, Chin Ping, Jimmy Wang Yu, Ivy Ling Po, Yueh Hua, Cheng Miu, Lily Ho Li Li, Margaret Hsing Hui, Wu Ma, Ku Feng, Lee Wan Chung, Lau Leung Wa, Kao Pao Shu
Directed by Hsu Cheng Hung
Expectations: High, after how much I enjoyed The Twin Swords.
The Red Lotus Temple has been burned to the ground and the twin swords of Chin Ping and Jimmy Wang Yu have been entrusted with the beautiful but lethal Phoenix Lute. The lute is more than a simple musical instrument, it is capable of shooting hundreds of needles at once; crippling, killing and maiming anyone in its path. They must take it back to the Jin family, where it is to be destroyed by the Fish Intestine Sword (or the less-fun translation, Invincible Sword).
The Sword and the Lute does something completely unexpected and makes Petrina Fung Bo Bo the star of the film. I can only imagine that this was because of her wonderful contribution to the success of The Twin Swords, but I doubt many were clamoring for a kid-fronted sequel. In any case, Lo Lieh is also back against all odds after being murdered by hundreds of arrows in The Twin Swords. Instead of some wild resurrection plot, he plays the previously unknown younger brother to the Lo Lieh in the prior film. Hey, I like Lo Lieh so any excuse is a good one to get him in the movie. Chin Ping and Jimmy Wang Yu are barely in the movie at all and are really just guest stars despite higher billing. Oh, and if you enjoyed the Jin Clan from the previous films, they’re gone too except for the kid.
Simply put, this is better than Temple of the Red Lotus, but not as good as The Twin Swords. If you’ve seen the first two, this is worth watching for its few fun moments, but it won’t set your world on fire. My main issue with this one is that it isn’t more like The Twin Swords, which is semi-unfair of me, but in a sequel, I think it’s a fair criticism. Some viewers may end up preferring this one depending on their tastes though, as they traded most of the fantasy elements for shadowy thievery and intrigue involving bandit clans living in caves. If that’s your sort of thing, then you may be more pleased with this one that I was…but the thing is, I’m down for some shadows and cave bandits so maybe I’m giving the film more credit than it deserves. There is a guy that shoots exploding fire marbles from his bow, so you have to at least appreciate that.
I’ll leave you with the choice wisdom that the Scarlet Maid bestows upon Petrina Fung Bo Bo before she rides over the hill and the film ends.
“In future come what may, try always to avert a massacre.”