The Battle Wizard (1977) - Hsueh Li Pao

After losing his legs nearly two decades ago, Wong Po-yen seeks vengeance on the son of the Prince who was responsible.  This man, Tuan Yi, is an earnest scholar who lacks martial arts skill.  One day he leaves the confines of his palace to see if he can survive outside the walls without martial arts skill.  On his journey he meets  Mou Wan-ching, a masked woman who kills nearly every man she comes across.  She spares Yuan Yi's life because he helps save her sister, Cheung Ling-ar, and the two embark on an epic journey where they fight all sorts of mystical foes.   Hsueh Li Pao's The Battle Wizard is a convoluted, martial arts extravaganza that delivers plenty of nonsensical fun.  The narrative of the film is a complete mess, strung together by action set pieces and various mystical folklore.  Essentially we learn that Tuan Yi and Mou Wan-Ching are long lost siblings, with the same father and separate mothers.  This sets up the finale as a family affair which pits Wong Po-Yen against the two siblings.  Honestly if you are going into a film like The Battle Wizard expecting a riveting narrative something is wrong with you as Battle Wizard provides pretty much everything you'd want in the genre.  From the brazen special effects, to the over-the-top acting, The Battle Wizard is an endlessly entertaining experience.  We have characters with the ability to shoot snakes from their hands, a man on metal stilts, a red dragon monster, fire-spitting, a hilariously cheap-looking gorilla, and all sorts of other cheesy but fun creations.  The Battle Wizard is an acquired taste but if you like this sorta thing there is no reason you should miss this film.
7/10

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