Other than replacing Tien Niu with Niu Niu in the role of Huang Rong, Keung Hon taking over the role of Liang Ziweng and Norman Chu becoming Yao, the sequel to The Brave Archer keeps much of the same cast and feel as it continues to adapt Louis Cha's The Legend of the Condor Heroes.
Huang Rong has been taken hostage by Ouyang Feng (Wang Lung-wei) who ransoms her for the Nine Yin Manual that is protected by heroic Guo Jing (Alexander Fu Sheng), who works with Hong Qigong (Ku Feng) to give the villain an incomplete version of the book. When he practices the forms in it, it drives him insane as they aren't correct. He challenges the two, but is hurt and Guo Jing and Hong Qigong escape. However, Hong Qigong is injured and gives Huang Rong his weapon, the Dog Beating Staff, handing over his leadership of the Beggars' Sect as well. But when she loses the staff to Yang Kang (Li Yi-Min), it causes a battle between several of the different sects trying to gain power, including the Tsuen Jen Taoists, the Iron Palm Clan and the Beggars' Clan.
This is a movie that demands attention, as there are about twenty or so lead characters - or so it seems - and everyone has a conflict and story of their own. Director Chang Cheh believed that his versions of these stories weren't as good as the novels that they came from. For Western audiences, it may be difficult to jump in and follow so much of what is going on. However, I have been enjoying their scope and trying to keep up as well as I can, despite language and culture barriers. It helps that when there is action, it's thrilling and that the heroes are so likeable.
Huang Rong has been taken hostage by Ouyang Feng (Wang Lung-wei) who ransoms her for the Nine Yin Manual that is protected by heroic Guo Jing (Alexander Fu Sheng), who works with Hong Qigong (Ku Feng) to give the villain an incomplete version of the book. When he practices the forms in it, it drives him insane as they aren't correct. He challenges the two, but is hurt and Guo Jing and Hong Qigong escape. However, Hong Qigong is injured and gives Huang Rong his weapon, the Dog Beating Staff, handing over his leadership of the Beggars' Sect as well. But when she loses the staff to Yang Kang (Li Yi-Min), it causes a battle between several of the different sects trying to gain power, including the Tsuen Jen Taoists, the Iron Palm Clan and the Beggars' Clan.
This is a movie that demands attention, as there are about twenty or so lead characters - or so it seems - and everyone has a conflict and story of their own. Director Chang Cheh believed that his versions of these stories weren't as good as the novels that they came from. For Western audiences, it may be difficult to jump in and follow so much of what is going on. However, I have been enjoying their scope and trying to keep up as well as I can, despite language and culture barriers. It helps that when there is action, it's thrilling and that the heroes are so likeable.