Adapted by filmmakers into numerous movies and television series throughout the years, “The Heaven Sword and the Dragon Sabre” is a very popular wuxia (martial arts and chivalry) novel written by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). Back in 1993, Wong Jing directed “Kung Fu Cult Master” starring Jet Li, Sharla Cheung and Chingmy Yau; it was a much darker take than the novel and a box office failure. A planned sequel was never made even though it ended with a cliffhanger, but due to repeated exposure on television, it gradually became a fan favorite.
Almost thirty years later, together with a new cast and cinematographer Keung Kwok Man, Wong is back with “New Kung Fu Cult Master 1 and 2” in which the first part is a modern update of the original, while part 2 is the current sequel. Replacing Li is Raymond Lam who plays protagonist Zhang Wu Ji, a young kung fu expert who gets caught up in the struggle for a pair of legendary weapons and unintentionally becomes the leader of the Ming Cult. Zhang's back story is a tragic one: his parents committed suicide because of their refusal to disclose the location of Xie Xun, the Golden Haired Lion King who possesses the Dragon Sabre, which every sect in the Wulin (martial world) is after. There is also a scheme by the government to destroy the Six Major Sects (Shaolin, Wu Dang, Er Mei, Hua Shan, Kung Lun and Kong Tong) and Zhang ends up helping them even though five of the sects are responsible for his parents' untimely death.
Fatally wounded during the confrontation with the Six Major Sects, Zhang is barely alive, but he eventually learns the Chiu Yang Magic Stance after he returns to the Ice Fire Island which slowly nurses him back, and with that he also acquires the ability to learn any style of martial arts promptly. Later on, after he returns to the mainland, he accidentally picks up and masters the Heaven and Earth Shifting kung fu from the Ming Sect which makes him even more powerful.
During this time, he also encounters a Chinese Persian maid Xiao Zhao (Yan Qian Qian), a childhood friend Zhao Zhi Ruo (Sabrina Qiu) and lastly a cunning Princess Zhao Min (Janice Man). However, he is forever in conflicts when it comes to Zhao from the Er Mei sect. Xiao Zhao on the other hand goes through dangerous situations with Zhang and she is willing to protect him at all costs. As for Zhao Min, she turns out to be a calculative antagonist working for the government and together with a rogue monk Cheng Kun (Shi Yanneng) they plan to destroy the Six Major Sects. Nonetheless, Zhang's association with these three ladies is of significant importance in the plot development, not just a romantic interlude.
With this production, Wong sticks very closely to the novel in order to advance the intriguing story and depict Zhang as a righteous gentleman instead of a darker character from the original movie, and it certainly pays off. A much older Lam now plays the lead but he is likable and does a sufficient job in portraying the kind-hearted and womanizing Zhang as written in the book. Of course he is no match when it comes to martial arts and less charismatic compared to Jet Li. Unfortunately for Man, her character comes across rather weak and lacks authority. Yun's portraying of the fiery Xiao Zhao is passable but both pale in comparison compared to Sharla Cheung and Chingmy Yau.
In an extended cameo, Superstar Donnie Yen plays Zhang San Feng, grandmaster of the Wu Dang sect, but unfortunately, instead of a proper fight, we only see him performing a solo Tai Chi demonstration. Another heavyweight, Louis Koo, turns up as Zhang Chui Shan, Wu Ji's father who shares a touching scene with his master Zhang San Feng. Likewise, it is a delight to see veteran martial artists like Louis Fan Siu Wong and Xiong Xin Xin sharing the screen as a pair of Zhao Min's ruthless henchmen known as Dog and Cat respectively. Furthermore, Elvis Tsui is memorable as the Golden Haired Lion King, and equally captivating as Miejue, the hard-headed leader of the Er Mei sect, Jade Leung shines through her role.
Heavily wire assisted with plenty of CGI, the fight sequences are plentiful but there is hardly any real kung fu on display here. Known to have supernatural martial arts power, Jin Yong's heroes are able to burst out their inner energy beams through their palms or swords and the special effects do a fairly passable job of capturing the feel at times.
Wong must have learnt from the mistakes he made with the previous movie because this new version turns out to be an engrossing experience altogether, with a story that deals with honor, political intrigue, romance, action plus a pair of weapons with hidden secrets.
