King Hu-Hsia nu ('A Touch of Zen') (1969)

The ultimate martial arts classic from the great director King Hu. Ming Dynasty noblewoman Yang (Hsu Feng) must escape from the evil eunuch Hsu. She seeks refuge at a decrepit town where she gets assistance from a naïve scholar and a group of mysterious yet powerful monks. A milestone in martial arts cinema, A TOUCH OF ZEN is filled with gorgeous sceneries, superb fights, and an unforgettable finale that ranks as one of the all time best. Tai Seng




An artist, Ku, lives with his mother near an abandoned fort, reputed to be haunted. One night, investigating strange noises, he meets the beautiful Yang who is living there. She is being pursued by agents of an Imperial noble who have murdered her family. Ku finds himself caught up in her struggle to survive, and many fierce battles take place before all is resolved. Action adventure with a lyrical feel, this is a kung fu film with a strong spiritual element. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0064451/plotsummary)




Everything from the beautiful photography down to the deepness of the picture. The acting is superb, the writing is top notch and the direction is flawless. The film has everything you could want in a movie; action, drama, and comedy. The soundtrack is haunting and the wire work is amazing. No wonder why so many movies have copied off of this film (notably Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix Trilogy). Unlike those other films this movie will withstand the test of time. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0064451/usercomments)




The film is carefully structured, in three contrasting sections. It is only when you look back that you realize just how cleverly King Hu has created those three sections. The same characters, for the most part, appear in each section, but each focuses on a different combination. The first section focuses on the artist Ku, slowly building a picture of a quiet life in a rural backwater. The second switches tempo, with amazing martial arts action focusing on the fugitive Ku and her friends. The final section calms down again, as the mysterious Buddhist monk comes into sharp focus, and the martial arts become more and more amazing. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0064451/usercomments)




Blending different genres seamlessly together and paving the way for many movies to come, everything here is well balanced and thought over. The story that begins as a ghost story starts slowly but rewardingly layering up, developing and getting more dimensions, moving into Wu Xia styled action and politics drama, then leaping into the territory of Seven samurais -style tactical warfare depiction, finally getting some deeply mystical aspects in the end. Settings and photography are stunningly beautiful, and all the visuals are breath-taking timeless. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0064451/usercomments)




A touch of Zen is one of those classic movies that you must see if you a fan of a wuxia, because it sets a certain benchmark. This movie was made back in the days when you didn't have all the flashy wires and slick CGI, but this is what makes it one of the greats. The director made use of timing, music and atmosphere. The movie starts off slow, but slowly pulls you into the story and wanting more. Just as you thought it was all over, comes part two and which is just as gripping as the first half. This movie is a great wuxia epic and deserves more recognition. (yesasia.com)





A Touch of Zen gives a clear picture of who is good, who is evil & when the Shaolin monks were not a force to be messed with. The story seems to feel long & drawn out so not much re-play value for me but fond memories. (watch for a very young Sammo Hung as the villians henchman) (yesasia.com)




Director King Hu was a visionary;no wonder so many contemporary movies have explicitly and liberally lifted his ideas. Unlike so many martial arts' movies, character reigns;
the plot is intricate, evolving and and motivates the action. And the natural locations make one want to take a very long walk around China. A feeling of reality and naturalness prevails in every scene. (amazon.com)