The Seven Swords (2005)

Produced, directed, and written by Tsui Hark, SEVEN SWORDS is an action-packed wuxia epic about love, betrayal, and heroism. Starring Asia hottest stars, including award winning Hong Kong actor and singer Leon Lai (Three, Infernal Affairs 3), versatile actress Charlie Young (New Police Story, Fallen Angels), international action star Donnie Yen (Blade 3, Hero), award winning China actors Sun Hong-Lei (Zhou Yu's Train) and Lu Yi, and actress Kim So Yeon from Korea. With state of the art costume and set designs by Eddie Wong (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and action direction by acclaimed martial arts choreographer, Lau Kar-Leung (Drunken Master 2).

Adapted from renowned writer Liang Yu-Shen timeless classic, SEVEN SWORDS tells the story of seven unlikely heroes gathered together to save a village from the massacre of a general that is seeking a fortune through killing. In the early 1600, the long ruling Ming Dynasty has been overthrown, and the Manchurian invaders from the north have taken over the sovereignty, beginning what is known as the Ching Dynasty, and a highly oppressive reign thus begins. In order to prevent rebels developing revolutionary plots, the newly set-up government immediately imposes a ruthless emergency martial law, ordering all martial art practitioners to turn in their weapons to district officials. Those who fail to do so will be considered committing a serious crime and would result to immediate execution. But soon enough, people would discover that even if they were to obey the law and turn in their weapon, their fate is equally in dire. Wind Fire, a surrendered military official from the previous dynasty, sees this as an opportunity to make a fortune for himself by helping to execute the new law. After endless massacres, Wind Fire next goal is to attack the final frontier, the village of Bowei Fortress.

Fu Qingzhu, a retired executioner from the previous dynasty feels the need to put a stop to this brutality and sets out to save Bowei Fortress. He brings Wu Yuanyin and Han Zhiban from the village with him to Mount Heaven to seek help from Master Shadow-Glow, a hermit who is a master of swords and leads a group of disciples of great swordsmanship. Master Shadow-Glow agrees to help, and orders four of his best disciples to go. Together with Chu Zhaonan, Yang Yunchong, Mulong, and Xin Longzi, SEVEN SWORDS is formed. Fu Qingzhu takes the lead and they set out to save the people of Bowei Fortress. As they take the entire village leading them to the road of a safer place, they begin to encounter mysterious confusion. Food and water is poisoned, and trails of escape are marked with signs leading the enemy to them. They soon realize that there is an undercover spy amongst them, and SEVEN SWORDS must identify him/her before Wind Fire army gets to them

Principle photography for SEVEN SWORDS begins September 1, 2004, and the entire film will be shot in Urumuqi, Tien Shan, Shanshan, and various locations in Xinjiang, China. The film is set for release in the summer of 2005.

SEVEN SWORDS is produced and directed by Tsui Hark, from the script co-written by Tsui Hark, Cheung Chi-Sing, and Chun Tien-Nan. Executive Producers are Ma Zhong-Jun, Raymond Wong, and Lee Joo-Ick.

© Mandarin Films (press announcements) and Hong Kong Entertainment News in Review. (From www.hkentreview.com)

Aspect Ratio : 16:9 (1.78:1)
Screen Format : Widescreen
Package Type : Keep Case
Print Status : In Print or Pre-print

Genre: ASIN: ISBN: EAN: ISRC:

Audio/Dialogue:

Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Chinese Mandarin (Pu Tong Hua) Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Subtitles:

English - Embedded (burned into picture; not removable/optional)
Chinese (Traditional) - Embedded (burned into picture; not removable/optional)

Street Date : 30 2005
Run Time (H/M/S):