Initiated by legendary filmmaker King Hu though ultimately completed by a team of directors led by producer Tsui Hark, this dizzying wuxia whirlwind revived the genre for the 1990s and paved the way for a new wave of high-flying swordplay spectaculars (including two sequels). Crammed with incident even by the standards of the genre, the breathless plot follows the fortunes of a good-natured young warrior (Sam Hui) who finds himself drawn into the intrigue surrounding a stolen scroll containing supernatural secrets. Despite its tumultuous production history, SWORDSMAN proves an intoxicating blend of Hark’s kinetic style and Hu’s touch of zen. - Criterion