Killer Clans

Probably one of Chu Yuans best movies, which automatically makes it one of the best Shaw Brothers film, which obviously makes it one of the greatest movies ever. It's as gorgeously artificial as every other of the director's films, full of beautiful sets, bavaesque lighting and yeah, lots of people killing each other.
The plot about backstabbing and intrigue in the martial world is not as convoluted as I've gotten used to in these movies, one could even call it focused.
What surprised me a little was the number of location shots: Luckily the intrusion of real trees and water doesn't diminish the visual strength of the piece.
The only thing I missed was an appearance of Ti Lung as melancholic and/or alcoholic and/or embittered swordsman. Well, one can't expect perfection.

Darlings of the day:
"Killers are like shooting stars. They appear in brilliance and vanish in no time. Besides, they have no name."

"Do you think this man is reliable?"
"This man waited for me in the canal for 15 years. Do you think he's reliable?"

"Loyalty's precious in life. Let's sacrifice the kids."