Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (Chinese: 新蜀山劍俠) is a 1983 Hong Kong supernatural xianxia fantasy film directed by Tsui Hark and based on the xianxia novel Legend of the Swordsmen of the Mountains of Shu by Huanzhulouzhu.
Premise
During the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Qiao Shu army deserter Dik Ming-kei is being pursued by vampires in the mountain of Zu and is rescued by Master Ding Yan and then becomes his pupil. When they are ambushed by the Blood Devil, devil chaser Siu Yu and his pupil Yat Jan come to their assistance. They manage to hold off the Blood Devil, but they need to find the Dual Swords to destroy him.
Master Ding takes the wounded Siu Yu to Celestial Fort and seeks help from the Mistress, but he is poisoned by the Blood Devil and surrenders to the Dark Force. Will Ming-kei and Yat Jan find the Dual Swords and destroy the Blood Devil?
Cast
Sammo Hung as Chang Mei / Red Army soldier
Yuen Biao as Di Ming-qi / Dik Ming-kei
Brigitte Lin as the Ice Queen
Adam Cheng as Ding Yin / Ding Yan
Moon Lee as one of the Ice Queen's guards
Judy Ongg as Lady Li I-chi
Corey Yuen as Devil Disciple Leader
Damian Lau as Xiao Ru / Siu Yu
Mang Hoi as Yi Zhen / Yat Jan
Norman Chui as the Heaven's Blade
Chung Fat as a Blue Army Commander
Dick Wei as a Blue Army Commander
Ha Kwong-li as Ji Wu-shuang / Chi Wu-chuang
Ka Lee as an Orange Army soldier
Fung Hak-on as a Devil Disciple leader
Yuen Miu as an Orange Army soldier
Sai Gwa-Pau as the boatman
Tsui Hark as a Blue Army soldier
Jørn Bertram as the Doctor
Production
The film was produced and distributed by Golden Harvest, with Leonard Ho putting forward HK$30 Million towards its production, making it the most expensive film ever made in Hong Kong at the time.
Director Tsui Hark hired out western special effects artists such as Robert Balack, Peter Kuran, John Scheele, and Arnie Wong, famous for their work with ILM and Disney's Tron to act as consultants and help train Hong Kong film students to create the special effects required for the film, such as miniatures, optical compositing, rotoscoping, and matte painting.
Golden Harvest demanded changes for the international export market, having Tsui Hark shoot additional scenes to bookend the film and recontextualize it as a dream sequence from Yuen Biao, who plays a college student learning about Chinese history. This version was released overseas as Zu: Time Warriors.
Reception
Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain received five nominations at the 3rd Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Action Choreography for Corey Yuen, Best Actress for Brigitte Lin, Best Art Direction for William Chang, Best Film Editing for Peter Cheung, and Best Picture.
Despite its critical praise, the film was a financial failure, grossing an estimated HK$3 Million on a budget of HK$30 Million in its original theatrical run.
Influence
In a 1991 Fangoria article by Tim Paxton and Dave Todarello, Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is referred to as "a film which freely intertwines Chinese myth and lore with Hollywood special FX and comic-book action. It's the proverbial rollercoaster of kung fu, magic, monsters, humor, tension, visual spectacle and gruesome bits."
Craig Lines of Den of Geek wrote that Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain "was a significant film for the Hong Kong 'New Wave' movement that revolutionized the industry in the late '70s", characterized by "young filmmakers [who] broke free from the traditional studio system to create weird, energetic and experimental movies". Lines praised the actors' performances and the martial arts choreography, and noted the film's "warm, full-hearted message of kindness and acceptance".
John Carpenter has cited Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain as being responsible for the visual design of his film Big Trouble in Little China, and Sam Raimi cited its imaginative and effective special effects on a relatively low budget as an influence for Evil Dead II.
Home media
The U.K. release of the DVD by Hong Kong Legends features an audio commentary with Tsui Hark and film critic Bey Logan.
The Hong Kong release of the DVD by Fortune Star Media features the Cantonese version of the film's trailer, as well as an interview with actor Yuen Biao.