Duel to the Death (1982)

79% of users liked it
(2,168 ratings)

Even prior to becoming a recognizable name with such superior entertainments as A Chinese Ghost Story, visionary filmmaker Ching Siu-tung directed this spectacularly effects-laden action-fantasy. Along with the same year's Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain, the techniques employed here paved the… More Even prior to becoming a recognizable name with such superior entertainments as A Chinese Ghost Story, visionary filmmaker Ching Siu-tung directed this spectacularly effects-laden action-fantasy. Along with the same year's Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain, the techniques employed here paved the way for the extravagant spectacles which soon came to dominate Hong Kong cinema. The plot concerns a martial arts contest between China and Japan which was held once every ten years during the Ming dynasty. Set in the days leading up to one such contest, the Chinese fighter Bo Ching-wen (Damian Lau) and a Japanese contestant, Lord Hashimoto (Norman Tsui), discover that their nations have conspired to fix the contest. It seems that a local martial arts master who believes that his daughter should be China's official contestant has conspired with a villain posing as a monk to kidnap the top fighters in the competition. The fake monk commands a team of skilled ninjas who commit the abductions -- in one memorable scene swooping down on their victim on silent kites -- and it is up to Bo and Hashimoto to set matters right. The plot itself, however, is merely a backdrop for an array of thrilling fight scenes and entertaining special-effects set pieces which are all the more impressive for being among the first of their kind in Hong Kong cinema. Flora Cheung and Eddy Ko co-star. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Siu-Tung Ching, Casanova Wong
Written By: Siu-Tung Ching, David Lai, Manfred Wong
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1982 Wide
On DVD: Aug 29, 2000
Studio: Tai Seng

Critic Reviews

John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...with its fast pace, appealing characters, and surprisingly involving story line, it is quite entertaining.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
I went into the film convinced it was going to be just another bloody, mindless muddle. I came away not only impressed, but more respectful of the genre.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tsubaki S

Rad-tastic and fun as hell old school wuxia that goes straight to the point. Typicall plot about secret papers, your usual tournament or the like and what not. It's still a fun ride from beginning to end, never getting dull and with some of the most creative and delirious sword… More
Rad-tastic and fun as hell old school wuxia that goes straight to the point. Typicall plot about secret papers, your usual tournament or the like and what not. It's still a fun ride from beginning to end, never getting dull and with some of the most creative and delirious sword fight sequences that has been put into film. Heck, even with all the sillyness going around, the main focus of the story is quite well told, showing the motivations of the two main characters in a very convincing way. You will go for the ninjas, but you will stay for the story...and the ninjas.
Ken S

Awesome little hk classic. Chinese vs Japanese Styles...exploding ninjas...crazy voltron burrowing ninjas...naked lady ninjas...the list goes on and on
Lesley N

Chinese Shaolin monk and Japanese samurai warriror battle it out in this confusing (at first) and pretty silly in places story set in the MIng dynasty. The pace is all over the place, like a car on a cold morning, but luckily, every time it threatens to stall, in come a bunch of… More
Chinese Shaolin monk and Japanese samurai warriror battle it out in this confusing (at first) and pretty silly in places story set in the MIng dynasty. The pace is all over the place, like a car on a cold morning, but luckily, every time it threatens to stall, in come a bunch of exploding ninjas to the rescue. <img src="http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/protectedimage.php?image=DaveFoster/dttd05.jpg">
Christopher B

A Shaolin vs Samurai, to the death! Ninjas galore and a fun story about honour (what else?) with some great imagery. Plus a suprising amount of wacky violence. This is a goodun.