The East Is Red (1993 film)

The East Is Red (also known as Swordsman III; released in the Philippines as The Great China Warrior), is a 1993 Hong Kong wuxia film. The main character in the film is loosely based on Dongfang Bubai, a character in Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. The film was produced by Tsui Hark, was co-directed by Ching Siu-tung and Raymond Lee and starred Brigitte Lin, Joey Wong and Yu Rongguang. The film is regarded as a sequel to The Swordsman and Swordsman II.[1]

The East Is Red
Theatrical poster
Traditional Chinese東方不敗 - 風雲再起
Simplified Chinese东方不败 - 风云再起
Hanyu PinyinDōngfāng Bùbài - Fēngyún Zàiqǐ
Directed by
Screenplay by
Produced byTsui Hark
Starring
CinematographyTom Lau
Edited by
  • Chun Yu
  • Keung Chuen-tak
Music byWilliam Hu
Production
companies
  • Film Workshop
  • Long Shong Pictures Ltd
  • Golden Princess Film Production Ltd
Distributed byNewport Entertainment Ltd
Release date
  • 21 January 1993 (1993-01-21)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryHong Kong
Languages
  • Cantonese
  • Mandarin
Box officeHK$11,248,503.00

Plot

Following Dongfang Bubai's apparent death in Swordsman II, the jianghu (martial artists' community) disintegrates into chaos as it lacks a dominant figure to serve as a de facto leader. Several imposters use Dongfang Bubai's name to rally supporters, form their own schools, and fight for power. One of Dongfang Bubai's devoted lovers, Xue Qianxun, rebuilds the Sun Moon Holy Cult by impersonating Dongfang Bubai.

The Ming imperial court sends a naval admiral, Gu Changfeng, to assist the Spanish in searching for the remains of a Dutch warship sunk near Black Woods Cliff, the site of Dongfang Bubai's death in Swordsman II. At Black Woods Cliff, Gu Changfeng discovers that Dongfang Bubai is still alive in disguise as an elderly woman, and manages to convince him to return to the jianghu.

Dongfang Bubai unleashes his fury and starts a bloodbath in eliminating all those who impersonate him. He discovers that Xue Qianxun has been pretending to be him, and seriously injures her in anger. Consumed by his desire for power, Dongfang Bubai decides to continue his ambitious plan to unite the jianghu under his rule and dominate China.

Gu Changfeng realises that Dongfang Bubai has gone out of control so he leads the Ming imperial navy to fight Dongfang and his Spanish and Japanese allies. In the ensuing naval battle, all the warships are destroyed and Dongfang Bubai emerges victorious after defeating and killing Gu Changfeng. However, Xue Qianxun loses her life in the process. Dongfang Bubai realises his mistake and embraces his dead lover as he retires from the jianghu again.

Cast

Release

The East Is Red was released in Hong Kong on January 21, 1993. In the Philippines, the film was released as The Great China Warrior by World Films in April 1995.[2]

Critical response

The film received a positive review from the Los Angeles Times.[1]

References
  1. "Movie Review: 'Swordsman 3': Martial Arts and Heart Both Play a Role". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  2. "'Great China Warrior'". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. 26 April 1995. p. A4. Retrieved 2 June 2021. An imposter (Joey Wang) who claims to be the dreaded Invincible Dawn performs the lethal needle-and-thread fighting technique in this fight sequence from The Great China Warrior, a sequel to Jet Lee's continuing epic adventure, Legendary Fighters of China.
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