All the King's Men

Imagine mincing the subtle comedy of Dragon Inn with the sprawling epic of his late 70s films. Add a small dose of extremely distinct choreography, and that is Tian Xia Di Yi or All the King's Men in English. There are a lot of familiar faces in the film such as Golden Swallow or Cheng Pei-pei from Come Drink With Me as well as Tian Feng who plays the ill emperor.

If you follow King Hu's films, you will easily see a lot of hidden themes, usually meant to be criticisms on the mainland government, which can be seen in this magnificent epic written by no other than Wu Nien-Jen, who wrote some of the greatest screenplays including A City of Sadness and Yi Yi for some of the most famous Taiwanese directors. This film is another indicator of why King Hu is truly the master of martial art films, and there would never be another one like it again.

Tian xia di yi (All the King's Men) is about the ailing emperor of China and his ministers' efforts to cure him of his illness. The only doctor who can cure the illness lives in the neighbouring kingdom, so smuggling out takes some effort. The official who allows him to leave wants a painting by a famous painter, so that must be procured as well. The painter won't paint until he sees a certain princess, but she is in mourning and won't leave the house. To make her leave the house, a famous thief must be enlisted ...

In short, it's a convoluted story with layers upon layers and lots of elements, among them pro- and anti-Taoist factions, trying to keep up appearances for visiting diplomats from another neighbouring country to keep the peace, etc. etc. etc.

What this movie is not: a kung fu movie. If you're in the mood for action, this isn't the movie for you. But if you like court intrigues, this film is well worth watching and it's a fun exercise to try and keep all those factors and layers in mind. And if you find the thief's daughter strangely familiar - it's Pei-pei Cheng, who played Jade Fox in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

For a man who might be the greatest action filmmaker to have most of his films poorly restored is a shame. Films like these whoch presents a modern take of a Pekimg opera with credible characters amd a fun perfprmance from Cheng Pei pei as well as Tian Feng. People should get more exposurr to films like these. If only thete was a way to restore it so the general masses could have a chance to see hid hidden treasures the world will get a better understandomg of Chinese culture and that of cinema. Of all the films this one I personally found to be the funniest and clearly showed Hu to be at his most comfortable and lightest mode while mincing it with solid fight scenes intermittently. The sets were amazing and the visuals never disappoint. One of the best films of the 80s decade by far.

Many films are some of the greatest works but need to be restored. A great example is possible the greatest film in Spring in a Small Town which only got popular in the early 80s. This is an early 80s classic which I have only seen in a California special screening and do not know where to get copies for other people to be exposed to this sublime masterpiece. Cheng Pei Pei is calm and also a killer in this funny yet almost mystery like film with all its contraptions and plot mixes that King Hu has gotten so used to doing. This is what makes me miss the films of old compared to the ones they make now. The film industries of Taiwan should do a better job im bring King Hu's films to the bigger audience.