The Jade Raksha (1968)

This is one of Runme Shaw’s “wuxia offensive” entries starring Cheng Pei-pei before Jimmy Wang Yu reinvented the genre with THE CHINESE BOXER in 1970. THE JADE RAKSHA benefits from being released in this period of 4 or 5 years where Shaw blended fantastic location work with their fan-favorite sound-stages, a welcome surprise that practically gives off the impression of unorthodoxy. This film has it all: revenge, drama, fights, blood-letting, romance, plot twists, and more. Even though the weakest part is the lacking blade choreography, the other wuxia elements (running on water, fighting atop bamboo) that directly influenced CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, which should be no surprise given the star and the title, made up for it. Well, and the copious amounts of blood. Also, color me very surprised when I heard parts of THE BIG COUNTRY’s score ripped off here! Jerome Moross would probably be flattered.