The Blade

An apprentice swordsman raised by a renowned craftsperson learns that his real father was killed by a ruthless bandit named Lung. He leaves home to seek the killer, crossing desolate deserts and tangling with harsh criminals along the way. In the melee a brutal assault costs him his right arm, changing everything he thought his life would be. Nursed back to health by unlikely allies, he refuses to surrender and discovers new ways to train, fight, and survive with one limb. As his skill grows, he moves toward a confrontation with Lung, driven by a blend of anger, duty, and the stubborn belief that vengeance must be earned rather than granted. The tale carries a quiet sense of honor even as the fights explode.

Directed by Tsui Hark and released in 1995, The Blade features a screenplay by Koan Hui On and So Man-Sing and is built from an original script rather than a direct adaptation, a choice that showcases the director's distinctive stylized approach to action.

Box office data for The Blade are not publicly reported, so precise worldwide gross is unavailable. The film is primarily discussed as part of Tsui Hark's action cinema legacy and as a notable entry in 1990s martial arts film catalogs.

This film embodies Tsui Hark's kinetic approach to wuxia cinema, with striking swordplay and desert visuals that echo the era's bold action. The staging blends wirework with practical, brutal combat, and its emphasis on a wounded hero reshapes how resilience and triumph are portrayed in 90s Hong Kong genre cinema.

Viewers praise the movie for its kinetic action and the hero's determination after losing an arm. The themes revolve around revenge and reinvention, turning hardship into resilience and bold visual sequences. The film carries a 7.0/10 rating from 114 votes. Fans of martial arts epics will find much to admire.