Feng Huang's "Xue fu men" is an operatic martial arts spectacle that delivers a visceral punch. With a title that translates to "The Crimson Charm," the film certainly lives up to its name, offering a bloody and dramatic tale of revenge.

"Xue fu men" stars Ivy Ling Po in a breakthrough performance as a vengeful warrior, exuding the same fierce energy as Michelle Yeoh in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Ling Po's character is a force to be reckoned with, showcasing some absolutely breathtaking and brutal fighting sequences. Her graceful yet ferocious swordplay is a highlight, seamlessly integrating dance-like choreography with intense, gory violence. The film earns its namesake with ample bloodshed and crimson hues adorning the screen during these action set pieces.

However, "Xue fu men" stumbles in its overly dramatic and melodramatic storytelling. The histrionics are dialed up to eleven, with exaggerated performances and emotional outbursts that border on comical. While this style of theatrics may have been common in this era of martial arts cinema, it often distracts from the film's momentum and emotional core. The plot, though filled with potential, feels meandering and convoluted, burying its intriguing revenge narrative under layers of operatic flair.

In conclusion, "Xue fu men" is a mixed bag. It boasts impressive action choreography and a standout performance by Ivy Ling Po, but it's bogged down by excessive melodrama and a disjointed narrative. For fans of martial arts cinema, the film is worth a watch for its visceral combat and technical prowess. However, the overly dramatic elements may deter those seeking a more streamlined and contemporary take on the revenge genre. Thus, "Xue fu men" settles for a middling rating, leaving viewers with a sense of untapped potential amidst the blood and theatrics.

This is the third time I watched this movie in the past six years so I decided to add a review. Typically I start by summing up the initial action to make sure we are talking about the same movie. Some of these old martial arts movies have many titles. No chance of that problem with this movie. Chang Yi started as a leading man at Shaw Brothers in 1967 with King Cat. He had no martial arts skills initially but anyone can tell by watching his progression of movies over just four years that this guy has been training hard off camera. I estimate he is at black level in this film and he gets better in years to come. He will continue with many lead roles then to lead villains. But not at Shaw Brothers as his star is dimming there already. His last lead roles at Shaw Brothers were in 1972 and he even was even deleted from a movie that year (Finger of Doom). Ivy Ling Po was a top star for Shaw Brothers. (If the only movie she ever made was "The Love Eterne" she would be no less famous.) She started acting as a young teenager in the 1950s but by now she was in her thirties. Asian actresses tended to marry wealthy men at that time and disappear from the public eye. Ivy did just that and retired to Canada. Suddenly in 2002 she had a career resurgence and a concert tour. Overall this was a good movie for story and action. I have two small complaints. I did not like the hokey weapons such as the Shaking Trident and the Retractable Dragon Sword and the Shield of Smoke and Darts. I can understand the action directors wanting to be creative but I think China has plenty of interesting authentic weapons and that's all you need. Also the large cat head or devil head (I can't even tell what it is supposed to be) behind Ku Feng's throne looks like a toddler drew it. The pulsating lights in the eyes made it look dumber still. Anyway, still rated above average and recommended by this fan.

THE CRIMSON CHARM begins with the upcoming celebration of Master Chiang's 60th birthday being sabotaged by the members of the Crimson Charm gang: they murder everyone they encounter who's en route to the festivities. Among those attacked is Ling-Wu, who just happens to be one of those characters you DON'T f*** with in these movies. He lays waste the members of the Crimson Charm gang who accost him. At the Chiang residence, the elderly master gives Han the boot (so to speak) after passing him over for a promotion. The Crimson Charm gang attacks and Chiang's daughter Shang (Shih Szu) is mortally wounded. Feng Feng loses an arm, but she recovers. Ying and Shang spend her final days in a cave. Years pass, and Feng Feng and Ling-Wu return to their old stomping grounds to extract some vengeance. Not a bad little tale, but I would've preferred to see Shih Szu there at the end. Ku Feng has what amounts to a cameo as the gang leader at the end.