The fighting was dull and unspectacular, the story was likewise rather boring and cliched. The action tries to get by on the sheer force of its violence rather than by exciting, well choreographed sequences. There certainly is a lot of violence, rather graphic in relation to other movies of the genre (many beheadings and dismemberments, and most notably an eye-sewing-shut scene), but it is a VERY poor substitute for good action. I think it's terribly unfortunate that this movie has received full DVD release and The Blade (Dao) (1995) has not, as that movie shared the same form of unnerving violence, but it was much, MUCH better done on every level.

Tong Po Ka, played by a young Zhang Feng Yi - star of Red Cliff 1&2, and The Emperor & The Assassin - tries escaping down-river with his lover, Rosamund Kwan of whom he has been accused of kidnapping. Chased by hundreds of men, they are caught and he is shipped off to a dark and violent prison where the red-eyed rats feed on the blood of men, and prisoners get their eyelids stitched closed in a graphically disturbing fashion.

There's a reason Billy Chung's epic The Assassin is a Category 3 movie, and in about 6 minutes of its running time, you start to see why!

A tale of forbidden love, and a fight for survival, this 1993 graphic swordplay, martial arts flick is not director Chung's first foray into Cat 3 territory having made the dark, Love To Kill. Beautifully shot with stunning cinematography from Zhao Fei (who also shot Warriors Of Heaven & Earth, Raise The red Lantern, and Let The Bullets Fly), the film just oozes that Hong Kong new-wave style of film-making with gorgeously lit night shots, smoke filled scenes, and great set-pieces...

The handsome Max Mok Siu Chung soon joins the story as another assassin for the band of killers, joining Zhang since his recruitment from prison. Not long after, we are treated to a decent attack on officials in a nearby town with some bloody action, enhanced with a little wire-fu by choreographers Stephen Tung Wei and Benz Kong To Hoi. While they don't bring anything spectacular to the screen, the fights still entertain and offer enough great moves and violence to keep fans happy!

At this stage, Zhang has become a ruthless killer, letting no man stand in his way and enjoying the smell of burning corpses at his feet. Both he and Mok bond together, often fighting side-by-side as more missions come along. Obviously, that isn't to last as Zhang finds Rosamund Kwan once again who is now married with a child, and defies his master to try and escape the killing life.

Thankfully, it also means escaping that dreadful wig!

Forced to fight his new friend to the death, Zhang must take on the Assassination Factory in a bid to get his life back and survive the violent world he now lives in. Thankfully, this results in a few more pretty sweet battles reminiscent of classics such as The Bride With White Hair, Blade Of Fury, and Burning Paradise. While flawed in many areas, The Assassin still entertains and offers plenty of bloody action in its short running time...

Overall: Like a violent Ashes Of Time, only a little more straight forward, The Assassin is pretty sweet and a forgotten classic of the Hong Kong new-wave era!

The Assassin (1993) is one of the few Hong Kong movies to earn a category III rating just for it's shear brutality. Usually a CAT. III is awarded for excessive sex, nudity or violence but this one was earned for it's bloody carnage. Rosamund Kwan co-stars as the former love of Fengyi Zhang. Kwan and Zheng are two lovers who's love for each other is forbidden. When Zheng refuses to acknowledge this, he's imprisoned and brutally punished. While in prison, he becomes an assassin for an evil eunuch. Upon his release, he tutors an up and coming assassin (Max Mok). while under his wing, Mok slowly turns into something that Zheng could never be.

Highly recommended for H.K. Cinema fans. Be warned because this film is violent!!