The Rebellious Reign (1980)

THE REBELLIOUS REIGN (1980, Fang Hsiang) is pretty great - it starts with a bang with some fun and creative fight scenes, then shifts into an extended middle of political intrigue that ultimately erupts as a finale of spectacular carnage, featuring really well staged and surprisingly bloody action.

The story is broadly the same as Shaw Brothers The Lady Assassin a couple of years later, but I assume both are based on an earlier story (and to some extent history), and there is a clear difference between the classic shapes-based choreography here from Alan Chui and the new wave madcap wirework of Tony Liu's film.

Production values are pretty impressive for an indie film in this genre, with some quality costumes and locations.