The tragedy takes place in Chang Cheh’s anachronistic vision of 1930’s Republican China. Writer Chiu Kang Chien’s plot is unnecessarily convoluted but the difficult details are not intrinsic to the core story. Ti Lung stars as Ren Jie, an underworld boss’ happy-go-lucky hoodlum godson with super heroic knife skills and a heart of gold. This sunny Adonis and his lovely sweetheart Hu Die (Wong Ping) lead a romantic life until Ren Jie’s clan is framed by a local warlord for the murder of a competing underworld leader. Moody genius Jian Nan the Rambler (David Chiang) appears with his fan, cigarette holder and symbolic cough to help Ren Jie’s clan fight a gang war manipulated by heartless warlords. Ren Jie soon discovers that although the Rambler is an honorable man, his intentions are double-edged and his presence ambiguous. After the death of Ren Jie’s beloved godfather, devious new boss Gan Wen Bin (played masterfully by Chuen Yuen) tries to destroy Ren Jie and his brother (Ku Feng), and begins to abuse every form of decency in town. The more heinous the crimes committed against Ren Jie and his loved ones, the more the young hero’s vengeful outrage hurtles him down the path of no return. Using his deadly twin knives, he is determined to exterminate Gan, Gan’s men, and everyone else involved, including the enigmatic Rambler, who is both enemy and friend and possibly something more.
In Chang’s fantasy world, Ren Jie’s passion, romanticized by Ti Lung’s superstar looks and boundless energy, is perfectly balanced by Chiang’s small, dark Rambler, an intensely introverted and brainy character. While Ren Jie’s righteous flying fists, legs and knives pulverize crowds of flailing baddies, the Rambler walks coolly through the chaos, monitoring the situation with detached amusement until it’s time to cut loose on the baddies with his crazy knife ability. Ti and Chiang’s famed fight team magic supplies much of the visceral excitement of The Duel. Their fight scenes, choreographed by Tong Gaai and Yuen Cheung Yan, are heated, crowded and emotional. The stars have delightful turbo-abilities that allow them to box and slash their way through scores of groaning baddies who experience little personal pain. This impressionistic mess is heightened by Vengeance! photographer Miyaki Yukio’s sophisticated color contrasts and evocative frame compositions. For example, Ren Jie’s demi-god status is evoked by an almost ritualistic killing in front of his godfather’s altar, and a mustard silk jacket is such a rich focal point against a sea of gray, black and white stunt fighters that after the Rambler changes into a dark suit and tie, the life of the mustard jacket is carried on by Gan’s right hand man (Wong Chung). |
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