射雕英雄传:侠之大者 - Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants

射雕英雄传:侠之大者 (Legends Of The Condor Heroes: The Gallants) is an 2025 film. The movie stars Xiao Zhan and "Sabrina" Zhuang Dafei. The supporting cast includes Tony Leung Ka-fai and Zhang Wenxin. The film is directly by the legendary Tsui Hark. The movie is based on the novel 射鵰英雄傳(The Legend Of The Condor Heroes) by 金庸 (Jin Yong/Louis Cha). The Condor Heroes story has been made into both movies and wuxia series over and over. This is just in a long line that love to tell the Condor Heroes story.



Xiao Zhan plays the main male protagonist of the film, Guo Jing. Sabrina Zhuang plays the main female protagonist of the film, Huang Rong. The film starts with the fall of the main Song Dynasty into North and South Song to the Jin Dynasty. Mongolia is united under Ghanis Khan and starts to retaliate against the Jin. Guo Jing is looking for Huang Rong and lands in one of the Mongolia and Jin skirmishes. Huang is trying desperately to get away from Ouyang Fang who is looking for the Novem Scripture (Novem = “nine” in latin). Guo Jing has mastered the Novem Scripture and is now more powerful than Ouyang. But Ouyang wants to force Huang Rong to cough up the Novem Scripture. In the Khan camp, Huang Rong secretly helps Guo Jung. Will Guo Jing and Huang Rong reunite or will Ouyang get his hands on them to obtain the Novem Scripture?

I am really excited that Condor Heroes is getting another high quality shot at the movies. The storyline itself is impossible to tell in one movie. For those that know the story after seeing all the wuxia series, you'll have to prepare yourself for a much more condensed version. The movie itself runs for over 2 hours of fun.

One thing you'll notice right away is that Guo Jing is already at the top of his powers in the movie with brief flashbacks to how he got there, but it does not go into much detail. Guo Jing is not at the top of his powers in the novels until Return Of The Condor Heroes, the sequel storyline novel. Ouyang Fang is just as dangerous as he is in the novels with his obsession with gaining the Novem Scriptures.

I also like that Guo Jing's slowness in the novels was only slightly touched on in the movie. But Huang Rong is just as smart in both. One thing about this movie is that it spends a very long time in the Mongol storyline. Whereas the novels did not spend as much. And the whole Yang Kang story was written out.

I also think that they did a really good job with Hua Zhen. Generally, the wuxia series, Hua Zhen is considered an afterthought plotline or she's presented as trying to break up Guo Jin and Huang Rong. However, in this movie, she is not and is presented as a strong female protagonist. Zhang Wenxin was in my opinion really good for her first role.

I caught this at a local Harkins theatre. By my guesstimate, the theatre could have fit 150 or so people, but there were only 5 people watching and I was the youngest. One couple ended on their phone for half the movie.

It you are a fan of wuxia movies, this is right up your ally. If you are a Condor Hero purist, you will not like this movie. I loved the movie and will try to get the digital copy when it becomes available via Sony International.

天龍八部 - Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils - Tian Long Ba Bu

天龍八部 (Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils/Tian Long Ba Bu) is a 2003 wuxia series out of China. The 3 main male stars are Hu Jun, Jimmy Lin, and Gao Hu. Female supporting cast include Liu Yi Fei, Liu Tao, Christy Chung, and Yang Rui. This wuxia series is based on the novel of the same name by Jin Yong.

The wuxia series follows the lives of the three main male stars. The majority of the focus is on Hu Jun's character, Qiao Feng. Jimmy Lin plays the heir to Dali's throne, Duan Yu. Gao Hu as Xuzhu, a shaolin monk. Qiao Feng is the head of the Begger's Sect and has helped the Song army defend against Khitan invaders. But a big mysterious plot unfolds before us regarding Qiao Feng's origins.

Along the way, Duan Yu gets girls to fall for him left and right. It isn't until Duan Yu meets Liu Yi Fei's Wang Yu Yan that his story gets interesting. Duan Yu is very smart but very lazy at learning kung fu. Duan Yu learns some of the most powerful kung fu by accident. Because its by accident, Duan Yu has trouble using the skills on a consistent basis. Which gets him into trouble.

Qiao Feng is the head of the Beggars Sect and is considered the most powerful master. But he's framed for many murders and than finds out he's not even Han, but Kitan.

Xuzhu stumbles upons his skills. But the skills he acquires are quite powerful.

These 3 somehow become sworn blood brothers.



This Jin Yong adaption is one of my favorites. All three main characters had things going for them. Qiao Feng with his righteous look on life. Duan Yu with his undying love for Wong Yu. Xuzhu with his innocent take on life.

In the mist of it all, I was instantly taken away from Liu Tao's performance as Ah Zhu. It's a shame that Ah Zhu had to die and that the story was very heavy in it's ethnic exploration.



I first learned about this series as Faye Wong sang the ending credits song. It wasn't long after that I watch the series withing days.

If you're a wuxia series fan, this is a must watch.