Billy Chan Wui-ngai (CRAZY SAFARI) directed this lumbering remake of Ching Kong's 1972 Shaw Brothers picture PURSUIT, itself an adaptation of the Chinese literary classic generally known in English as "All Men Are Brothers." Upright military officer Lin Chung (Tony Leung Kar-fai, looped by another actor) befriends Ru Chi-shen (Elvis Tsui Kam-kong), an obnoxious, alcoholic monk with incredible martial arts abilities. The two soon become inseparable, practising their kung fu at every opportunity. When Lin is framed by a jealous colleague, he faces a military tribunal but is saved by Ru before the soldiers transporting him can carry out orders to slay their prisoner en route. When his wife (Joey Wang Tsu-hsien) and loyal friend The Prime Minister (Wu Ma) are put in harm’s way, Lin plots his revenge but intentionally alienates Ru, in order to save him from what will be certain death.

Far too much of the running time is given over to dull court intrigue and conventional male bonding sequences between Lin and Ru. Elvis Tsui gives one of his most vivid and charismatic portrayals but even he cannot make up for the one dimensional stoicism of Tony Leung Kar-fai's character or Pal Sin Lap-man's unbearable performance as the main villain's incessantly whiny (and seemingly retarded) son. Also, compared to other period fantasies of the time, most of the action in this HK/China co-production is clumsily staged, with ample cuts utilized in an attempt to improve the less-than-fluid choreography. A good supporting cast (including Lau Shun, Lam Wai, Austin Wai Tin-chi, and Lau Ching-wan in a rare period film appearance) helps somewhat.