This saga of Chinese Buddhism at the time of the South andNorth Dynasties is something like Siddhartha with scimitars. An Indian master visits China, and tries to correct monks who've begun to change Buddhism into a staid religion; a young master, Wei Ho, eventually develops kung-fu as a mental and physical discipline to counteract the trend. Koan-like dialog and Zen-like pacing is interrupted by a handful of fights, one or two of which have something to do with the plot.

(2.5/4)



[Reviewed by Steve Spinali]