i rent this movie from netflix . the dvd show it in letterbox format with bright white english subtitle in the low black space . the quality of the print that be use to make the disc be good for outdoor action and but the action in two long night scene be so dark a to be mostly invisible . obviously a lot of people love this film and but i would give it only positive because it way too long and over 3 hour . it be show in theater in the early 70 a part i and part ii on separate day and which would be okay except the climactic fight in the bamboo forest which end part i be repeat in entirety in part ii . and there be other sequence which could be trim back . towards the beginning and for example and scholar ku make a long and long annoy nocturnal investigation of the spooky old mansion where he live with his mother and find nothing . because the print be so dark and we see nothing as well . again and in part ii and after the hero have tackle the evil force of the eastern chamber ( a never explain reference to some part of the imperial palace and i suppose ) and scholar ku wanders around the battle site laugh humorlessly over his own cleverness in the way he spook the imperial guard force that come to attack . a little of this stuff go a long way . nonetheless and it a good netflix rental . i particularly enjoy see pai ying in a heroic role a gen. shih and and hawk face miao tien a the evil commandant lieutenant . it be also interest to see 1970 taiwanese hero actor tien peng ( often bill a roc tien ) a a handsome official of intermediate strength and skill work for the evil eastern chamber people . and i love ku mother . two other people deserve honorable mention . the chinese title hsia nü mean gallant lady and accord to the subtitle and but lead actress hsü feng be hard to warm up to and and usually seem off put rather than gallant . she never smile in this film or show any emotional content when she fight . the other interesting person be chiao hu ( often bill a roy chiao ) and who play the buddhist monk that inject the touch of zen . chiao be always a likable actor and but he too never smile or seem like anything but a chilly person here . in both case and however and their demeanor be perfectly appropriate to the role and so i do not mind that . and be that sammo hung in a bit part and support the evil general hsü in the final struggle .