Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh - Enough said!
You only need mention the names of these two superstars in relation to a Hong Kong movie and you know you're dealing with a quality production. Such is the adrenaline-charged swordplay fantasy BUTTERFLY & SWORD (18) - a hugely impressive showcase for the dazzling skills of both - which also stars Hard Boiled's Tony Leung.
Directed by Chin Siu-Tung (who choreographed Jet Li in Swordsman II), this breathtaking spectacle explodes into action from the very first scene and continues at a mind-blowing pace until the stunning climax. During the ride, viewers are treated to jaw-dropping locations, awesome fight choreography and surreal violence with all the key performers in top form throughout.

BUTTERFLY & SWORD is full of the stylish, sweeping action which later would make Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Michelle Yeoh again) such a huge worldwide hit. Characters routinely spin upside down, through the air, use soccer balls as deadly weapons, run up walls with ease and, in one particularly memorable sequence, use each other as human bows and arrows - sending Tony Leung flying straight through the bad guys like a hot knife through butter!

Such a sumptuous visual experience as this tends not worry too much about plotting and this is no exception. The story is sufficiently convoluted as to be unfathomable, so we'll just say this: Michelle Yeoh is a loyal defender of her King's empire under siege from an army of revolutionaries. That'll do! This is Hong Kong cinema at its most exuberant: an action adventure which bombards the viewer with amazing images and gorgeous cinematography but isn't afraid of delivering some startling scenes of violence and gore to boot.