The Fate of Lee Khan

This intrigue-filled martial arts movie marked the end of a loose trilogy for influential Chinese director King Hu, following his acclaimed Dragon Inn and A Touch of Zen. The action is set in the 14th century and once again unfolds around a bustling tavern, where Chinese rebels receive intelligence about the arrival of despotic Mongol warlord Lee Khan (Tien Feng). A farcical opening section teases the audience to guess which of the establishment's patrons are spies, and who they might be working for, laying the groundwork for a tension-laden second act in which proprietress Madame Wan (Li Li Hua) and her staff attempt to assassinate Khan and his entourage. The Fate of Lee Khan was released in 1973, the same year as Enter the Dragon, and its acrobatic fight scenes (arranged by a young Sammo Hung) do feel a little stilted when compared with the fluid, funky moves of Bruce Lee. But from its striking costumes to its controlled camerawork and rhythmic editing, Hu's film shows its class. Standing out among the fine, female-centric cast are Angela Mao as a compulsive pickpocket and Hsu Feng as Khan's merciless sister.