Film Name: 九二神雕之痴心情长剑 / Saviour Of The Soul 2 / 九二神鵰之痴心情長劍
“Not that I dare not, not that I don’t want to, not that I shouldn’t—just thank you for your love.” It was this song that first drew me to Andy Lau’s music back then. Little did I know it was a track from “Saviour Of The Soul 2.” This film was Skyline Pictures’ follow-up hit, featuring Andy’s on-screen sweetheart Rosamund Kwan and veteran comedian Chang Jiang II. Director Yuen Kwai personally took on a supporting role and traveled to Canada for filming. Unfortunately, the box office performance was dismal, failing to break the ten-million-dollar mark (9.27 million). This likely stemmed from the film’s mishmash of classical martial arts, modern urban settings, and fantasy elements. The costumes, makeup, and props were overly simplistic, the action sequences cartoonish, and the entire plot fell apart under scrutiny. “Saviour Of The Soul 2” was one of four films released by Skyline in 1992, each losing more money than the last. This prompted Andy Lau to abandon his ambitions of becoming a studio boss. He reinvented himself, pursuing a career in politics. Years later, he portrayed a Chief Executive in Hong Kong films, winning ten consecutive terms. In real life, he dyed his hair, donned a Mao suit, and took his seat on the podium as Vice Chairman of the China Film Association, reaching the pinnacle of political influence for an actor.
“Saviour Of The Soul 2” follows Jacky and two companions on an expedition led by the demon king Changjiang II, where they discover the ice maiden and reunite with the long-dreamed-of beauty Rosamund Kwan (who wouldn’t be thrilled to play the love interest?). After cartoonish battles and comedic antics, Jacky defeats the demon king and roams the martial arts world with the lovely Kwan. The ending carries a touch of melancholy, conveying that one breath of true energy cannot save two lives—echoing the bittersweet theme of “Return of the Condor Heroes,” where Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo refuse to live alone after consuming the Heartless Pill. Decades later, scenes from the film remain vividly etched in my memory. Back then, with little else to watch, I’d rent the VHS and rewatch it at least three times. As a child, I was fascinated by magical gadgets like size-altering devices and invisibility cloaks. Though the comedic bits feel dated now, they were easy to grasp. Chow Yun-fat looked incredibly handsome and cool—no wonder girls at school couldn’t stand anyone speaking ill of him. Even by today’s standards, his looks remain otherworldly.
As director, Yuen Kwai must take the blame for the film’s poor box office performance. With Chow’s relatively weak influence, the director held the reins. The film clearly adopts the chaotic, hodgepodge style of the Shaw Brothers era, cramming in every trendy element of the time. The result is a mishmash of flavors—sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty—appealing to everyone yet satisfying no one. At the peak of her beauty, the director insisted Guan Meiren spend half her screen time in old-age makeup—yet audiences paid to see her look her best. Chang Jiang II was simply unsuited to playing a villain; his mere presence made audiences laugh. His scene where he swallows a woman whole and spits out her bones felt forced and ill-fitting. The martial arts scenes lack solid choreography. While the swords that keep splitting apart and reuniting, along with the flying and teleporting, look pretty cool, they pale in comparison to the action in “Swordsman 2” and “New Dragon Gate Inn” from the same era. Especially the Demon King’s minions—they’re just background extras. They could have at least thrown in a few powerful elite monsters. Probably due to filming in Canada to save costs. As a top-tier star vehicle from Hong Kong’s golden age, “Saviour Of The Soul 2” ranks among the weaker entries in Chow Yun-fat’s 1992 filmography—barely better than “The Sting” and only marginally stronger than the cameo-heavy “All-Star Reunion.” Watching it today requires patience and ears attuned to “Grateful For Your Love ’99.”
PS: It’s a shame there’s no “Saviour Of The Soul 3.” After Heavenly Curtain, no filmmaker dared touch this IP for ages. Now it’s just a mess of poorly made web series. The Spring Festival release “The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero” was panned by critics. This wish seems unlikely to come true.
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