This production is clearly the culmination of the visionary director's work, which used the theme of trying to defeat the gun years before Once Upon A Time In China. The innovative, ingenious film also features rarely seen Chinese magician-spies (who would inspire the Japanese ninja). But most importantly, it is a beautifully realized action comedy – showcasing international fan favorites Alexander Fu Sheng and Gordon Liu – which the groundbreaking book on the genre, Martial Arts Movies, called "the quintessential martial arts movie" and perhaps the greatest kung-fu movie ever made.
