Too much of everything

I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

In OATH OF DEATH, three Sung heroes, Jin (Lo Lieh), Ma (Shen Chan) and Xiang (Frankie Wei), vow to work together against the Tartars. "For a Heavenly cause, we must march into Hell if need be," Ma says. He is a master with the whip; Xiang, the bow and arrow; and Jin the sword. Lo Lieh as Jin is at his steely-eyed lone wolf best in OATH OF DEATH. Ma comes up with the brilliant idea of infiltrating the Tartar army by kidnapping and then "rescuing" a Tartar princess. He promises his new lord and master that he'll destroy the Flying Dragon Fortress (of which he and his two companions are members). Ma summons his two buddies to the Tartar stronghold. En route, they run into the beautiful (and oh-so-sexy) Miss Yi. She seduces Xiang, but Jin doesn't trust her (probably because she comes on to HIM as well). Xiang marries Yi. When they arrive at now-General Ma's fortress, he puts them up for the night. Xiang suddenly falls deathly ill. Ma beds Yi, and Jin finds out- but, when he tries to warn Xiang, Yi accuses Jin of "accosting" her. Naturally, Xiang believes his wife. This leads to even more strife. The blood DO spray in OATH OF DEATH, but it never comes close to overshadowing the story or the characters (all played to the hilt, if you will, by an excellent ensemble). Highly recommended.