Lian Nichang, the main character of this film, comes from Liang Yusheng's novel Baifa Monü Zhuan, which also served as source material for Wolf Devil Woman. However, director Ronny Yu saw this film as more of a romance than a fighting movie, believing that the central story was truly about the struggled against fate and the need to fulfill heroic duty.

Zhuo Yihang (Leslie Cheung) is a swordsman raised in the world of chivalry, charged with leading the eight major martial arts schools against an evil cult led by cojoined twins named Ji Wushuang. Those very same twins have raised Lian Nichang (Brigette Lin),a wolf-girl orphaned as an infant, making her one of the strongest martial artists of all time.

Can two enemies find love despite being raised to hate one another? And when forced to turn upon one another, can anyone survive?

This is a gorgeous film that demands to be watched. It's like a moving painting, a film that's just as much a romance as one devoted to wire work and swordplay. And for people like me who demand those types of things, there is stil plenty of fight scenes.

You could say that this movie looks like a dream, but I've never had one quite so vivid.

Zhuo Yi-Hang (Leslie Cheung) is raised by his master Tzu Yang (Fong Pao) to be his successor in the leadership of their clan. Yi-Hang meets Lien (Brigitte Lin),a warrior adopted by wolves and accepted by a tribe leaded by the evil magic twins Ji Wushuang (Francis Ng / Elaine Lui),in a lake, and they fall in love for each other. Yi-Hang promises to trust her forever. However, Ji Wushuang also loves Lien and she is sent away from their tribe. When the clan of Yi-Hang is attacked, he does not believe on Lien, thinking that she killed his master and cursing their love.

This beautiful and tragic love story, a kind of Chinese version of "Romeo and Juliet", has wonderful cinematography and costumes. The choreography of the fights is also amazing. The non-linear screenplay is a little confused, but when the viewer sees for the second time, it becomes clearer. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Entre o Amor e a Glória" ("Between the Love and the Glory")

Sweeping, fantastic, historical adventure film, one of the biggest to come out of Hong Kong in the '90s, and blessed with scenes of breathtaking action and a strong story incorporating romance, the eternal battle between good and evil, chivalry, and more into one epic whole. This is a period adventure romp which never becomes boring (as so many do),thanks to always impressive visuals - sets are usually enshrouded in dry ice and with colouring to give them a strong atmosphere - and action that quite often blew me away. The film doesn't skimp on the gore either, with bodies being decapitated and torn in two, and the various martial arts swordplay scenes are fast-paced and a delight to watch, especially the massacre of an ending.

Fantasy elements to the story include scenes of the cavorting "evil horde", which are shot to be impressively hellish; a pair of evil Siamese twins who are cut in two in the bad taste conclusion; and the witch of the title herself, who flies through the forests and cuts down her enemies with her whip and occasionally her own hair! At the film's heart is a tragic romance between human and witch which is just as moving as in Romeo and Juliet and is enhanced by strong turns from leads Brigitte Lin and Leslie Cheung, who bring both personality and pathos to their roles. The supporting cast are generally a strong bunch too, especially the literal double act of Francis Ng and Elaine Lui who are quite dastardly as the gruesome twosome.

The Bride with White Hair is definitely a feather in the cap of director Ronny Yu, packed with strong action and beautifully shot and staged throughout, with some of the fastest and excellent special effects (including wirework) in the martial arts bouts that you will ever see. The best thing is, that unlike a lot of kung-fu epics with fine action, the storyline is actually impressive and interesting here too, with a wide story arc. The running time flies past like never before. A good one.