LITTLE DRAGON MAIDEN is one of a handful of fantasy films that the Shaw Brothers studio made at the onset of the 1980s. It's a low budget and sometimes meandering production that suffers from a slow and uninteresting middle section, which often seemed to be a problem with the lesser films to come out of the Shaw studio. However, I also found it to be an underrated film; perhaps not one of the studio's best, but more than watchable all the same.

Famed Hong Kong star Leslie Cheung takes the lead role in what was one of his earliest performances after five years of bit parts and supporting roles. He plays a beggar who gets taken in by a martial arts school only to run afoul of the cruel instructors. He ends up in the hands of a magical princess who lives in a cave and has otherworldly powers. All manner of madcap events follow, including wuxia-inspired flying, encounters with a giant pot-bellied bird creature (!), and magical effects.

LITTLE DRAGON MAIDEN is a cheesy film but not without merit. The usual Shaw action is a highlight even though there's not as much of it here. The sets and costumes look as colourful as ever and Cheung's acting surpasses his fighting. The supporting cast includes roles for Chen Kuan Tai and Lo Lieh, both of whom get to do something a bit different from the norm, particularly the latter with his bizarre toad style. Regular performers Ku Feng and Sun Chien also appear. While the film suffers from not being very memorable, it's far from as bad as you've heard.

Corny AF, comedy, kung fu, love story, etc... It had it all.

Shaw Brother's production

Romantic story - Wuxia

Very over-stylized "wire" fight scenes (quite beautiful)

Costumes and story are charming.

Acting is decent, the story seems at times macabre; but if you are fortunate it might be just your cup of tea.

The performance of the "little dragon girl" in particular is unforgettable - as is her beauty. It seems from her IMDB-page, that she did not appear on many other productions, which further adds to the mysterious air around her performance.

Ideally this movie is suited to suspend reality for a while; to dream away and enjoy an adventure in the form of a Shaw-production.

Give it a chance, you might just like it. I think that it would in particular also appeal to older children (there is blood and violence in this movie, but no more than in your average brutal video-game - there is no explicit sex or nudity)

Every once in a while you come across a movie that touches you in an indescribable way. This movie did this to me - maybe because I was tired and could let myself open up for it.