Swordsman (1990) on Netflix

A kung-fu manual known as the sacred scroll is stolen from the Emperor's library. An army detachment is sent to recover it. Meanwhile, a young swordsman and his fellow disciple are accidentally drawn into the chaos.

When a scroll containing valuable martial arts secrets is stolen from the Emperor, an army detachment is sent to recover it. Blademaster, a young martial arts expert, accidentally ends up in possession, but the plot grows complex as Japanese samurai, an illegal Chinese sect, a tribe of snake-wielding women warriors, a rival martial arts school and the leader of his own martial arts school vie for the scroll. Romantic complications also ensue, involving him with his longtime chum, daughter of the leader of his school, a Japanese woman, and two of the snake- wielding tribeswomen (Blue Phoenix and their leader, Princess Yin-Yin).

—Reid Gagle

In the later years of the Ming dynasty, a kung-fu manual known as the sacred scroll is stolen from the Emperor's library, triggering off a power struggle to retrieve it. A young swordsman and his fellow disciple are accidentally drawn into the chaos when they help their teacher deliver a package to the man who stole the scroll. Also involved are a clan of highlanders who use black magic, a sect of sailors, a martial arts school, and court officials. Ultimately, the true colours of the characters are revealed as the story unfolds into a web of betrayal, love, honour, integrity, and friendship which ends with a showdown between the teacher and his eldest disciple.

—Alexander Yao <alexyao@singnet.com.sg>