Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (2025) Review

“Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants” Theatrical Poster

Director: Tsui Hark
Cast: Xiao Zhan, Zhuang Dafei, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Sabina Zhuang, Bayaertu, Alan Aruna, Ada Choi, Wu Hsing-kuo, Hu Jun, Zhang Wenxin, Zhao Shuai
Running Time: 187 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Novelist Jin Yong’s Legend of the Condor Heroes has been adapted countless times for both the big and small screens since it was first serialised from 1957 – 1959, with each one having to grapple with how to best portray such a sprawling tale on film. Chang Cheh attempted to cram it across 4 movies with The Brave Archer series, while TVB’s classic adaptation in 1983 was spread across 59 episodes. Others chose to adapt parts of the tale, like Wong Kar-Wai’s 1994 wuxia deconstruction Ashes of Time, or take inspiration from it like Wong Jing did in 1993’s The Kung Fu Cult Master. In 2025 auteur Tsui Hark has opted to go for the same approach as Wong Kar-Wai with Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants, taking the rarely adapted latter part of the story where battlefield warfare breaks out between the Mongols, the villainous Jin, and the Song Empire.

It’s a bold move, considering most adaptations tend to focus on the martial arts mastery that the main characters seek, so by largely eschewing this onscreen staple Hark risks alienating those who come to an adaptation of Legend of the Condor Heroes with certain expectations. However it also shouldn’t be a surprise from a director like Tsui Hark, a filmmaker who’s consistently remained a distinctive voice in the world of Hong Kong and Chinese cinema since his debut with The Butterfly Murders in 1979. Despite remaining active in the 2020’s – he contributed a segment to the omnibus Septet – The Story of Hong Kong in 2020, and co-directed The Battle of Lake Changjin and its sequel alongside Chen Kaige and Dante Lam in 2021 and 2022 respectively – it feels like it’s been a while since we’ve seen the real Tsui Hark.

To re-visit the last time he sat in the director’s chair solo for a feature length production you have to go back 7 years to 2018, when he helmed the 3^rd entry in his Detective Dee series with Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings. To that end it’s a pleasure to see a Tsui Hark movie back on the big screen again, and LotCh:TG (as I’ll refer to it from here on in) shows he clearly hasn’t lost his touch for envisioning grand scale sequences that deserve to be seen in the cinema. Kicking off with the seemingly obligatory novel length spiel that these productions come with (see also Creation of the Gods: Kingdom of Storms), once up to speed we meet our main character, played by Xiao Zhan (Jade Dynasty, The Rookies). Those familiar with the character of Guo Jing will be used to seeing him train in the martial arts, but here he’s already a master, and is on a mission to find the love of his life.

Played by Sabina Zhuang (Johnny Keep Walking!, Be My Friend), when the 5 masters who trained Zhan turn up dead on Peach Blossom Island, he blames Zhuang’s father Heretic East for their murders, for whom the island is his home, and parts ways with his beloved, unable to forgive Zhuang for her fathers deeds. However when he learns that Zhuang’s father wasn’t on the island at the time of their murder, Zhan realises he’s made a mistake to end their relationship, and roams the lands looking for her in the hope they can rekindle their romance. It’s during his search that the land falls into turmoil, with the Jin’s looking to occupy more territory, and the Mongols led by Genghis Khan (played by Mongolian actor Baya’ertu – Genghis Khan, Close to Eden) firmly opposed to their aggressive expansion. Bear in mind, all of this is in the first 15 minutes!

On top of everything, there’s a crazed martial arts expert called Venom West (played by a scene stealing Tony Leung Ka-Fai – League of Gods, The Myth) who’s after a sacred scroll called the Novem Force, the same source of Zhan and Zhuang’s martial arts powers. In short, there’s a lot going on, with warring tribes, crazed power-hungry martial arts villains, and family strife, all wrapped up in the tale of a solemn lover looking for the girl he unjustly dumped. Despite only adapting a small part of Legend of the Condor Heroes, Hark crams a lot into the story, so much so it’s hardly surprising that it clocks in with a runtime of 145 minutes. For the most part it flies by, with Hark filming on location in Mongolia, and even having the characters speak Mongolian to maintain a level of authenticity.

Interestingly for the English language speakers watching LotCh:TG the subtitles have been written in what can best be described as a mix of Shakespeare meets Yoda, with lines like “Escape my grasp, you shall not!” and “Is there aught that is real?” giving some idea of what to expect. Whether it’s a true reflection of the style of language that’s actually being spoken I can’t say, but at some point you find yourself buying into the grandiose style of translation the subtitles go for.

While many adaptations tend to emphasise the simple nature of Guo Jing, thankfully the part of the story Hark has chosen to adapt avoids such traits, with Xiao Zhan instead portraying him as steadfastly righteous and stoic. He may not be the most morally complex character to grace the screen, but it fits the story Hark has chosen to tell. It’s a portrayal that’s offset by Zhuang’s role as Huang Rong, in which she perfectly captures the smarts of the character, none more so that when she finds herself staying in the same Mongol camp that Zhan is also a part of, and aids his battle strategies while staying out of sight. As the central pair they’re perfectly cast (although there’ll no doubt be Legend of the Condor Heroes loyalists who’ll disagree), and are complimented by a stellar supporting cast, with a debuting Wenxin Zhang as the daughter of Genghis Khan who Zhan has been bequeathed too being a particular standout.

Notably LotCh:TG marks the first time for Tsui Hark to be credited as action choreographer, working alongside Chen Chao (who choreographed 2023’s Hidden Blade), and there’s certainly no shortage of it. Martial arts purists will likely want to stay away, as the action here is purely of an ‘exaggerated wirework while throwing energy blasts at each other’ variety, however its imbued with a level of creative energy that still makes it an enjoyable thrill to watch. The extensive CGI effects aren’t quite to the standard of the previously mentioned Creation of the Gods series, even with involvement from Korea’s VFX studio Dexter (the Along with the Gods movies), but for the most part they’re of a high quality. If anything, the swirls of energy that surround Zhan when he engages in battle feel like an unintentionally charming throwback to when Hong Kong first started dabbling in CGI effects in late 1990’s efforts like The Storm Riders.

While obviously a Mainland production, there are few directors left who can still bring the Hong Kong old guard and Mainland talent pool together like Tsui Hark, and witnessing a practically unrecognizable Tony Leung Ka-Fai appear as an eye bulging all powerful madman for the finale is the undeniable highlight. Chewing scenery like nobody’s business, Ka-Fai injects the kind of unhinged manic energy into proceedings that hark back (no pun intended) to Hark’s new wave wuxia classics like Swordsman, and the faceoff between him and Zhan strikes the right balance of wirework and special effects.

Overall Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants shares a lot of its DNA with Hark’s 2011 wuxia Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, in that they both go for a mix of over the top spectacle and sprawling stories, but here Hark trumps his earlier effort by paying as much attention to the narrative as he does the set pieces. Considering how much more material is out there to adapt from Legend of the Condor Heroes (including a pair of follow-up novels!), if Hark decides to return to the material it would be cause for celebration.  Whether you’re a fan of sprawling wuxia epics or the Legend of the Condor Heroes novel, there should be something to enjoy in this ambitious adaptation. For everyone else, we get Tony Leung Ka-Fai flicking a horse 100 feet into the air. What more could you want?

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 7.5/10