A Touch of Zen's unique qualities begin with the epic, three-part narrative that charts a multicharacter journey from fearful superstition to Zen consciousness. Each section leaps ahead of its predecessor in cognition, like a kung-fu version of 2001: A Space Odyssey, beginning in the eerie darkness of night and ending with the screen literally bleeding with golden transcendence.[…]
For years this single cut has held in my mind as a rebuttal to all of the expensive blockbusters that rely on costly explosions, explicit crashes or elaborate computer-generated effects to get a rise from the viewer, when something as simple as a perfectly placed jump cut can startle just as effectively. With all of the technology at their disposal, today's filmmakers seem to overlook the power of editing. When employed in an action movie, editing is used to make a big hullaballoo of violence even bigger and more violent. What's missing is the thoughtfulness and contemplation evident in this brief moment. Hu utilizes the jump cut to emphasize Hsu's explosive, fearsome speed; that the moment is shot from over the monk's shoulder suggests his vantage point—that the jump cut is not simply a cool effect but a function of the monk's perception of movement. This point falls in line with the theme that runs throughout the film: one's perception of reality and how one makes a lifetime of progress towards mastering it.
— Kevin B. Lee (Reverse Shot)
Synopsis: Gu Sheng-zhai, an artist in his early 30s, still lives with his mother, but he is suddenly shaken by the arrival of Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run. Yang brings Gu into her circle of protectors, including a nameless monk whose spiritual guidance transforms him into a valiant fighter.