Leone directs a martial arts film

I stumbled upon the Redux version @ Big Lots and purchased it for 3.00. I've watched it twice, whatever confusion I had was mostly cleared up on my second viewing. I give it 8/10 and found it to be a fine film. The homages to Leone run through the entire film and many are not subtle. Close ups, Morricone like pan flute, the head on shot of the bandits charging towards the blind swordsman is a nod to "My Name is Nobody", the iconic shots of the swordsman and their weapons, the duster like attire of the memory losing swordsman during his initial cantina visit and many others.

The pacing of the film itself owes more to Leone's approach to film movement than Hong Kong martial arts/actions movies. In interviews I've read, the director himself acknowledges the influence of Leone on this film. Though Sergio Leone is no longer able to make his one of a kind films, we fortunately have an international body of film makers keeping his spirit alive. Lastly, the loss of Leslie Cheung was truly a tragedy. This film is a good example of why his life and death had such an impact on the Asian arts.