Dragon Inn

King Hu set the standard for wuxia martial artistry with his 1966 film Come Drink with Me, only to surpass himself with this fabulous follow-up. Set at the time of the Ming dynasty, it's the story of a power-mad eunuch from the imperial court who orders the execution of a respected general, then tries to wipe out the last vestiges of his family. To their rescue comes a small, disparate band of warriors, who engage the tyrant's secret police force at the far-flung inn of the title. Hu's work has become the touchstone for the likes of Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers) and especially Tsui Hark (he paid tribute with New Dragon Gate Inn and Flying Swords of Dragon Gate), and it's easy to see why. His control over camera movement and composition is exemplary, building the tension and invigorating the swordplay. This was Hu's first film in Taiwan after leaving Hong Kong, and its rich landscape provides a stunning backdrop to the unfolding drama. Although much copied, Dragon Inn still has plenty of surprises, not least in the teasingly drawn-out finale, where hallucinatory special effects and zero-gravity leaps take the action to a whole new, surreal level.