"A major stumbling block is that the audience may have difficulties comprehending this surrealistic movie." Tsui Hark

Though Wu Jing's 3-year contract with Yuen Wo Ping expired last year, when Yuen Wo Ping called him regarding a role in a film where he was required to have his head shaved but with not very high pay, he readily accepted the offer. The film's original title was something like Warriors from the Zu Mountains - The Two Reincarnations of the Purple Sword (Heaven Striking Sword) and Green Sword (Flaming Sword of Thunder). In Legend of Zu, Wu Jing acted as the bearer of Green Sword, his character being some kind of deity in resplendent and ethereal white (or for the most part, dark beige) robe. His character's name in Legend of Zu is Lian Xing, who comes into being when two disciples of Er-Mei Sect, troubled by affairs of the heart, are unable to concentrate and combine forces using the Green Sword and the Purple Sword. Lian Xing is chivalrous and righteous but not an especially good fighter. While quite a handful of the the main cast used stunt doubles owing to the demanding and complex nature of the Legend of Zu's action, Wu Jing did all the stunts himself, as he tends to insist on, without doubles, surprising the crew who didn't know him. On the other hand, there many stars in Legend of Zu and it is not easy for any one person to stand out above the rest but let's hope he would shine in it. 

Legend of Zu is a complete and separate story in itself, and is neither a prequel nor sequel to Zu: Warriors from Magic Mountain. Its theme revolves around the state of eternity. It is a magical, recherché movie with deep meanings and philosophical symbolisms subject to different interpretations. For example, the merger of the two swords may represent striking a balance in life. 

Legend of Zu employs over 1600 scenes of special effects, jointly developed by two Hong Kong and three, four US companies, with HK's Menfond Electronic Art and Computer Design responsible for most of the effects. There are plenty of captivating and original computer generated images such as the Louis Koo's pair of bladed wings, the crystalline Luminous Sword Beyond Inferno, the scene when the two magical swords are combined as well as the breathtaking sceneries of the Zu Mountains. 

While it may seem that Yuen Wo Ping's talent is not put to good use in Legend of Zu, it's not quite the case. Yuen Wo Ping is the person responsible for actualising the cool moves the characters make when they call forth their energy weapons and control them, as per Tsui Hark's ideas. On the other hand, his choreography is usually masked by the visual effects. Then, there is the out of the world, non-computer aided, swordplay between Wu Jing and Zhang Ziyi, which features neat choreography and was shot from an interesting angle of 45 degrees.
 

Plot Synopsis :

Abbess Crescent Moon senses the impending attack of Blood Demon of Asura Spring. She gives her beloved disciple, Xuan Tian-Zong, who is also in love with her, the holy weapon of Kun-lun Sect and sends him away, after which she is killed. 200 years later, Xuan Tian-Zong helps Er-Mei Sect in her attempt to defend against the invasion of Blood Demon of Asura Spring. Xuan Tian-Zong notices an Er-Mei disciple, Li Ying-Qi, who looks exactly like Abbess Crescent Moon. The way he looks at her distracts her and her partner in sword practice, Chang-Kong Wu-Ji. As such, Li Ying-Qi and Chang-Kong Wu-Ji are unable to concentrate and fail to unite the two magical swords, which when merged, are able to subdue any demons. This leads to Wu-Ji's death and he is later resurrected as Lian Xing, who is innocent, playful, chivalrous yet impulsive, defiant and practically impervious to reasons.