Falsely accused for cheating in a martial arts competition, two boyhood friends are banished from their Shaolin Temple and go their separate ways. As adults, they join opposing sides in a civil war. When one betrays the other, they settle their differences mano-a-mano.
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Thriller
- Studio: Orange Sky Golden Harvest, Eastern Productions
- Keyword: martial arts, kung fu, army, buddhism, monk, rebel, fighter, emperor, dynasty, adversary, imperial court, monastery
- Cast: Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Chin Siu-Ho, Fennie Yuen Kit-Ying, Yu Hai, Yuen Cheung-Yan