A Touch of Zen: More Than Just Flying Monks?

Okay, so I finally got around to watching "A Touch of Zen"... took me long enough, right? I'd heard whispers, mostly about the insane wuxia action and the visuals. And yeah, no lie, those bamboo forest fights? *chef's kiss* Totally lived up to the hype. But I'm thinking there's something deeper going on here. It's not just about the fancy swordplay, folks. "I'm not interested in your sword. I'm interested in your mind." - Yoda, coincidentally hitting the nail squarely on the head. My pet theory? Gu Sheng-zhai's transformation is the key. He starts as this kind of… well, a bit of a loser, tbh. Living with his mom, painting portraits, kinda aimless. Then BAM! Princess on the run, intrigue, righteous monks... suddenly he's got a purpose. But he's not just following Yang Hui-zhen; he *becomes* active in the struggle. He strategizes, he even defends her, showing a really surprising amount of courage. It's like he needed this chaotic, dangerous situation to unlock something inside him. "There is more to you than you know." - Mufasa, speaking wisdom. And the whole Buddhist undercurrent? The High Abbot at the end straight up ascending? I think it’s all about achieving enlightenment *through* action, not escaping from the world. Yang and Gu are fighting for something tangible – justice, freedom – and that fight ultimately leads them to a higher plane (literally, in the Abbot's case!). "Do. Or do not. There is no try." - Yoda, again, on the money. Maybe the real Zen is found in the midst of the chaos. What do you all think? One minor nitpick: the pacing in the first hour is a real slog. I almost gave up! Glad I didn't. But seriously, that setup could've been tightened way up. Still, the ending makes up for it imo. And those monks fighting without weapons? Absolute brilliance. Gotta rewatch that sequence at least 10 more times. "Get over here!" - Scorpion, probably admiring their fighting style.