cmovie: Little Dragon Maiden
Little Dragon Maiden is a 1983 Shaw Brothers film (I think this may be my first Shaw Brothers film? Actually, I'm sure I've seen one that I didn't recognize as such, but I'd have to check) adapting Return of the Condor Heroes. From the title, I thought it would focus more on Xiao Long Nu, but she's barely even in the first third.
I haven't really thought much of ROCH since I watched the Liu Yi Fei version a few years ago (mostly when it comes up in conversation, which admittedly isn't too infrequent), but I think ROCH is pretty well suited to being made into a movie-the romantic plotline actually is pretty much the main plotline, unlike most wuxi, so when you condense it, there's less to have to explain about sects and politics and allegiances. (I think this also makes it a good intro wuxia-you get the general feel and typical aesthetics and format without also having a dozen plotlines to follow and figure out why everyone belongs to a secret sect.) Just the boy who is the son of a villain who falls in love with his kungfu master, who looks like a pretty 16-year-old forever and ever. And they live in a tomb. And she sleeps on a string and makes him sleep on a...burial platform? Or something. That is green and glows.
But you're basically left with naked kungfu (Yes, they have to practice kungfu naked and outdoors. It helps with the flow of energy, or so they say. If you ever wanted to see babyfaced Leslie Cheung in his underwear, this is the movie to watch.) and various poisonings (actually, most of those were cut from the movie) and death pacts and "OMG NO THAT LOVE IS FORBIDDEN AND KINDA SICK ACCORDING TO OUR RULES!" and chasing each other all over China every time there's a misunderstanding. And then add in a side of "Wait, my father was evil? And my foster family who disapproves of my forbidden romance but who are the most epic and awesome heroes ever may have been responsible?"
I am sad to report, though, that there's no loss of limbs or 16 years separation in a valley whose mists cure poisons. Nor is anyone carried down a river in a coffin. Not even a newborn.