A weapon is only as good as it's wielder.
- "The full moon, smooth scimitar faces many challengers… tears drop as the wind laments… love will soon be forgotten." - Qing Qing
Full moon Scimitar is a 1979 Wuxia film from Shaw Brothers, directed by Chor Yuen starring Derek Yee.
Derek Yee plays Ding Peng, a young swordsman making a big name for himself in the world of martial arts. But after being tricked by a scantily-clad woman who turns out to be working for a ruthless martial arts clan, and humiliated by his arch-rival Master Liu, Ding Peng is ultimately driven to kill himself in the mysterious, fog-shrouded forest where no-one who enters may emerge again. But his plans for taking his own life is interrupted, when Ding Peng meets and falls for Qing Qing, a lady who lives in the woods, who decides to help Ding Peng avenge his defeat. In order to be the best in the martial arts world, again, Ding Peng must find the fabled Full Moon Scimitar and train himself to use it.
Tropes included:
- Action Girl: Qing Qing is a trained martial artist on equal footing in terms of skill with Ding Peng, capable of kicking as much ass herself.
- Action Prologue: Ding Peng's duel with Master Liu, which plays in the background of the opening credits, culminating in Ding Peng on the losing side.
- Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Master Liu begs for Ding Peng's mercy and grovel at his former opponent's feet after being defeated.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Between Ding Peng and Qing Qing, who eventually tied the knot before the third act.
- Battle Couple: The final duel where Ding Peng and Qing Qing fights the two main villains, Master Liu and Invincible Eagle.
- Bifurcated Weapon: The titular schmitar can be unfolded into two swords connected at the handle, and be used as a disc-like weapon to cover greater range. It takes some training to master in this form however.
- Big Bad Duumvirate: Invincible Eagle, the rival clan leader who wants to covet the titular schmitar for his own use, and Master Liu.
- Defeat Means Respect: Master Liu, upon being defeated by Ding Peng in the second act, quickly declares Ding Peng to be the new master, kneeling down before the same man he defeats and humiliates days ago.
- Driven to Suicide: Ding Peng, after losing his duel to Master Liu, ultimately decides to end his life by throwing himself off a cliff. But it was here when he meets Qing-qing, and had a change of heart.
- Expy: Qing-qing to Yang Hui-zhen from A Touch of Zen; both characters are female martial artists of great skills, assumed to be supernatural characters (Qing Qing is allegedly a fox spirit, while Yang Hui-zhen is thought to be a ghost) but are actually humans, who forms an unlikely friendship with the male lead character.
- Genre Mashup: A wuxia film with rather noticeable Romeo and Juliet-esque romance elements between two unlikely lovers.
- Heel–Face Turn: Subverted when Master Liu willingly drops his sword and swore loyalty to Ding Peng, as well as relinquishing his position of power to his former rival. Turns out he wants to claim the schmitar for himself and then kill off Ding Peng when he had a chance.
- Non-Indicative Title: The titular Full Moon Schmitar is shaped like a Half Moon.
- Ominous Fog: The forest where Qing Qing calls her home is constantly covered in a mysterious fog. It's the same place where those who enters are never seen again, being the reason why Ding Peng would choose to end his life over there... until he meets Qing Qing.
- Rugged Scar: A rather graphic-looking slash covers over the main villain, Invincible Eagle's right eye.
- Sickly Green Glow: The spirit-filled cavern where the final battle takes place is illuminated entirely by green lighting, to emphasize the cavern's supernatural elements.
- Sinister Scimitar: Inverted, the titular schmitar is a benelovent weapon used by the protagonist.
- Suave Sabre: The titular weapon qualifies, an elegant ancient weapon powered by the moon, which the hero Ding Peng seeks on his quest to avenge his own defeat. It can only be wielded by one worthy hero which is pure of heart, however.
- Weapon Title
- Wuxia
