Sam the Iron Bridge - Champion of Marti

Rating:
Summary: Story wins out over action
Review: Though this second film in the trilogy begins and ends with a martial arts tournament, the focus is mainly on the drama that develops from a corrupt government official's attempts to keep his opium smuggling schemes alive.
'Iron Bridge' Sam aids a secret officer charged with rooting out the wrong-doers and destroying their supplies of the drug. Sam's involvement is complicated by his feelings for the daughter of the corrupt official and his impending marriage to Tieh, his girlfriend from the first film.
The return of all the (surviving) main characters from 'White Lotus Cult' played by the same actors, along with a well paced storyline, are the films strongest points. However, the fight scenes, though well choreographed, are too short to have any real impact. The end face-off between Sam and the bad guy's kung-fu expert bodyguard is particularly disappointing.
A decent, dramatic film in itself, but one best watched only after seeing the first movie.