The spoof Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002) uses footage from this movie, overdubbed with new dialogue and with actors from 2001 digitally inserted into original scenes. Kung Pow's writer, director and star Steve Oedekerk specifically chose this film out of dozens of other martial arts films due to the scene of the villain being hit in the crotch numerous times without flinching.
Putting that aberrant movie from 2001 aside, this movie is a beautiful historical film, although somewhat shy of being a masterpiece. The premise is real simple. Li Ting Chu is a diabolical collaborator with the Axis, as this movie is set during the Sino-Japanese War in WW2. He allies with the Japanese and Italians and the Germans. He rules with absolute authority, although strangely enough, in the movie, he really doesn't commit much in the way of actual violence, and is mostly calm.
Of course, there is also some interesting history and parallels with the movie. Chu comes from the Manchu people, a people historically more pro-Japan/pro-Europe/Latino/pro-Western. During the Qing Dynasty, the Manchu were upset at the Qing and their oppressive policies. The Opium situation imported by the West, by Danes and Swedes and Spaniards and Brits and intensified the situation even more, to the point that the Manchu became disillusioned with China and Confucianism. Many embraced Christianity, with Roman Catholicism being the one that ended up being more dominant. As a result many were pro-Axis, in a country that was Allied, in WW2.
Of course, there is also some interesting history and parallels with the movie. Chu comes from the Manchu people, a people historically more pro-Japan/pro-Europe/Latino/pro-Western. During the Qing Dynasty, the Manchu were upset at the Qing and their oppressive policies. The Opium situation imported by the West, by Danes and Swedes and Spaniards and Brits and intensified the situation even more, to the point that the Manchu became disillusioned with China and Confucianism. Many embraced Christianity, with Roman Catholicism being the one that ended up being more dominant. As a result many were pro-Axis, in a country that was Allied, in WW2.