Mo hup leung juk - Butterfly Lovers

Mo hup leung juk - Butterfly Lovers
Hong Kong (2008)
Starring:  Charlene Choi, Chun Wu, Ge Hu

Butterfly Lovers itself as a movie didn't really "wow" me on many levels.  The story however is altogether something else.  This movie is based on a story that is almost 2000 years old and is a traditional folktale in China.  Liang Zhu as the tale is often referred to, in honor of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, is a love story that has truly transcended history to bring us a tale of two lovers who are bound by a love so strong heaven itself cast them to live upon the earth and never truly realize that which they sought after most.  It is a fascinating story and may be older then it's Hindi counterpart Heer Ranjha and certainly older then our western Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  When comparing the similarities of the major characters in these stories the parallels are quite amazing.  It makes me wonder if such stories spread and with a change of characters and local were brought back to life and made famous again in a foreign land, or if the stories have absolutely no connection and from arbitrary chance one story was believed to have happened while something very similar was dreamed up with no influence passing either way.

The main actress and the director in this movie both get slammed in popular reviews citing she is not believable in her role.  There are a few moments where I felt the same way, but there's a few good giggles, a couple decent martial arts scenes, an evil villain fighting to possess a heart that is not destined to be his, and then of course the story that makes butterfly lovers of Butterfly Lovers.  I enjoyed the movie and the history lesson I received while trying to bring you the background on it.  I enjoyed it.  If you're looking for a romantic martial arts flick, I will stand behind this one.

Quote:  Butterflies should be a pair, one left behind will be lonely.  So wait for me.

Wu ji - The Promise

Wu ji - The Promise
China (2005)
Starring:  Cecilia Cheung, Dong-gun Jang, Hiroyuki Sanda
Awards:  Orient Express Section Special Jury Award (Fantasporto 2007)

I looked for this movie because I came across an old review from the LA Times I think that called it one of the most beautiful films imaginable.  The Promise was without a doubt visually striking.  It was worth getting the blu-ray version of it.  From the costumes to the scenes to the story itself this movie was cool all the way through.  It truly is a beautiful story.

In a world where men and gods live side by side a slave from the Land of the Snow and beggar turned princess pick their destiny.  Cheung was promised by a goddess a life of riches, but without love.  Jang was born a more noble human from the Land of the Snow and forced into slavery.  Their paths cross in a complex turn of events and the rest is the story that is worth watching.

This movie was awesome.  Just when I thought that I'd exhausted nearly every major cinematic release from the past decade I found a movie that made me wonder how I had missed it!

Quote:  Destiny can be changed, time sometimes does flow backwards, snow can fall in the spring, and even a frozen heart can come back to life.

Mulan

Hua Mulan
China (2009)
Starring:  Wei Zhao, Jaycee Chan, and Rongguang Yu
Awards:  Golden Deer (Changchun Film Festival 2010), Shanghai Film Critics Award (Shanghai Film Critics Awards 2010)

Mulan is another epic.  Epic in story, history, deeds, and the filming.  When I first watched this movie it reminded me of Joan of Arc.  It wasn't till a little later that I discovered Hua Mulan is a true historical Chinese figure dating roughly back to 300AD.

Hua Mulan, a woman who couldn't bear to see her aged father be called to battle sacrificed herself and went to fight for him.  Women of course weren't allowed in battle so she disguised herself as a man and took her father's place.  Legend has it that she fought for 12 years under his name.  A noble tale of sacrifice and honor.

I 100% enjoyed this movie.

Lang zai ji - The Warrior and the Wolf

Lang zai ji - The Warrior and the Wolf
China (2009)
Starring:  Maggie Q, Jo Odagiri, Chung Hua Tou

I was hoping for a Chinese version of Dances with Wolves... That didn't happen.

I will have to say the scenery was cool in this movie, but that's about where it ended.  The dialog lacked as much as the recently reviewed Valhalla Rising and it was not nearly so easy for me to glean a story from this film.  I fell asleep about half way through and can't find it in me to start it again from that point.  Someone will probably tell me that I missed one of the most monumental endings a film has ever had....and I'd probably be okay not watching it still.

Su Qi-Er - True Legend

Su Qi-Er - True Legend
China
2010
Starring:  Man Cheuk Chiu with Xun Zhou and guest appearances by Michelle Yeoh and David Carradine  


Su Qi-Er is a great fictional movie about the founder of the drunken boxing style.  

Do you remember the kung fu flicks of days past?  The awesome striking, kicking, blocking, and unique techniques?  The awesome moves all the way around with names to match?  Have you watched one lately?  I find them cheesy now.  This movie though, True Legend, is one awesome display of martial arts!

I find when looking at reviews that this movie is under appreciated.  True Legend though involves so much that it is one awesome movie.  The story begins in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).   Su Qi-Er opens with one of the best martial arts scenes.  The movie incorporates battles of good against evil, of family against the forces seeking to tear it apart, of love against separation, and of devotion and believing.

I dare not tell too much about this movie for fear of spoiling it.  This movie though involves daggers and swords.  Gods and poison. And amazing scenes.  I recommend this movie as a top notch hand to hand martial arts flick, a well choreographed and artistic display of Asian cinema, and as a story worth hearing that has survived a millennium.  There is no aspect of this movie that is lacking.  From mortals to gods and everything in between it should be seen by martial arts fans around the world.  It will get you pumped and keep you there all the way through.  Even if just strictly for its martial arts this movie is awesome; watch the firsts 10 minutes and say no to the rest, I dare ya!  It is easily one of the best Kung Fu movies I have seen in a decade.  The choreography of Woo Ping is at its best in this movie and the scenes are just spectacular.  I didn't see this movie nominated for any awards yet, but by the time 2012 hits my assumption is that it will win awards in movie festivals across the world.  I rate this movie as a must see!!

Ye yan - The Banquet

Ye yan - The Banquet
2006
China
Starring:  Ziyi Zhang, You Ge, and Daniel Wu

Ye yan, is credited with being an adaptation of Hamlet from China.  Ye yan
is about a prince who has turned his back on being a future ruler of his kingdom; he would prefer to study the arts then to take the crown and play aristocrat.

The Banquet is complete with back stabbing, forbidden love, poison, family struggles within the government, assassins, and a few good ass kicking scenes.  Wu Luan, the crown prince, has the cards stacked against him from the beginning.

This movie has some spectacular martial arts scenes.  If it is available in HD it would be worth the acquisition. For the lovers of martial arts movies and Chinese period flicks this is a must watch.  If you enjoyed Crouching  Tiger Hidden Dragon for the art and martial arts then you will most certainly enjoy this movie.

Quote:  "Why do you wear a mask when you perform?"
"It transports an actor to the highest state of his art.  Without a mask, happiness, anger, sorrow and joy are simply written on his face.  But, with a mask a great artist can convey to the audience the most complex and hidden emotions."

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