Butterfly And Sword (product link) Martial Arts / Romance Sadly, this remake of "Killer Clans" falls way short--save the presence of Michelle Yeoh, and to a lesser extent that of Donny Yen. The story is pretty convoluted and it's somewhat fatiguing trying to make sense of it all. The action sequences are very good, and Joey Wang supplies her usual sexiness to the proceedings. Tony Leung was never really a wuxia star and his outing this time really doesn't convince either. All in all, I'd say this was something you might want just to round out a collection, otherwise, buy "Killer Clans" and enjoy it in all its cheesy splendor.
The Blade (product link) Swordplay/Sword(s) / Action/Adventure Watching "The Blade" was a hallucinatory experience. This film is all over the place: frenetic, kinetic, surreal, etc. Ultimately, you come out of the whole experience dazed and definitely spent. To be honest, this film strays pretty far from "The One-Armed Swordsman" so as to not truly qualify as a "remake". Tsui Hark has crafted something totally unique, certainly from a visual standpoint. This is so far ahead of anything else happening in 1995, that it may as well be on another planet. My only complaint is that some of the fight sequences are so sped-up that it seems rather a waste. Overall this grim, dark, and twisted version of the One-Armed Swordsman is required viewing for all wuxia fans, and fans of Tsui Hark's worldview, in particular.
The Banquet (product link) Drama / Action/Adventure I found this film to be self-indulgent and somewhat overwrought. However, it's perhaps one of the most beautiful Asian films ever committed to celluloid. I will view it again simply to get lost in the lushness of the visual experience. If "Curse Of The Golden Flower" was visually jarring and excessive, this is as smooth as silk. The acting, for the most part, is average, but the real crime was committed in the casting of the film. Daniel Wu is horribly miscast as the Hamlet-like prince, and Zhang Ziyi reprises her usual range of canned emotions. The fight sequences are well staged but not enough to offset the general tedium of the film. Like I said, buy it or view it for the look and feel of the film, otherwise, skip it.
Come Drink With Me (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure For some unfathomable reason, I had deferred viewing this film until recently. I possess most of King Hu's other films and have viewed and studied them numerous times. Perhaps it was the general unavailability of this particular release that influenced my decision. In any case, I purchased the pristine Celestial release and, wow!!! I have to admit, the fill blew me away. It's aged particularly well. The film's plot makes sense, the action is not outlandish, and Cheng Pei-pei is riveting--she has real screen presence. The cinematography bears all the hallmarks of Hu's painterly style. I'd say this is a MUST HAVE for all Wuxia Pian fans, but you already knew that.
Dragon Inn [1967] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure So much better than the Tsui Hark remake. King Hu was a master.This film and "A Touch of Zen" were his crowning achievements.
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