A Warrior's Tragedy
A Warrior's Tragedy
("Bian Cheng Lang Zi")
Fun martial arts (mostly swords) soap opera movie from 1993, directed by Frankie Chan (who also played the "comic" hero) and starring Ti Lung as the "dark" hero.
Gu Long /is/ Gu Long.
Even though I've never read the book this movie is based on, the dialogue is distinctively Gu Long. I'm not sure how much of the book made it into the movie (now I'll have to look it up and read it!) but what's there is enough, maybe more than enough. I had a hard time keeping track of the various characters.
Lovely movie. Before the wirework and CGI got out of hand! But stylish looking, with decent actors and a good story (even if it does feel like the complicated plot was ruthlessly chopped down for the sake of the movie. If they made a series based on this of the same quality, that would be even better! Apparently the DVD version is already cut down from the original 3 hour theatrical release.)
The usual Gu Long tropes. Cool heroes, seemingly cold-blooded until their sentimental side is revealed. Beautiful sexy women throwing themselves at the men. A dark hero (who plays the assassin) and a light hero (who plays the clownish skirt-chaser). An old feud. Revenge and more revenge. Secrets. Gadgets. A bit of magic. Invisibility! Super armor! Houses blowing up! And much much more!
Ok, it's a bit silly, but I had lots of fun watching it. I liked it a lot better than many of the more recent "epics" (e.g., "Seven Swords", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "House of Flying Daggers", etc.). The fight scenes weren't as ridiculous, the characters more appealing, and the ending less artistically tragic and pointless.
("Bian Cheng Lang Zi")
Fun martial arts (mostly swords) soap opera movie from 1993, directed by Frankie Chan (who also played the "comic" hero) and starring Ti Lung as the "dark" hero.
Gu Long /is/ Gu Long.
Even though I've never read the book this movie is based on, the dialogue is distinctively Gu Long. I'm not sure how much of the book made it into the movie (now I'll have to look it up and read it!) but what's there is enough, maybe more than enough. I had a hard time keeping track of the various characters.
Lovely movie. Before the wirework and CGI got out of hand! But stylish looking, with decent actors and a good story (even if it does feel like the complicated plot was ruthlessly chopped down for the sake of the movie. If they made a series based on this of the same quality, that would be even better! Apparently the DVD version is already cut down from the original 3 hour theatrical release.)
The usual Gu Long tropes. Cool heroes, seemingly cold-blooded until their sentimental side is revealed. Beautiful sexy women throwing themselves at the men. A dark hero (who plays the assassin) and a light hero (who plays the clownish skirt-chaser). An old feud. Revenge and more revenge. Secrets. Gadgets. A bit of magic. Invisibility! Super armor! Houses blowing up! And much much more!
Ok, it's a bit silly, but I had lots of fun watching it. I liked it a lot better than many of the more recent "epics" (e.g., "Seven Swords", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "House of Flying Daggers", etc.). The fight scenes weren't as ridiculous, the characters more appealing, and the ending less artistically tragic and pointless.
posted by Taisch @ 8:22 PM
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