Thanks for doing this one - I am flattered. Putting this at the top of my Lau Kar-leung picks is pretty much heresy, since it's such a complete departure for him, but the Shaws were going to pour a lot of money into this, so they wouldn't trust a lesser director. But I always enjoy rewatching it... except form that totally laughable scene where Jet Li runs into the field in Guangxi and the really bad romantic music swells.
Thanks for watching! And for the indirect recommendation, I'm finding departures can be pretty interesting all on their own, this one very much included. And you have correctly called out the scene where I really started examining my feelings about the music, although the songs themselves I'm merely "fine" on, I think it's mostly the use (and over-use) that I found a bit more difficult. I will say it has a certain charm to it though, some of the goofier bits it seemed to work a bit better.
Also, good idea to skip Kids from Shaolin. It's just a goofy horror film for little kids. I've seen that a couple times too and it's not what you'd call good.
At this point that's good to hear, I'll put it with the handful of movies that I've shaved off the list here and there, and there are plenty of questionable ones on the list still to keep me busy 😬
Hey man, Mitch from comments here. Now I know you and I have spoken about this, but I am not a fan of this film. Yes, seeing China in all it's glory and beauty is a revelation, and yes Jet Li is very skilled and yes the action is great but it doesn't feel like a Lau Kar-leung movie. I know he and Jet Li didn't get along and I think it's because Lau couldn't adapt to working with strong actors, he had a similar problem with Jackie Chan. Yes it's well made and looks fantastic, but I don't warm to Jet Li in this at all. This may be controversial but this is my least favourite of all Lau Kar-leung's Shaw films. I know Paul feels differently, but I can leave this one. As always loving your work mister.
Can't argue that it sits apart from every other Lau Kar-leung movie I've seen so far, which still isn't a lot, but enough that it stands out for sure. I do think the action, choreography is on par though, I don't know if I saw this in a vacuum I'd be able to call out Lau Kar-leung's touch but it's still a notch above. I'm probably somewhere between you and Paul then, not my favorite or my least favorite, but glad I watched it and would still recommend!
Thanks for doing this one - I am flattered. Putting this at the top of my Lau Kar-leung picks is pretty much heresy, since it's such a complete departure for him, but the Shaws were going to pour a lot of money into this, so they wouldn't trust a lesser director. But I always enjoy rewatching it... except form that totally laughable scene where Jet Li runs into the field in Guangxi and the really bad romantic music swells.
Thanks for watching! And for the indirect recommendation, I'm finding departures can be pretty interesting all on their own, this one very much included. And you have correctly called out the scene where I really started examining my feelings about the music, although the songs themselves I'm merely "fine" on, I think it's mostly the use (and over-use) that I found a bit more difficult. I will say it has a certain charm to it though, some of the goofier bits it seemed to work a bit better.
Also, good idea to skip Kids from Shaolin. It's just a goofy horror film for little kids. I've seen that a couple times too and it's not what you'd call good.
At this point that's good to hear, I'll put it with the handful of movies that I've shaved off the list here and there, and there are plenty of questionable ones on the list still to keep me busy 😬
Hey man, Mitch from comments here. Now I know you and I have spoken about this, but I am not a fan of this film. Yes, seeing China in all it's glory and beauty is a revelation, and yes Jet Li is very skilled and yes the action is great but it doesn't feel like a Lau Kar-leung movie. I know he and Jet Li didn't get along and I think it's because Lau couldn't adapt to working with strong actors, he had a similar problem with Jackie Chan.
Yes it's well made and looks fantastic, but I don't warm to Jet Li in this at all.
This may be controversial but this is my least favourite of all Lau Kar-leung's Shaw films. I know Paul feels differently, but I can leave this one. As always loving your work mister.
Can't argue that it sits apart from every other Lau Kar-leung movie I've seen so far, which still isn't a lot, but enough that it stands out for sure. I do think the action, choreography is on par though, I don't know if I saw this in a vacuum I'd be able to call out Lau Kar-leung's touch but it's still a notch above.
I'm probably somewhere between you and Paul then, not my favorite or my least favorite, but glad I watched it and would still recommend!