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Movie Review: Shu shan zheng chuan (The Legend of Zu)
by Kenneth Leung
Published: August 14, 2001
Country: |
Distributor: |
Director: |
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Hong Kong |
Miramax Films |
Hark Tsui |
Ekin Cheng as King Sky
Louis Koo as Red
Cecilia Cheung as Dawn/Enigma
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For more information: IMDb Link |
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The Legend of Zu was suppose to be the successful follow-up to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The Asian film market needed another film to show the Oscar winning epic was just not a flash in the pan; that the filmmakers in the East could produce quality movies, year in, year out. Yet this piece of work by Hong Kong action director Tsui Hark, revisiting the 1982 film Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain, shows similarity towards the summer blockbusters regularly viewed in the cinemas in the States. The Legend of Zu showcases a variety of breathtaking visual effects and fights scenes but the plot and dialogue can leave the audience confused at times.
Set in ancient times, immortals train for hundreds of years to perfect their martial arts to bring themselves closer to Nature. However an evil force is threatening their existence on the mountains of Zu and they must band together to fight back.
I really do sympathize with Tsui Hark’s attempt to adapt the novel. The Legend of Zu, like most ancient Chinese fantasy books, is lengthy and trying to fit the entire story into a two-hour movie is quite a feat. Tsui Hark seems to maintain the key elements but the beginning of the movie left me confused. After the opening sequence my mind needed a little time before I could completely understand what was going. Maybe they should have taken the time to explain the movie by taking the time away from the romance between Zhang Ziyi’s character and the immortal she falls in love with. It serves no purpose towards the main story and becomes a distraction in between the fight sequence.
Fans of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will be slightly disappointed with the choreography. There is only one true fight where there is a genuine clash of blades, since most of the immortals fight with the supernatural powers they possess. Fighting at a distance between two people may seem boring but the graphics in the movie make up for that disappointment. I was really surprised a Hong Kong movie could generate such impressive CGI.
There is only one painful thorn in my side and that is watching Cecilia Cheung's performance. Everybody else’s performance was fine (although Zhang Ziyi’s appearance was fleeting) except for Cecilia Cheung. I do have a vendetta against performers who rely on their looks and don’t improve on their acting & performing abilities. She is an actress that only got into show business because of her beautiful looks. She can barely act, with her lines delivered without putting any effort into them. Cecilia Cheung needs a few more movies under her belt before she can be appreciated. Or she should stick to the romantic comedies, which she is better at.
If you want action and more wire-fu, go out and see this movie. If you want another Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, wait until Ang Lee directs the prequel.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10
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