2011-07-20

武俠 Wu Xia



Before watching Director Peter Ho-sun Chan’s latest movie, Wu Xia, starring Donnie Yen, I expected to watch a typical martial arts movie. Contrary to my expectations, the movie is a fascinating fusion of a detective story, forensic science, action, humor, politics and family drama.

Wu Xia is a gripping story about the dark side of human nature. There are several intriguing things that are worth nothing. First, Detective Xu Baijiu believes that the law is more important than humanity. His blind obedience to the law contrasts sharply with the corrupt officials accepting bribes, which is a political satire. Please note what happens to the villain at the end, which ridicules the unscrupulous legal system invented by humans. Second, the difference between humans and animals is highlighted. Please note that cows, horses, flies and worms are shown in the movie and respect for animals is emphasized. Moreover, in a fighting scene, Kara Hui’s character can be seen through a cow’s eye, which symbolically shows her ruthless character. Third, in some scenes, the candles glimmer in the darkness, which symbolically shows the struggle between good and evil in a human being.

Peter Chan and Oi-wah Lam have grasped the key to writing a good story. Indeed, three-dimensional characters are more important than fancy fight scenes, so they take their time developing the characters in the movie. Thanks to the capable cast, the well-crafted script, the restrained costumes and the breathtaking setting, most characters are lifelike. In the movie, Takeshi Kaneshiro gives the most memorable performance, considering his dual role as his good self and his dark self. Detective Xu Baijiu, whose biggest battle lies within, is torn between his conscience and his blind faith in the law. Also, his attempt to speak the Sichuan dialect is comical. As for Donnie Yen, he is charismatic and his action is well-choreographed. Still, he slightly underacts in the crying scene and the one in which he kills the butcher and his children. Playing ruthless villains, Yu Wang and Kara Hui deliver flawless performances. Their characters, albeit monochrome, look eerily menacing.

As for my suggestions for improvement, some insignificant details can be trimmed and Liu Jin-xi’s change can be further developed. Despite these minor flaws, the movie grabs me from beginning to end, not only because of the adrenalin-pumping action, but also the well-developed characters that the audience cares about. Featuring a creative mix of different genres as well as a fine balance between drama and action, Wu Xia is so far the best Hong Kong movie I have watched in 2011. 

4 / 5

影評刊載於「兩岸三地影評人協會聯盟」、「動映地帶」及「IMDB」。

                   

P.S. From 23 / 7 to 4 / 8, I will visit the Eastern Europe - Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. I hope it will be another life-enhancing trip. See you!

P.S. Dancing Dreams 翩娜包殊之青春交際場 - 3.5 / 5 - I expected more interactions between Pina and the teenagers. I love the running-and-laughing scene the most.

20 則留言:

  1. KENJI, BON VOYAGE!  Eastern Europe histories and cultures will inspire you in different ways  !!
    看你的評語, 武俠應該值得入場觀看.
     
     
    [版主回覆07/20/2011 20:02:00]THANKS a lot. I need FUN !!! Wu Xia is a well told story. I highly recommend it to you!

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  2. 剛問完你是否去旅行,現在知道了 ﹗好好享受假期,影多點靚相回來與我們分享。記得買手信...haha講笑 。祝一路平安及旅途愉快。
    [版主回覆07/21/2011 18:38:00]Souvenirs? I have spent all the money on the trip and I will come back with great photos hahaha.

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  3. highly recommend !!  唔... 咁我要考慮看看了!
     
    仲有:旅途愉快! 一切順利!
    [版主回覆07/21/2011 18:39:00]Go watch it when it is released next Thursday. Thanks!

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  4. 路過... 但恐怕我與你對這齣電影的看法大不相同... http://dannylun.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post.html
    [版主回覆07/21/2011 18:45:00]I have read your article. Indeed, the questions you ask have been implied in the movie. Perhaps you can watch it again and look at her facial expression when she knows her husband knows kung fu. Liu Jin-xi’s wife is not given many lines and I think her character can be further developed. Still, the director has spent much time developing the two main characters and so I think it is OK. Thanks for your sharing.

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  5.  Look forward to reading your travelogue and, of course, photos. Have a pleasant trip.
    [版主回覆07/21/2011 18:47:00]Thanks! Just not very sure if I have time to write about it. But I will squeeze some time to make a Youtube Clip showing the photos.

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  6. Wishing you have a wonderful trip
    [版主回覆07/21/2011 18:46:00]THANKS!!!

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  7. Thanks for the sharing though haven't watched that yet...
    Anyway, have a wonderful journey!!
    [版主回覆07/21/2011 18:47:00]It will be released next Thursday!!! THANKS!

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  8. Have a nice trip ^_^ I am looking forward to watch this movie also
    [版主回覆07/22/2011 17:40:00]It seems that some discuss.com.hk users do not like it. Don't expect to watch a typical kung fu movie. Then you will have fun.

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  9. Have a wonderful trip, Kenji!
    (這齣似乎好OK噃, 等我睇下買唔買到早場飛先^^)
    [版主回覆07/22/2011 17:41:00]I love the detective story. The kung fu part is also nice. Anyway, thank you.

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  10. 又去歐洲!我超想去呀呀呀,好羨慕呀!!!
    [版主回覆07/22/2011 17:44:00]You are still young. When I was as young as you, I stayed in Hong Kong every summer.

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  11. Have a nice trip ^_^
    [版主回覆07/27/2011 05:28:00]THANKS!!!

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  12. Start to resist Mr. Yan's Kung Fu Movies lu!
    Hv a nice trips, looking fwd to yr great photos and travelling stories. I'd jsut back from Malaysia & Singapore, will share with you later!
    [版主回覆07/27/2011 05:29:00]SURE ~~~~ ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS!!!

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  13. 最新消息,就算暫時不換新的系統,3個月後自動幫你換,而根據情報換左的朋友話,好亂好慢,唔見晒blog 友﹗poor...
    [版主回覆08/05/2011 12:06:00]So worried... dunno what to do... I really love my blog and it seems that the new format is less attractive.

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  14. (Empty)
    [版主回覆08/05/2011 12:07:00]THANKS!!!

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  15. 期待你返黎~~~~~~~~~!! safe trip!!!
    [版主回覆08/05/2011 12:07:00]YES!!! Some minor accidents but I had great fun.

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  16. i'll skip it if it's purely a martial arts movie, but based on your comment, i will consider watching it next week, depends on whether there're other movies that interest me. btw, watched the "Nowhere Boy" this week, not bad.
    [版主回覆08/05/2011 12:07:00]Interested in Nowhere Boy, but not sure if I have time to watch it.

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  17. 尋日睇咗,覺得一般咁啦,都係嗰啲嘢......
    不過拍得幾靚同流暢,視覺上非常嘗心悅目,金城武好可愛,口音特別 XD 不過我最鍾意湯唯,戲係少啲又算搶,但係一個平凡女子,以佢的過去及對丈夫新的發現,少少幾場戲但好入肉。
    [版主回覆08/05/2011 12:08:00]I personally find the mixture of different elements special. 湯唯 is good. I wish she had been given more lines and scenes.

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  18. Kenji, 您回來了要面對 yahoo blog update 的要求呢!太討厭了!
    [版主回覆08/05/2011 12:09:00]Still dunno what to do and perhaps many people will complain about the change?

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  19. I thought it's another disappointed Peter Chan's film, since "Perhaps Love" and "The Warlords". Well, the action sequences was great, and good acting for Takeshi Kaneshiro and Wang Yu. However, Lam Oi-wah's script was very weak and partly even boring(I fell asleep in the middle). Overall, it didn't work for me, though the concept was quite creative-mind.   I'd recommend Peter Chan's previous films, such as "Comrades: Almost a Love Story", "Three - Going Home", his debut "Alan & Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye" and his personal favorite "Tom, Dick and Hairy". 
    [版主回覆08/10/2011 12:15:00]Perhaps Love is a disappointment, but I personally love The Warlords and Comrades: Almost a Love Story. I also like Wu Xia because of his attempt to mix different genres, well developed characters and a capable cast.

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  20. you're probably right, and I'm sure that it'll receive many nominates(even big hit) in Hong Kong Film Awards next year.   How about "He's a Woman, She's a Man"? you like it? It's the highest box office record and most popular for Peter Chan's film.
    [版主回覆08/21/2011 01:30:00]Just a mediocre commercial movie in my opinion. The cast does not have much to act.

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