Rating: Summary: not what I expected Review: I bought this movie after reading about Brigitte Lin in Film Comment a couple of years ago and then discovering all of the positive reviews on this site. I have to admit the movie was not what I expected. Here are some short observations about the film: Yes, it's "operatic". The colors are beautiful--reds and blues in prominence. Not a single straight camera angle to be found here. Much jumping about in fantastical ways. Many very "cool" poster moments with Brigitte Lin in action poses (the one with her surrounded by the burning village comes to mind). Very little nakedness but some chest grabbing. Occasional silly moments in romantic scenes. Expect confusion about who's doing what and why to who for a little while--may require multiple viewings (which is ok). I guess I expected more solid action to surround the love story. What I mean by "solid" is true blue sword fighting and martial arts. Instead what we get is mostly blurry "high speed in slo-mo" flailing about in large scale. One moment there are four against one, the next there is much quick spinning around and loud sword in the air noises, then only one is left. The best moments are the solo sword practicing done by the main character as a boy and a man, demonstrating the beauty of the art, but don't expect anything you can visually follow in the hand-to-hand stuff (and what's with the whip--is that technique or what?). I don't understand why some of the other reviews complain about the wall bouncing at the end--the whole movie is full of this gravity defying over the top stuff. It just comes together in large scale at the end like any good action movie. Also, from reviews here and other websites devoted to "the Bride.." I don't think I will be seeing No.2 (in my pathetic city the only way I'll ever see it is to buy it--I'm surrounded by chain stores). I thought the open ending works well (you also have to recall the opening scene as well) because we can all identify with it to some extent and it is more thought provoking than being tidy. I am not one who needs closure at the end of a story and I love films and books that have unconventional structures. Okay then, in a nutshell: Good story that absorbs you once you get past the names. Very well done sets and music and cinematography. Expect over-the-top in most aspects.
Rating: Summary: The Best Honk Kong movie ever made Review: Human emotion, hate, love, envy, revenge, all expressed brilliantly in this movie. I think the Dubbed and Subed versions are equally great. This movie is visually stunning and emotionally captivating. The best Hong Kong(HK)movie ever. Nothing can compare. Just watch it.
Rating: Summary: mesmerizing Review: The subtitles do the movie injustice but Ms Lin Ching Hsia did a wonderful acting job. Every facial expression showed the viewer what she thought of more than her body language. Both Mr. Cheung and Ms. Lin played their parts well (the sacrifices they had to make in the movie...how tragic) and even though part I leaves you hanging (you should watch the sequel), it's a good movie nevertheless. Viewers (like me) do miss Ms. Lin's presence in the movie world. Maybe she could come out of unofficial retirement and make more movies.
Rating: Summary: Simply the best film ever made! Review: Okay, why do I say this? How about brilliant acting, stunning visuals, exciting fight sequences, incredible lighting,and a haunting soundtrack. And I'm only scratching the surface. Even if you are not into H.K. films normally, SEE THIS ONE! I also would kill to get a sound track of this film on CD. While TBWWH 2 does provide closure, only the two scenes with Leslie Cheung are even close (emotionally) to the original. But I'm telling you, SEE THIS MOVIE! It is the closest thing I have ever seen to cinematic perfection.
Rating: Summary: A Wolf-girl is mistreated and turns nasty with revenge. Review: Everything is beautifully done in the movie: the sets, the make-up, the script, the cast, and the atmosphere. THE MOOD has never been controlled that well for a long time in Hong Kong. Brigitte Lin's acting has never been that profoundly "mature"; yet, it is all her brilliant performances that hold the whole movie together -- the love, the hatred, and revenge. And her eye movements in every scene tell a story. They are all different. Nobody has interpreted this Chinese classics better than Ms. Brigitte Lin, and I think this is one of the best ancient Classics that is worth keeping in the collector's shelf. One can see how cruel others can be in mistreating her, and she just never gives up and survives till the end...
Rating: Summary: Great Art direction, beautiful story. Review: Like many of the greatest love stories, this love story is tragic. But hang on, DO SEE THE SEQUEL! Personally, I love the sequel better than the first one. Although I admit the first one is the much better film than the latter. The art direction was great, and you got the most romantic leading man in Hong Kong to play the lead. I highly recommand to see the sequal, despite the bad storyline, the VERY LAST 10 MINUTES ARE MUST SEE! Because the story didn't end in the first episode. For those who feel emtremely sorry for them, DO SEE THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF THE SEQUEL. Everything will make perfect sense there, I sware. And I think that is the perfect ending of this whole love affair. There isn't any other way to end.
Rating: Summary: A good story badly told Review: Nothing is more sad than to see a good story ruined. This is one of the worst films I've ever seen. Incoherent and naive.
Rating: Summary: Wonderful, but sad movie Review: This is a really sad love story mixed with great martial arts. This movie will leave you asking for more, so be ready to watch The Bride With White Hair part 2.
Rating: Summary: Very Good Review: The Bride With White Hair is an adventurous, action-packed fantasy set in the Mo Dynasty, China. Brigitte Lin is excellent as the "Bride". The costumes are nice are the swordplay is incredible. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER REVIEWS.
Rating: Summary: More heart-breaking than Romeo and Juliet Review: We see a man meditating like buddha on a mountain top guarding a sacred flower with power to restore life. For ten years he's been guarding this flower against emperor's men saving it for a woman. Then we see the whole story of his tragic love affair with the Bride with White Hair and why he is guarding the flower just for her. There are the official Chinese clans and the boy groomed to become head of the eight clans. Then there is the male-female twins stuck back to back who start a cult of outsiders and African immigrants living like priests on top of a pyramid. This male-female cult priest raises an orphan girl to be an assassin in their war against the eight clans. Star-crossed lovers meet face to face when the boy groomed to be head of the eight clans falls in love with the witch assassin employed by enemies of his clan. He struggles against incredible odds to build a private life for himself with his new-found bride. Who will win the fight for supremacy? The man and woman stuck back to back who try to oppress and control humanity, or the man and woman who kiss face to face and want to pursue their personal desires for a private life? This tale is more heart-breaking than Romeo and Juliet in its complex exploration of sexuality and the balance of Yin and Yang in the universe.
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