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Imagine, if you will, the visual cacophony of Fellini (director of 8 1/2 and Juliet of the Spirits), the over-the-top action of Jerry Bruckheimer (producer of Armageddon and Gone in 60 Seconds), and the manic emotions and frenetic editing of Russ Meyer (Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!)--you have just gotten an inkling of the glorious pop cinema of Hong Kong. Deadful Melody, starring Brigitte Lin, one of the most magnetic actresses in the world, is a prime example. The ancient Chinese world of martial arts is ruled by six clans, the leaders of which all want to get their hands on the Magic Lyre, a musical instrument of near-apocalyptic destructive power. In their ruthless pursuit, they murder the entire family of the Lyre's guardian--all except for the youngest daughter, Snow, who falls down a waterfall clutching the Lyre. This sequence starts the movie with a bang, for kung fu in HK movie terms means much more than it did to Bruce Lee; the clan leaders are virtually supernatural beings, with names like Master Ghost and the whip-wielding Cold Hearted Seductress. Anyone properly trained in martial arts can fly and explode things from afar, which results in some pretty spectacular battles. Snow, of course, returns to take revenge after learning to play the Lyre and gaining enormous power. Brigitte Lin is never less than hypnotic; while this role isn't as complex as Asia the Invincible in Swordsman II, it's cut from the same cloth: imperious, cool, yet aching with loss and grief. The plot is a dizzying web of Machiavellian scheming and surprisingly rich emotions that will keep you riveted; if you can't follow it, don't worry--flying warriors clash and explode every few minutes. --Bret Fetzer
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