Rating: 
Summary: Puzzled
Review: Frankly, I am puzzled that this movie has such a high rating from other users. I am a huge fan of Hong Kong period action/fantasy/swordplay movies, but I just couldn't get into this movie. I kept waiting for it to get better, but unfortunately, it just got worse! So much is said about the "ground breaking" special effects, but I felt like I was watching a Saturday morning cartoon. On paper, this movie should've been great. Produced by Tsui Hark, and an all-star cast... Too bad the plot was so silly/bad. I would definitely recommend the movie Deadful Melody (aka Deadly Melody) over this one. Better fight scenes, better humor, colorful-well-played characters, and a plot that makes sense.
Rating:
Summary: not as good as latter movies from asia
Review: However, when I first saw this movie (the 1990's) i thought it was a recent movie....therefore I admit I am a bit bias in my dislike....But, one should get Fon Sai Yuck, or Iron Monkey instead (or the Once upon a tome in china movies).
Rating:
Summary: not as good as latter movies from asia
Review: I saw the Legend of Zu before I saw this, which greatly clarified the otherwise confounding plotline of Warriors of the Magic Mountain. That's not to say that the Legend of Zu was any less confusing (in fact, it's much more of a mess). Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain is, even in the confusion, a massively entertaing movie that's maybe not as engrossing as it could be, but is nevertheless a fun experience (Pirates of the Carribean comes to mind as a movie that has much the same effect, although less confusing).
Rating: 
Summary: ...
Review: I saw the Legend of Zu before I saw this, which greatly clarified the otherwise confounding plotline of Warriors of the Magic Mountain. That's not to say that the Legend of Zu was any less confusing (in fact, it's much more of a mess). Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain is, even in the confusion, a massively entertaing movie that's maybe not as engrossing as it could be, but is nevertheless a fun experience (Pirates of the Carribean comes to mind as a movie that has much the same effect, although less confusing).
Rating: 
Summary: Beware the Blood Monster
Review: It is true that this film's plot is inelegant. It's also true that its pacing is so frenetic that you're in danger of cardiac arrest long before the climax, and it's true that characterisation doesn't feature greatly either. But I don't think that's the idea with this film, or many other films in the genre.The flow of the plot in Zu is like a fever dream: confused in places, some parts recurring, some parts brushed over. Some parts make very little sense at all, like the wonderful battle in the temple where the editting is so frantic that the viewer never quite knows what is going on. You get this wonderful impressionistic blur from watching Zu, sort of Monet with kung fu.Compared to an HK fantasy film with a good plot (say Stormriders) Zu looks flakey and inconsistent. However I find Zu utterly arresting visually, whereas Stormriders is just one comicbook cliche after another. (Though Stormriders was based on a comic that's still no excuse!)The stylism of the sets is great, the sound effects are very innovative for its time... oh, it's just a fantastic film all round.
Rating: 
Summary: An outdated firework by Hong Kong's most eclectic film-maker
Review: Seminal in 1983 for its amalgamation of special effects, wire-work, and kung-fu, now "Zu" looks like an antique whose wrinkles are glaringly obvious next to today's wire-fu/fantasy films ("Crouching Tiger," "Storm Riders"). Hark, like his contemporary Western counterpart Spielberg, ranges from the sublime to the subterranean, and "Zu" falls just short of his worst attempts (i.e. "The Master," "Once Upon in China 3"). However, Hark's visual palette with vast array of vibrant colors create a few striking tableaus that make "Zu" moderately interesting. But in the end, the lack of kung-fu and an engaging story leads to a big superfluous mound of color and chaos, which will only please the most diehard Hark or Hong Kong fan. BTW: Check out Hark's finest, "Peking Opera Blues," "The Blade," and "Time and Tide," for the best cinema has to offer from the last fifteen years.
Rating:
Summary: Godhead HK Fantasy/Martial Arts.
Review: This is a very important HK film; its the first to impliment computer effects (SGI's LightWave Im told) for one thing, and yet the movie does not rely on them to any degree.. the battle scenes are as epic on occasion as the plot itself; an excursion into heroes, war, the world of martial arts, and even love. Its simply one of the finest period piece, fantasy/martial arts movies ever made, and is frequently cited as an influence even today. In a world being torn apart by fueding among the schools that compose the loosely defined (but ever present in the genre) 'World of Martial Arts', a young man seeks the aid of a great and mysterious master, to end the fueding and ultimately to save the world.
Rating:
Summary: a revolutionary fantasy action
Review: Tsui Hark directed this groundbreaking special effects extravaganza (1983) which is a favorite among fans of Hong Kong's fantay genre. Features an all-star cast with names such as Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Meng Hoi, Brigitte Lin, Moon Lee, and Adam Cheng being the most memorable of the bunch. Although the special effects might seem amateurish by today's standards, they are still impressive considering the budget, and the sheer imagination that the film possesses makes it an exhilirating thrillride until the end. Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain is a frenetic epic about the struggle between good and evil. Zu's roots are firmly grounded in Chinese mythology with all the cast doing very well playing "large" characters. The special effects people from Star Wars were imported to HK by Tsui Hark himself to oversee the effects for Zu. While not as polished or flashy as today's CGI the abundant visual effects from Zu are a work of art, pushing the envelope of the technology of the early 80's by using wires and animation. Zu requires more than one viewing to take it all in. A must for any Hong Kong Cinema enthusiast. And, forget the plot, just enjoy the action.
Rating:
Summary: Tsui Hark's landmark HK film of special effects and fantasy
Review: Tsui Hark, who went to film school at the University of Texas, is one of the most influencial filmmakers of Hong Kong. In this film, he made an effort to attract Hollywood special effects artists to come to Hong Kong and not only create a visually impressive film, but also to teach his team how the effects are done. This film was the result of that effort, and it shows. By the way, the previous mention of computer effects is incorrect. Not only does this film pre-date extensive use of computer-generated effects, but the suggestion that Lightwave is made by SGI instead of Newtek is also incorrect. Zu is a fantasy film, and the influence it (and other Tsui Hark films, like A Chinese Ghost Story) has had on other filmmakers is highly evident.
Rating: 
Summary: The birth of the fantasy genre
Review: When watching this film, consider the fact that it was made in the early 80's, so adjust your views accordingly. Having said that, Zu is a busy movie with a lot of subplots, and twists. It is enough to almost confuse the viewer. Within 3 minutes, the whole movie changes scenery while the characters change attitude. This is one of the few films where I enjoyed Sammo Hung. His character seemed to fit the ambience of the whole film. Yuen Biao was great, as usual, and a younger Brigette Lin also adds to the cast. In addition, the cameo by Tsui Hark was a welcome surprise. I would rent this film before you decide to purchase it. It's an older film, so if you're used to some of the later stuff, you may be disappointed.
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