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Green Snake

Green Snake

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $17.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Classic
Review: "Green Snake" stars Maggie Cheung, Joey Wong, and Zhao Wen Zhuo/Chiu Mun Chuk. Based on an old Chinese legendary myth, this film is a classic.

At the time of its release, its special effects were quite impressive, and wirework was well done by Zhao Wen Zhuo, who plays a monk. Directing was well done, and unlike many kung-fu films, camera angles are just right so that an audience can actually see what's going on. Although Zhao Wen Zhuo is one of the main characters, he receives very little screen time until the last scene, which is well done. The script, dialogue, and acting performances by Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong allow wonderful character development and an audience sympathizes for them. And the movie fairly displays both perspectives from Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong vs. Zhao Wen Zhuo.

Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong play snakes who may take human form, while Zhao Wen Zhuo (kung-fu artist; "BLACKSHEEP AFFAIRS", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA IV and V") plays the monk who seeks to destroy them. The ending isn't predictable, even if you do know the Chinese myth that this film bases itself around. This is a must-see, though there is not much intricate kung-fu choreography. Fight scenes are not impressive compared to Zhao Wen Zhuo's other works, mentioned above. The movie in general, however, is extraordinarily well shot and deserves praise.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: great story, beautifully filmed
Review: A retelling of the Chinese folk Tale Madame White Snake. The story has been filmed three times before in the 50's and 60's: twice in Hong Kong and the third a Hong Kong/Japanese production. Whatever merits these earlier productions may have (none are in print in any format), they surely can't have Tsui Hark's sensual filming of Maggie Cheung (sigh) and Joey Wang (sigh sigh).

The cinematography has a lush, tropical feel, and both Cheung (sigh) and Wang (sigh sigh) do a creditable job of conveying their reptilian qualities with posture and motion rather than excessive special effects.

The only annoyance with the DVD is that the subtitles are in both Chinese and English simultaneously, and cannot be turned off. Also, the type is too small to be read easily, and often blends in with the film's background.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: great story, beautifully filmed
Review: A retelling of the Chinese folk Tale Madame White Snake. The story has been filmed three times before in the 50's and 60's: twice in Hong Kong and the third a Hong Kong/Japanese production. Whatever merits these earlier productions may have (none are in print in any format), they surely can't have Tsui Hark's sensual filming of Maggie Cheung (sigh) and Joey Wang (sigh sigh).

The cinematography has a lush, tropical feel, and both Cheung (sigh) and Wang (sigh sigh) do a creditable job of conveying their reptilian qualities with posture and motion rather than excessive special effects.

The only annoyance with the DVD is that the subtitles are in both Chinese and English simultaneously, and cannot be turned off. Also, the type is too small to be read easily, and often blends in with the film's background.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Perhaps not the worst movie ever made...
Review: But without doubt the worst movie I've ever spent money on. The traidtional Chinese story of love and redemption is simply used as a background for third-rate wired-assisted jumps, silly props and make-ups, and juvenile come-ons and titillations. UGH!
Is this what people really like to watch?

I wish there's a 'No Star' rating - that's what this thing deserves!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Perhaps not the worst movie ever made...
Review: But without doubt the worst movie I've ever spent money on. The traidtional Chinese story of love and redemption is simply used as a background for third-rate wired-assisted jumps, silly props and make-ups, and juvenile come-ons and titillations. UGH!
Is this what people really like to watch?

I wish there's a 'No Star' rating - that's what this thing deserves!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Old Folk Story with a Twist !
Review: From highly-acclaimed special-effects Director Tsuk Ke, comes a story based on a old Chinese Folk Story (but with a twist).

Story goes like this:

2 Snake Spitirs, one White & the other Green (played excellently by Joey Wong & Maggie Cheng respectively) wanted to feel what's it would be like to be a human, decided to descend onto earth to become one. What they desired was also, most importantly, to understand it's complexity and feel what human love is.

Wise and more powerful was White Snake (as she has been mediating for more than 1,000 years) as compared to Green Snake (500 years).

Fun they had but trouble soon erupted when White Snake choose an honest man (played by i can't remember the name)to wed and to hold. To make matters worst, Green Snake incidentally falls for the Monk (played by another HK actor), which is determined to ride the world of all spirits & devils. This soon brings upon jealousy between the 2 sisters as one has a happy marriage while the other cannot fufill her wish to be human & being love.

Finally, after discovering the 2 Snake Spirits. The Monk decides to capture White Snake's husband by force in hope to awaken him from the sins (for have a relationship with a unworldly spirit).

Both Snake Spirits, bonded together as sisters, decided to make an attempt to rescue him from the monk despite knowing their chances of winning are slim. For Green Snake, she finally understand the cost of being a human and the love for her Sister. As for White Snake, to finally become a human and have in her the child of her husband. She's determined to save the only man she so love, even if it means ...

** The story boost some of the Best Special Effects in the history of Chinese film making (Coming from Tusk Ke, it's no suprise) and a great story line.

One last note, although this movie didn't do well at the box-office. But look beyond that, it does help tell you -- never underestimate the power of love and the human race or spirits for that matter.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Beauty in every Category.
Review: Good Plot, Soundtrack, Costumes, Beautiful People, Good Scenery, and very erotic, in good taste.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Beauty of Mythology
Review: Green Snake is a movie directed by the imaginative hands of Tsui Hark (Once Upon A Time In China, Time and Tide).

This movie is a enthralling fantasy set during the Southern Sung Dynasty about a monk who sets out to eradicate the world of evil spirits. During his moral missions, he encounters "Green Snake," a spirit who takes the shape of a beautiful woman in order to benefit humankind.

Maggie Cheung (Police Story, The Heroic Trio, In The Mood For Love) and Joey Wong (Butterfly & Sword, A Chinese Ghost Story) play two beautiful half-human/half-snakes. Son Ching (Wong), after 1000 years of discipline, has begun to evolve from her snake form into a human being. Green Snake (Cheung), with only a mere 500 years of practice, is content on simply slithering around, until a Buddhist monk, played by Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo (Fong Sai Yuk), with magnificent powers becomes their greatest foe.

In her human form, Son finds love. However, Green Snake is torn between the love of her best friend Son and her mischievious spirit-self that wants nothing better than to middle with the love interest of Son as well as play with and beguile humans.

Enraged over the fact that either would dare to even attempt to assume human form, the Buddhist Monk quickly passes judgment and takes matters into his own hands.

This movie stars: Joey Wong (Wang Zu Xian), Maggie Cheung (Cheung Man-Yuk), Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo (Chiu Man Cheuk), Wu Hsing-Guo (Wu Kuo Chiu, Wu Hsin-Kuo), Ma Cheng Miu, Tin Fung, Chan Dung Mooi.

This movie offers exquisite plateaus, vivid costumes and sets, and simply unforgettable imagery.

Lastly, the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because of the subtitles. The subtitles at times are barely legible. They are small and in white. Its hard very difficult to read them at times. Other than this, it makes an excellent addition to my growing of films from China.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Movie!!
Review: Green Snake is an excellent movie, based on the story "Madame White Snake," an old Chinese folk tale.

White and Green are snake women, intent on becoming human. When White falls in love with a human man, Hsui Xian , White and Green go to extraordinary lengths to keep their true selves hidden. Hsui Xian , a teacher, loves his wife White, and eventually learns her secret despite her efforts.

White and Green are pursued by the vigilant Monk Fa Hai, who captures and punishes 'evil spirits' by confining them to his mystic 'alms bowl.' Fa Hai, a good man, has become self righteous in his pursuit of evil, overlooking the compassion and understanding that Buddha dictates and has become almost evil himself. (Partly, through the movie, he realizes this, and endeavors to change). Can Fa Hai overcome his pride to see the truth before its too late?

I really liked Green Snake. While the special affects are not 'high quality' the film manages to get its point across quite well, and the scenes where White and Green were 'slithering' bonelessly around the house as 'snakes' were both creepy and well-done!

Warning: Because of sexual scenes and overtones I would recommend this movie for mature audiences only.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very beautiful atmospheric piece
Review: I absolutely loved this DVD. You have to fiddle a bit with the color on your TV, and sharpness etc, but once you get that down, the film is simply gorgeous. I just wished it was released in a standard format, the widescreen is so tiny. The gu cheng (chinese guitar) melody that is played during certain scenes is very evocative of the particular sequence. But, the main thing about this film are the 4 main actors, the lovely Joey Wang, Maggie Cheung, the lead actor (don't know his name), and the actor playing the monk (Zhao Wen (?). They are all very attractive and as noted in the previous review, given great depth. The colors for the costuming are very imaginative and the scenes where the two women, robed in all their swirling gorgoeus costumes as they are flying through the air, and they strike various miens (poses) are unforettable in their beauty. Althought I love the movie for the plot, the characterizations, the music, the costuming, the ability to choose a mandarin (will use a poetic rhyme tone in certain sequences! that the cantonese version will not) or cantonese soundtrack, on a very shallow level, I loved it mainly because the two male leads and the two female leads are so beautiful to look at.


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