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Swordsman II

Swordsman II

List Price: $29.95
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: This has been one of the best movies I've ever seen. The music is effectively choreographed to convey the melancholy mood and modified to express anxiety in different situations.

But my number one reason for liking this movie is because of Asia the Invincible. Lin Ching Hsia does a great job portraying the character. With a glance or a stare, she portrays power and confidence. And with a flick of her wrist, she can bring death with just needles. Where else can you find a character with such power and skills ?!?!

If you haven't seen the first part, you might be a little confused. But this movie is great for its content only too...great music and great actors !!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Battle of the Super Powers, Kung Fu Style
Review: Imagine five of the most powerful super beings you have ever seen in a steel cage death match. Those are the henchmen and sidekicks of the killing machines in this movie!

Ling (Jet Li) and his brothers (and sister Kiddo) are heading off to give up the life of fighting. They meet up with their friend Ying only to find trouble brewing. Throw in a few fights, Ling meeting a mysterious stranger, the rescue of Master Wu (watch for the Essence Absorbing Stance) and you are set up for some serious fun! Good meets up with evil, lead by Brigitte Lin who plays Invicible Asia (or Invicible Dawn in some translations).

The fight sequences are incredible. There is a lot of wirework, but remember these people are larger than life. It doesn't get in the way! The swordplay done by Jet Li is absolutely stunning. Some of it is effects, but the look is so cool, you will wish it was real. This is what Jedi knights should have been!

The plot, on the other hand, is a bit complicated and confusing. Plan on watching this one a few times.

The video is pretty good, the sound is kinda funny. It seemed like a lot of the dialogue was coming out of my sub.

WATCH IT NOW!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of Jet Li's BEST!!!
Review: In my opinion, this is one of Jet Li's best movies. He does share the spotlight with other actresses, but his fighting skills are excellent throughout. I'm a big fan of the "fly in the air, walk on water" special effects of the newer Chinese movies, and this one does not disappoint! Great special effects and choreographed fight scenes make this a MUST BUY in my library!!! Other great movies I like that star Jet Li are: New Legend Of Shaolin and Fist Of Legend (original chinese version w/subtitles), and my ALL-TIME favorite - Kungfu Cult Master (or as it is listed in the released "American version" - Kungfu "Colt" Master.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great depiction of Jiang Hu
Review: Jiang Hu (rivers and lakes, which refers to the world in which martial warriors live) is a dream to us Chinese just as the Knights stories to the Europeans, the Samurai stories to the Japanese. From the ancient time to the morden days, this dream has never faded. Numberless fictions and movies have been produced on the depiction of Jiang Hu. But the true sense of Jiang Hu in many Chinese's minds is hard to reach. A lot of movies ended up ridicules. To me, swordsman II is by far one of the few films that are close to the imagination of Jiang Hu. The movie is adapted from the fiction "Xiao Ao Jiang Hu" by the most popular Wuxia story writer Jin Yong (Louis Chan). Though the screenplay is way different from the original work, the sense of Jiang Hu is presented poetically.

The movie tells that after being sold out by their master, the hero Linghu Chong, together with his juniors, set to retire from Jiang Hu to lead a peaceful reclusive life. But on the verge of leaving, he met Ren Yingying, the daughter of the former leader Ren Woxing of a secret sect. The sworn brother of Ren Woxing, Dong Fang Bu Bai (the invincible), secretly imprisoned the leader and usurped. Ren Yingying, who has been loving Linghu Chong, tried to find out his father. Ling Huchong, facing the situation, decided to help Ren Yingying first before retiring. The invincible practised a secret form of martial art and transsexed. He (she) fell in love with Linghu Chong accidentally. After Linghu Chong rescured the former leader, the invincible pursued. As Linghu Chong was away, the invincible massacred almost all his juniors. Linghu Chong, with deep sorrow, joined Ren Woxing in attacking the invincible to revenge for his juniors. By the time they came to the invincible, Linghu Chong found out the invincible was the one that he fell into love with. While the invincible found out Linghu Chong came to attack him (her), he (she) fell into deep despair and resentment. In a mixed sentiment towards Linghu Chong, the invincible was defeated before he could rise up against the emperor. When Ren Woxing restored the control of the sect, he started to purge the men he distrusted from the sect. Linghu Chong, informed by Ren Yingying that her father was to kill him too, had to leave. Reng Yingying, because of being loyal to the sect, was unable to follow Linghu Chong. She could only stand on the shore in desolation and watch grievously as the boat was sailing away.

The story tells so vividly about Jiang Hu world, in which men can not behave as they expect to. With spendid cinematography and graceful choreography, this movie is extremely compelling. After watching that, all the dreams about Jiang Hu rise with temptation and sighs.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not close to the best
Review: This movie had so much potential, with a great cast and promising story. Problem is the action was shot as if the person holding the camera was drunk. Quick cuts only work as long as the viewer has a frame of reference to know what is going on. This movie has no frame of reference shots. Jet Li and Brigitte Lin are two of the best, but this movie wastes them.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best of its era
Review: I watched this movie years ago and remembered it being one of the best Hong Kong fantasy/martial arts film. There were a bunch coming out around the same time, but this one stood out. It had the standard martial arts but the story line and the chemistry between the stars was what elevated this movie above the rest. Hong Kong fantasy/martial arts film tend to be incoherent to people because it tries to condense too massive of a story line into a 2 hour movie. Generally, these tales are filmed in a serial format for prime time television broadcasting. When watching this movie, don't try to understand all the detailed story line. You won't. The translation is atrocious. Just go with the flow of the film. Suspend your rational brain because a lot of the movie's actions are outrageous. Watch Swordman II like it's a period/fantasy epic instead of a Jackie Chan movie and you will enjoy it much more. You won't regret it. It's one of the best.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Awesome and highly original
Review: It is not necessary to watch the first "Swordsman" to understand this stunning sequel, which is far better than the fisrt "Swordsman." Starring kung-fu international star, Jet Li, Bridgette Lin ("Fire Dragon") and Rosamund Kwan ("Once Upon A Time In China" series) also light up the screen in this movie that has a very original plot. Costumes, cinematography, choreography of kung-fu sequences, sets, dialogue, and acting made "Swordsman II" a highly notable film, however it is not at the top of Jet Li's list. (At the top is "Tai Chi Master", "Fong Sai Yuk I & 2", and the "Once Upon In China" series.)

Jet Li again manages to bring passion to the screen with his impressive acting, and the wirework and kung-fu sequences in this film only manage to heighten his performance. Well done. - Priscilla

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not what you'd think
Review: So long as you go into this movie expecting a fantasy epic instead of a martial arts film, you'll do fine. While there are some pretty good fight scenes in this movie, it's more along the lines of the Chinese Ghost Story series than Dragon Inn or Iron Monkey. Just don't let that stop you from seeing it. This movie completely revitalized Bridgette Lin's flagging career and after watching it, you'll understand why. Lin is magnificent as the trans-gendered Asia, playing the role with a threatening and aristocratic gravity that's truly awesome and one of her best performances outside of Peking Opera Blues. Jet Li is always awesome to watch (although admittedly, he didn't get much oppurtunity to truly demonstrate his skills in this one). Still, his fluid grace and power come through as always. SII also has some truly great visual effects, and a seemingly unending stream of surprises. The weapons that are brought into play besides the usual swords and spears range from sewing needles to man-sized hooks as well as the vampire like "essence absorbing stance." Rosamund Kwan is lethal with a bull whip, attractive in a turban, and also (one of) Jet Li's romantic interests in the film, along with the delectable Michelle Reis; and whoever played Blue Phoenix was also more than a little attractive as well, despite her nasty habit of keeping snakes in her clothes and rustling up hordes of scorpions to swarm her opponents (she'd be your worst nightmare for a blind date). One of Tsui Harks and Hong Kong Cinema's best and definately one of my personal favorites.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What is the essence of love?
Review: I vividly remember watching this movie back in jr. high school. I absolutely fell in love with it back then because of awesome, i mean awesome sword-fighting scenes. If you thought the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was the best sword-fighting movie, then this one might change your mind. I think Crouching Tiger is more geared toward 'proper, reasonable' sword-fighting, where swordman is much more geared toward fantasy-like/fast action, yet it was very believable, meaning the whole thing was done in such a perfection.

If Crouching Tiger added the question/theme of finding one's self, discipline with the addition of romance and swordfighting, then Swordman's main theme, which becomes much more apparent toward the end, deals with the question of the essence of love. Of course, a Chinese action movie isn't complete without the breathtaking action and the essence of romance. But this movie does an excellent, excellent job on both department, especially in romance. It's not an ordinary love story and I don't want to give out the story here. But toward the end, Jet Li asks Brigitte Lin this one question: "Are you the one who stayed with me that night" It was very important for him to know the answer and he does that by saving Brigitte, holding onto this rope. However, Brigitte doesn't answer that question. and falls down again. And Jet Li, this time, throws that rope away to tell Brigitte something and Brigitte uses the last ounce of stregth to save him, still without answering his question. Why didn't she answer him, and why he didn't care about his life to tell her someting? why? Man, I'm telling you, Brigitte's last facial acting was just incredible, just incredible... This movie will be a much more meaningful experience if you ask yourself why Brigitte didn't answer his question, and why he threw away the rope of life he was holding onto to tell her something. This movie will throw this one question at you, "what is the essence of love" Pay close attention to their facial acting/change from the beginning of the last battle to Brigitte's unforgettable finale.

Like all the great Chinese movies do, this one will leave you with this sense of 'unexplicable feeling', feelings you get from dejavu, or good memory. By the way, the title should've been "Dong Bang Bul Pae", literal meaning is undefeated in Eastside/Asia. And to add one more, Brigitte Lin was much more popular than Jet Li back then, and she still is! (and I watched with korean subtitle, done a good job there. But they need to work on english subtitle, since they don't explain certain part in detail or certain things sound cheap and funny)

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Blech.
Review: I love Bridget Lin as much as the next person, but she was the only interesting thing in this movie. Fine, it was cute to see Jet Li boozing it up every other minute...I totally returned this DVD..the picture is not enhanced at all. While I thought the plot of Lin being a man turned woman was cute (We know how the HK films love to play with gender), the story was completely fantastical...the sword fighting wasn't that clear, absolutely no martial arts. And mostly unlikeable characters. I'm sure the only reason it made so much money in HK is that Bridget Lin was in it...her movies always make tons of money.


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