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Reviews
Shuang Qi Zhen dao ke (1991)
Initially bleak, then engaging
Spoiler warning - the last paragraph of this review more or less tells you the denouement of the movie. I do not think that so surprising but you may not wish to read it. I have seen this movie two or three times with no loss of satisfaction for knowing its end, and I give no detail at all.
Note that some of the character names I use are different from those of other reviewers, a function of different sub-titling or my own ignorance of the original language.
Spending much of its time as a spare, bleak story about struggles for survival this movie turns out to be marvellously rewarding. The basic warrior-emerging story is set in a poor, dry stone town in a desert dominated by by the killer "One-blow", so known because he kills at the first strike and is deemed invincible. One-blow and his followers exploit the local town for food, drink and apparently for women while acting mercilessly toward those who cross them.
Into this scenario comes the young slightly built Haige, wearing two swords by his side and a great reluctance to use them. This reluctance does not seem to arise out of noble sentiments (although he is certainly a good if naive man) but rather that he lacks self-knowledge or a sound ability to judge other people. Evidently, he has never used his swords in anger. Early, he encounters the reputation of One-blow and in person another apparently strong swordsman, Sandman.
Only gradually does the character and background of Haige emerge, it becoming clear that his father was a great swordsman but a gambler. It is soon apparent that Haige may have the better character than his father but how good was his teacher and how well has he learned?
The views of his intended woman and her father gradually change. After first treating him like dirt they see glimpses of his potential. There are also passages of youthful freedom and delight in the desert scenes with horses.
Even the brutal One-blow is given a touch of human frailty when he wonders about the potential of the unknown swordsman. It is the gradual change in people's views, sometimes based on sharp events, that help to give the movie its interest.
While the tension and resolution of the necessary confrontation are classically good, if somewhat brutal in the build-up, it is the way in which Haige finally handles Sandman that shows his new maturity, his coming-of-age as a man as well as a swordsman.
Tu fu (1984)
Odd, interesting
Despite the title and apparent lead character, it seems to me the most important person in this movie is the female lead, and only from that perspective did I come to understand it. The movie is one of those classical China-desert movies with endless sands and hills, rocky settlements in places where you wonder how they survive. "Swordsman of Double Flag Town" is another with very similar settings. although I thought that a much better movie.
The title character here, Butcher, is basically a good bloke on the run, fastest sword in the west and all that but with the usual heart of gold. Crucially, he sees no path but his one of violent justice and necessary self-defence. In this he is contrasted heavily with the cowardly yet violent tavern-owner Gui. It is Gui's wife, "Pomegranate", who shows development and change.
There is the occasional flash of humour to stop the desert from drying out your interest completely. One of the best is where Butcher has just defeated two foes who take time out for a brief and hilarious conversation with one another before keeling over.
The ending will not satisfy everyone but, like I said, you have to reconsider it from her point of view. Over all the movie left me with only average satisfaction hence the rating. I am not disappointed to have watched it but would not put it on my list to see again.
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Script fails the concept
I found it difficult to identify or sympathise with any of the characters in this movie, coming closest to one of the cats, and that no doubt colours this review. However, I (and my wife) found that the script simply lacked humour, using contrivance to make any progress (the ice scene is pure klutz) while potential resolutions or critical events were chopped or ignored as if the audience were expected to have its collective brain in neutral. Of the main characters not even the mostly comatose Peter seemed plausible in his role. Even the "other woman" was eventually rendered silly and pointless by the scriptwriter despite a promising start and enthusiastic approach by Ally Walker.
Perhaps Julia Roberts should have taken this role and brought her scriptwriter with her. Her lightest comedies such as Runaway Bride are still better than this. I would not see this movie again nor recommend it but then, it will probably do you no great harm to see it for yourself when at least you can make up your own mind. It had a chance to work and it is a pity the execution failed.