夜宴 - The Banquet - Legend Of The Black Scorpion

夜宴 (The Banquet/ Legend Of The Black Scorpion/Ye Yan) is an 2006 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Zhang Ziyi, Ge You, Daniel Wu and Zhou Xun. Well known Feng Xiaogang directed.

A cross between Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Tarantino’s Kill Bill, scheming royals and other officials attempt to consolidate power in a empire in chaos. Packed with deadly plots, sweeping camerawork, and elaborate fight choreography. (Amazon.com)

I watched this movie around 2007 or so. I really can't remember this movie well. I was only reminded of this film recently after seeing it re-titled as "Legend Of The Black Scorpion" for the USA market. When the film was released, Feng Xiaogang was just starting to make a name for himself. This film was a springboard to his next film and commercial hit, The Assembly (集結號). The four main stars were already established, while Huang Xiaoming's supporting role was short.

I remember the film being a bit of let down in terms of the story, as it was quite too complicated and over the top. The action however was quite awesome and balletic. If you're a wuxia fan and can get over the story, the action scenes are pretty spectacular.

The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate - 龍門飛甲

The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (龍門飛甲) is an 2011 film out of Zhong Guo and Hong Kong. The movie stars Jet Li and Zhou Xun. The supporting cast include Chen Kun, Li Yuchun, Kwai Lun-mei, Louis Fan, and Mavis Fan. The movie is the "sequel" to the 1992 film New Dragon Gate Inn staring Tony Leung Ka-fai, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, and Donnie Yen. The movie is one of the first wuxia films in 3D.

Jet Li plays Zhou, the rebel that is causing trouble for the Ming Dynasty in the desert regions. Zhou Xun plays Ling, a wanderer in search of Zhou. The government is on the hunt for a boy and Ling saves him and leads them to the location of the Dragon Inn. The Ming soliders get there and the desert holigans are also there. All wanting a piece of the action. Zhou and Ling also make it there to bring some spice to the party.

The movie is a sequel to the 1992 version as Jet Li plays the main guy. The eunuch is now replaced by a version by Chen Kun. The movie is pretty slick in its effects and it's got a very complicated story, like the 1992 version. The two versions can and should not be compared. Why should you compare them? Tsui Hark is the reason. Why should you not. The movies are roughly 20 years apart and mainly a Zhong Guo production. You just don't have that HK silver era feel in this movie. The effects are different and the story is quite different.

I liked the movie for its bigger is better attitude. I like the fighting too. Very slick. The story on the other hand was weak and hard to follow. I think from an international level, the story is too convoluted to follow. However, a must watch for wuxia fans. A must watch for Jet Li fans.

射鵰英雄傳 - Legend of the Condor Heroes - Broadcasting

Starting Monday, March 8th, CTS will be broadcasting 射鵰英雄傳 (Legend of the Condor Heroes 2003).

This version is still my favorite version of the 4 out. Li Ya Peng's turn as Guo Jing was spot on for me. Zhou Xun is serviceable as Huang Rong. But it was the drama as a whole that keeps me liking it years after. I'll have to put it on again someday.

Unfortunately, I have the VCD version. Imagine having to change the disc for every episode. I'll have to pick up the Taiwan version one of these days.

風聲 - The Message

風聲 (The Message) is a 2009 film out of China. The person behind the film is Taiwanese film-maker, Chen Kuo-Fu. The film stars Zhou Xun, Li Bing Bing, Zhang Hanyu, Huang Xiao Ming, Alec Su, Wang Zhi Wen, and Ying Da. The film is based in 1942 Nanjing during the Japanese occupation.



After the fall of the nationalist Chinese capital of Nanjing during the Nanjing Massacre, the Japanese have set up a puppet regime. But an underground resistance movement has been established and they have successfully assassinated many high level Japanese officers. The puppet government works in conjunction with the Japanese find that there may be a mole in their ranks. They than set out on a spy hunt. With a fake message sent and seen by only 5 people, these 5 are brought to a secluded castle where they are interrogated. One by one, they are subject to psychological games. Will any of these 5 survive? Will they turn on each other? What horrific methods will the captors be subjugated to?



The movie has a pretty star studded cast. Huang Xiao Ming plays the Japanese interrogator out to find the spy. Zhou Xun, Li Bing Bing, Zhang Hanyu, and Alec Su play the captors. Their job is the survive and get out alive. When put in that situation, how will you react?



I've been a big Alec Su and Li Bing Bing fan for many years now. From Alec Su's post military service days to Li Bing Bing's turn in wuxia dramas. I haven't seen much of Alec these last few years. Li Bing Bing has transitioned from a wuxia lady to leading lady. Although both have matured with age, they are still both very good.

Zhang Hanyu is starting to grow on me. Zhang has quietly established himself as one of the top tier actors of China.



I liked the movie for the most part. There are quite a few subplots that you won't see in the movie summaries that give the storyline added complexity and meaning.



The Message has done well at the box office in China and Taiwan so far. I don't think it'll make it here to the states other than in film festivals and eventually DVD. I bought an imported China version from a local DVD place for $10.

There are lots and lots of promo and press junkets for this movie. I've included some of the ones that I enjoyed.

The Equation of Love and Death - 李米的猜想

The Equation of Love and Death (李米的猜想) is a 2008 film out of China. The film stars Zhou Xun, Zhang Han Yu, Deng Chao, and Wang Bao Qiang.

Zhou Xun is a taxi driver named Li Mi in Kunming. Li Mi drives people around asking them if they've seen her boyfriend. Who disappeared from her life four years ago. But during these four years, Li Mi's boyfriend has periodically sent her letters. These letters tell of what he's up to and professes his love to Li Mi. Even though he is not around.

Things turn strange when a couple drug smugglers enter the picture. In a bizarre chain of events, Li Mi finds the answer to why her boyfriend has gone missing.

The English title is weird to say the least in relation to the Chinese title and to the story of the film. The title in my translation, means, "Li Mi's Suspicion". Which is only apparent 75% into the film. There is love and death and the movie starts with Li Mi rambling numbers off in hops that there is a pattern.

In any case, I enjoyed the movie, even though it was a tough watch. I really enjoyed the dialects and the urban city.

Stolen Life - 生死劫

Stolen Life (生死劫) is a 2005 film out of China starring Zhou Xun.

The is about a Yanni (Zhou Xun) who leaves for college. Once there, she experiences a sense of freedom she has never had. Yanni comes from a broken home where her mother left her in the care of her aunt and grandmother. Growing up in a home with no love. But her parents allow her to goto college when she is accepted. It is there that she meets Mu-yu, a delivery boy. In a strange turn of events, Yanni ditches college to shack up with Mu-yu where they eventually have a baby. Things get worst from there, Mu-yu sells the baby and dumps Yanni.

If that were to happen to you? You might call it a Stolen Life. With a bright future ahead of her. If she was successful in college, Yanni throws it all away for a low life scum Mu-yu. Whom Yanni finds out later, is doing it to other women.

I wasn't sure how I felt after watching this. Mainly because I thought the path that Yanni took was much too unbelievable. But regardless, the signs of Mu-yu being a bad influence were pretty evident. Yet, Yanni still stuck around.

Since I have two daughters, I hope they never meet a guy like Mu Yu.

Painted Skin - 畫皮

Painted Skin (畫皮) is a 2008 film out of Hong Kong. The film stars Donnie Yen, Zhou Xun, Aloys Chen, and Zhao Wei. The story is based on a ghost story from Strange Tales of Liaozhai.

The story is based on a several love triangles. With the center wrapped around Wang and Pei, a married couple. Wei, a fox demon spirit, needs human hearts to stay in her painted skin. Without the painted skin, humans will see her true form.

Wei is rescued by Wang one day and brought back to his house to be a servant. Pei immediately feels something is strange about Wei. Pei tells Wang, but without proof, Pei feels unheard. Pei seeks out Pang, a friend and former suitor for help.

The fun begins when Pang starts investigating Wei.

There is a certain level of Chinese mythos that need to be understood for the movie to be fully realized. If you're not familiar with Chinese mythos, some things are not spelled out for you.

I was rather impressed with this film and thought it to be a drastic departure from recent Donnie Yen films. However, this was a Donnie Yen film per se. Donnie just isn't the almighty fighter in this film that you would expect.

All About Women - 女人不壞

All About Women (女人不壞) is a 2008 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Zhou Xun, Kitty Zhang, and Kwai Lun-mei as the female leads. Eddie Peng, Stephen Fung, and Godfrey Kao show up as the supporting male cast.

The movie follows the lives of 3 women who are all very different in personality and demeanor. In a strange twist of happenstance, all 3 get linked together mid way through the film.

All the people in this film are eye candy. Even in glasses and a bowl cut, Zhou Xun doesn't come across as disgusting or ugly as the film suggest.

It does expose us a little to the Beijing Rock and Roll scene and that there are mega-corporations left and right in China.

I didn't like the movie much and fast forward through 25% of it. Didn't skip a beat with the fast forwarding as the story was uniquely predictable.

The cast only includes a couple of HK stars, but is a HK film. Funny. Watch it for the pretty people, Beijing, and production value.

Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress - 巴爾札克與小裁縫

Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress (巴爾札克與小裁縫) is 2002 film starring Zhou Xun, Aloys Chen, and Liu Ye.

The movie is about 2 teenage boys sent to the countryside for re-education during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Set in the Sichuan hills that gets flooded in present times via the Three Gorges Dam.

I am not sure how I came to watch this movie as it doesn't show up in my Netflix history. But I could have rented it from Blockbuster.

In any case, I was a little bored while watching the movie. I can see how the the repression and eventual escape of the three main protagonist can stir people up.

I don't believe this movie was ever released in China, but it did make the Film Festival circuits back in 2003 and 2004.