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Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain

Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Utterly insane!
Review: A friend of mine watched this with me and said, "This is one of those 'this is so cool I'm afraid to blink' movies. He was right -- there isn't a second of this film that isn't crammed with something mind-blowing. Swordfights. Monsters. Magic spells. Volcanoes. Evil curses. Gods. Demons. You name it.

A synopsis is almost impossible; suffice to say it's a Chinese martial-arts fantasy with gobs of magic, Samo Hung in multiple roles, wire stuns galore, special effects that look like they were painted straight onto the negative, and more fun per square inch than any six Hollywood blockbusters. It's not designed to make sense; it's designed to be over the top. If you thought "Crouching Tiger..." was wild, you may blow a synapse or three over this movie.

This is actually not the full version of the film, but the edits are not problematic. Originally the film contained an even more bizarre "wrap-around" story that took a cue directly from, get this, "The Wizard of Oz." Yes.

Rating: 5 stars
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: 4 stars
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: 5 stars
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: 1 stars
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: 3 stars
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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Universe version is widely available, so the person selling
Review: ...

As for the film itself, it's a Hong Kong classic! The first to employ sfx.

Yuen Biao and Mang Hoi are particularly appealing as a young warrior and young monk, respectively. Damian Lau has some very funny scenes in dealing with Brigitte Lin's character's followers. All in all, a fun film!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A CLASSIC, BUT NOT FOR EVERYONE
Review: As a soldier escaping from a battle involving several different factions, Yuen Biao becomes the student/follower of a mystical swordsman who is fighting an evil demon. While obviously a movie that's a little out of date, it's still a lot of fun, although it's more of a fantasy epic like the "Chinese Ghost Story" films rather than "Dragon Inn" or "Iron Monkey." Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung (with very long eye brows), Adam Cheung, and early appearances by Moon Lee and Bridgette Lin among others. And however old fashioned this movie might be, it's still fun to watch, even if the plot is a jumbled mess.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Visually innovative
Review: Does it have a disjointed plot? Yep. Poor continuity? You bet. Incomprehensible ending? Sure. Cheesy effects? Yes again, by modern standards, anyway. Is it a massively cool film? Hell, yes!

Do not watch this movie expecting deeply moving themes, great acting, high art, or really just about anything you'd normally watch a movie for. If you do, you'll be disappointed. This is not a normal movie. Watching Zu is really more of a life Experience. Think of yourself as Winne-the-Pooh Watching Surreal Fantasy Images.

This film achieves a level of fantastic strangeness rarely equaled in live-action cinema. Where else will you see a man imprisoning an evil demon using his eyebrows, or a man chained to rocks being sucked into the mouth of hell? No, none of it makes much sense, but just go with it, and you won't regret it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Utterly insane!
Review: A friend of mine watched this with me and said, "This is one of those 'this is so cool I'm afraid to blink' movies. He was right -- there isn't a second of this film that isn't crammed with something mind-blowing. Swordfights. Monsters. Magic spells. Volcanoes. Evil curses. Gods. Demons. You name it.

A synopsis is almost impossible; suffice to say it's a Chinese martial-arts fantasy with gobs of magic, Samo Hung in multiple roles, wire stuns galore, special effects that look like they were painted straight onto the negative, and more fun per square inch than any six Hollywood blockbusters. It's not designed to make sense; it's designed to be over the top. If you thought "Crouching Tiger..." was wild, you may blow a synapse or three over this movie.

This is actually not the full version of the film, but the edits are not problematic. Originally the film contained an even more bizarre "wrap-around" story that took a cue directly from, get this, "The Wizard of Oz." Yes.


<< 1 2 >>

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