Wu Xia

[Dragon Lee]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

For Wu Xia, Cantonese was the "official" language at Cannes. It will also be the "official" language for the BD. On the mainland, the official language registered for the theatrical screenings was Mandarin.

I believe the same goes for Legend of the Fist. Im confused as to why its being released outside HK with Mandarin as original language...

[Sky_Captain]

Shipped from DDDHouse.

[Dan Average]

Originally Posted by Dragon Lee

I believe the same goes for Legend of the Fist. Im confused as to why its being released outside HK with Mandarin as original language...

The director said he prefers the Mandarin version because it's not "realistic" to have Shanghainese speaking Cantonese. IMO, hearing "realistic" used in the context of that movie sounds just a little bit incongruous to me, never mind that it's not exactly realistic to have everyone in Shanghai using more or less standard northern Mandarin.

[Adrock]

This film looks really interesting. I might have to give this a shot and order it up. I've always enjoyed Chan's other films.

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by Adrock

This film looks really interesting. I might have to give this a shot and order it up. I've always enjoyed Chan's other films.

I just watched the first 30 min on Youtube, without English subs, and I will be ordering this, I want to finish this film on blu-ray. Even without understanding what was being said, I could follow it very easily. It seems like it will be quite the ride of a film.

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by stobbart

I just watched the first 30 min on Youtube, without English subs, and I will be ordering this, I want to finish this film on blu-ray. Even without understanding what was being said, I could follow it very easily. It seems like it will be quite the ride of a film.

That's excellent! Thanks for sharing. Yeah, I think I will order it up in the next day or so. I'm thinking about ordering up a few other titles I have been looking at for quite some time along with this.

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by Adrock

That's excellent! Thanks for sharing. Yeah, I think I will order it up in the next day or so. I'm thinking about ordering up a few other titles I have been looking at for quite some time along with this.

Yeah, I was never really a Donnie Yen fan, I did not like either of the Ip Man films. But I recently watched Legend of the Fist, and really liked his choreography. With him now in charge of the action choreography for most of his upcoming films, I am now excited for those to come out. Which titles were you looking at getting also?

[Sagacious Koreo]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Yeah, I was never really a Donnie Yen fan, I did not like either of the Ip Man films. But I recently watched Legend of the Fist, and really liked his choreography. With him now in charge of the action choreography for most of his upcoming films, I am now excited for those to come out. Which titles were you looking at getting also?

Que?? Wow, you're the first person I ever heard not liking them in some way. If you haven't yet you should check out SPL and Flash Point too. Great examples of Donnie's work.

I'm excited about Donnie finally getting off of the period works and moving on to modern stuff. I miss seeing regular, modern-day Donnie.

[The Dragon]

Originally Posted by Sagacious Koreo

If you haven't yet you should check out SPL and Flash Point too. Great examples of Donnie's work.

Amen!!! Those are two great films of Donnie's!

[stobbart]

Yeah, Flash Point was one of the few films in my life that I could not finish. Turned it off about halfway through. I have maybe turned off about 5 or 6 films in my entire life and this was one of them.

As far as Ip Man goes, the fighting just seemed uninspired. Sure Donnie is fast and all but I never really felt that it was something I had not seen before. I did enjoy the fight at the fish market in the second one but that was about it.

To me they both felt like very weak stories centered around Donnie's abilities at fighting.

However, I feel that after watching films where he has been the action choreographer as well, Legend of the fist, The Lost Bladesman, and part of Wu Xia, he is able to cultivate what he feels his potential is instead of someone telling him how his fights should be.

Much like Jackie Chan found out early on that comedic fighting was what suited his screen persona. And Tony Jaa, I think dominates the "real" fighting techniques. I feel that Donnie Yen is really shining in films where he is doing his own choreography and he is able to do that by mixing stylized action with minimal wirework.

I feel that all the hype he was receiving was not really adding up to what he was delivering in his earlier films. Because everyone going to see a film of his is expecting the action to be unique and show us what we have not seen before. And frankly I do not think that the Ip Man films were delivering on that hype. But his current output, where he has control over it, I think he is finding his "action voice" and it is filling a void between the "real" action films that we have been getting ever since Bruce Lee films and the wirework films that have been prevalent this past decade.

If that makes any sense to anyone, that is my take on Donnie Yen.

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Yeah, I was never really a Donnie Yen fan, I did not like either of the Ip Man films. But I recently watched Legend of the Fist, and really liked his choreography. With him now in charge of the action choreography for most of his upcoming films, I am now excited for those to come out. Which titles were you looking at getting also?

Yeah, I remember you mentioning this some time ago in another thread. I really enjoyed both Ip Man films, but I do understand your point.

I was thinking about picking up a few. Most likely I'll pick up 'Exiled' which I have been meaning to get for quite some time. I was also thinking about 'Running Out of Time' and possibly 'Sparrow' as well.

Originally Posted by Sagacious Koreo

Que?? Wow, you're the first person I ever heard not liking them in some way. If you haven't yet you should check out SPL and Flash Point too. Great examples of Donnie's work.

I'm excited about Donnie finally getting off of the period works and moving on to modern stuff. I miss seeing regular, modern-day Donnie.

Same here. It will be nice to have him return to form in a way, and also that he is going so much choreography work! That is really exciting.

[kono]

Beautiful PQ and AQ.

The movie is the BEST kung fu movie I have seen since "Fearless Director Cut." Interesting plot, very well acted, the choreography is ALWAYS exciting and refreshing, cinematography is breathtaking. Highly Highly Recommended. I have watched this movie twice in the last two days. Donnie Yen's Choreography really set a whole new standard on this one. Must watch for all those who like SPL and in search of a new level of Choreography Art.

[Henge86]

My copy arrived this morn gotta go to work tho. Cant wait to watch it tonight :-)

[crystal_sun]

I thought the movie was okay...entertaining, but not the greatest Donnie Yen movie overall in my opinion. I would give it a 6.5/10 rating just because I enjoy Donnie's fighting.

What I like about the movie...

* fight scene of course...
* Donnie and Takeshi

What I don't like about the movie....

* the plot
* the ending
* the butcher (they could have used something different)
* the special effect of the internal organ (leave this special effect for today's era movie..not in this movie)
* somewhat slow

[The Dragon]

Will be watching sometime this week... Hopefully tomorrow!

[elite]

Just finished it and I really enjoyed the movie.

I would first have to say this is the best performance Donnie has ever given and that's not a backhanded compliment either, he was very good in the movie. The first half is paced exactly like what is going on in the movie, that being a detective mystery. I found that this helped the second half the movie however when it turned into a more full blown martial arts picture. Make no mistake though, this movie is drama/mystery first and martial arts second.

Visually the movie looks great but I expected no less from a Peter Chan film. The soundtrack is especially interesting as it doesn't sound like a typical period score but even though it was very different it still fitting what was happening on screen. Finally, despite there only being about 3 fight scenes in the movie, I would say this is some of Donnie's most inventive choreography since Flash Point.

All in all, this a very different take on the martial arts genre and its one of the best movies, let alone martial arts movies, to come out this year. Check it out!

[Dragon Lee]

wow! I think youve just convinced me to pick this one up!!! thx!!

[DooK]

Great film! It's up there with SPL and Ip Man imo.

http://www.filmsmash.com/blog/wu-xia...ie-review.html

[Sky_Captain]

Arrived today, I dig that the slip and sleeve have different artwork.

Shall be dipping in quite soon.

[chantm]

Very nice!