The Mermaid AKA Mei res yu 3D Blu-ray (2016) [Region Locked]

[nycomet]

I finally got a chance to view The Mermaid 3D. What caught me off guard is how extremely hilarious this movie is. Comedy and slapstick situations permeate the entire presentation, overpowering the core message about environmental concerns, and the health of planet Earth and the creatures who live on it.

Here is a blurb of the storyline:

Liu Xuan (a trillionaire business tycoon) develops a project involving the reclamation of the sea which threatens the livelihood of a clan of mermaids who rely on the ocean to survive. Shan (a cute and innocent mermaid) is dispatched to stop Xuan and they quickly fall in love with each other. Out of his love for Shan, Xuan is convinced to stop the reclamation. Unfortunately, Shan and the other mermaids are hunted by a secret organization (led by Xuan's sexy business partner Ruolan), and Xuan has to save Shan before it's too late.

The quality of the 3D presentation is superb. I enjoyed the layering and depth very, very much on my big screen. There are a satisfying number of pop outs throughout the movie, some subtle and many in-your-face. Colors are rich in many scenes, and the mermaids are very appealing to look at. Special effects look very good most of the time, but there are a few somewhat weak CGI moments. The Cantonese 5.1 surround sound mix is very immersive.

I found the end of the movie somewhat predictable, and I generally paid little to no attention to the environmental message that was buried deep beneath the hilarious antics and action scenes of the primary storyline. I was more enthralled by the over-the-top comedy and silliness of The Mermaid. I found myself laughing wildly numerous times to the point that my ribs hurt! Character development for Xuan and Shan is handled very well, and for a few other characters too (especially the giant octopus man, the queen mother of the mermaid clan and Ruolan, Zuan's intensely driven sexy business partner). Famed director Tsui Hark makes a cameo appearance.

I've read how some viewers were unable to get into The Mermaid. I can understand that, but for me, I was captivated from the very first scene all the way to the end. I will definitely watch The Mermaid 3D many times to come. I can only imagine that in 2D, The Mermaid would be much less appealing. Of course, I will never find out.

3D quality = 4 out of 5
(I purchased my copy from YesAsia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSgtN7Z6NjI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85Qfwwlo4bw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onitbv3N9Ro

[Biss Skyler Bluray]

Originally Posted by nycomet

I finally got a chance to view The Mermaid 3D. What caught me off guard is how extremely hilarious this movie is. Comedy and slapstick situations permeate the entire presentation, overpowering the core message about environmental concerns, and the health of planet Earth and the creatures who live on it.

Here is a blurb of the storyline:


The quality of the 3D presentation is superb. I enjoyed the layering and depth very, very much on my big screen. There are a satisfying number of pop outs throughout the movie, some subtle and many in-your-face. Colors are rich in many scenes, and the mermaids are very appealing to look at. Special effects look very good most of the time, but there are a few somewhat weak CGI moments. The Cantonese 5.1 surround sound mix is very immersive.

I found the end of the movie somewhat predictable, and I generally paid little to no attention to the environmental message that was buried deep beneath the hilarious antics and action scenes of the primary storyline. I was more enthralled by the over-the-top comedy and silliness of The Mermaid. I found myself laughing wildly numerous times to the point that my ribs hurt! Character development for Xuan and Shan is handled very well, and for a few other characters too (especially the giant octopus man, the queen mother of the mermaid clan and Ruolan, Zuan's intensely driven sexy business partner). Famed director Tsui Hark makes a cameo appearance.

I've read how some viewers were unable to get into The Mermaid. I can understand that, but for me, I was captivated from the very first scene all the way to the end. I will definitely watch The Mermaid 3D many times to come. I can only imagine that in 2D, The Mermaid would be much less appealing. Of course, I will never find out.

3D quality = 4 out of 5
(I purchased my copy from YesAsia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSgtN7Z6NjI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85Qfwwlo4bw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onitbv3N9Ro

the original language spoken for this movie was mandarin

[nycomet]

Originally Posted by Biss Skyler Bluray

the original language spoken for this movie was mandarin

I have to check the 3D BD menu again to see which language option I selected.

[Biss Skyler Bluray]

Originally Posted by nycomet

I have to check the 3D BD menu again to see which language option I selected.

by default it's set to Cantonese, when you to go to setup, it's set to Cantonese audio, not mandarin audio which is the original language the actors spoken in.

[Movieman66]

Originally Posted by Biss Skyler Bluray

by default it's set to Cantonese, when you to go to setup, it's set to Cantonese audio, not mandarin audio which is the original language the actors spoken in.

It must be the Version of the Blu-ray that nycomet purchased, which I did check and it was the version that was released in Hong Kong. Since the 3D Blu was released in Hong Kong, Cantonese was the default language. If he had gotten the Taiwan release, the default language would have been Mandarin.

I guess the default language for the Blu-ray was the language that the majority of the people in that area speaks, if that makes sense to you.

By the way, there is no Cantonese language option on the Taiwan disc.

[Zivouhr]

Helpful 3D review, NYComet, thanks!

[nycomet]

Originally Posted by Biss Skyler Bluray

the original language spoken for this movie was mandarin

Originally Posted by nycomet

I have to check the 3D BD menu again to see which language option I selected.

Yep. I have the Hong Kong version which defaults to Cantonese. Last night I watched The Mermaid 3D again, but this time in Mandarin.

[dhvsfan]

Originally Posted by nycomet

Yep. I have the Hong Kong version which defaults to Cantonese. Last night I watched The Mermaid 3D again, but this time in Mandarin.

Does it have an English Sound track ? I don't understand either Cantonese or Mandarin.

[BleedOrange11]

99% of Hong Kong Blu-rays have English subtitles, but usually not dubs, which are awful anyway.

[nycomet]

Originally Posted by dhvsfan

Does it have an English Sound track ? I don't understand either Cantonese or Mandarin.

No English audio track. But there is an option for English subtitles. It's easy to get used to reading subtitles while viewing the movie.

Here is a link to read Martin Liebman's review of the 2D USA release. I recommend the Hong Kong 3D blu-ray because it's region A for those who do not have a region free 3D BD player. YesAsia ships very fast to the USA.

If you are uncertain about The Mermaid, check out some of the videos on YouTube.

[dhvsfan]

Originally Posted by nycomet

No English audio track. But there is an option for English subtitles. It's easy to get used to reading subtitles while viewing the movie.

WAF = 0 So its a no go.

No matter how good the 3D is.