Date: 31 December 2011
Time: 9:30 pm
Location: GV Tiong Bahru
Kaki: SamY
Rating: 3 stars
Language: Chinese
Synopsis:
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate picks up three years after the infamous Dragon Inn was burnt down in the desert when its innkeeper JADE vanished. A new gang of marauders had taken over: innkeepers by day, and treasure hunters by night. The inn is the rumored location of a lost city buried under the desert, and its hidden treasure would only be revealed by a gigantic storm every sixty years. The gang used the inn as a front to locate the lost treasure. The storm is arriving. But the situation becomes more complicated when a pregnant concubine who escaped from the palace came to the inn. The concubine was saved by a mysterious woman WEN, and the two fled to the Dragon Inn in hiding. Hot on their trail were the Imperial Assassins led by the powerful eunuch YU, followed by the righteous general ZHAO who was determined to take down Yu to restore order in the palace. As the gigantic storm loomed in the horizon, ready to wipe out everything in sight, the cat-and-mouse game inside Dragon Inn grew fiercer. Everyone was trapped, and there's nowhere to go. Fortune, love and vengeance, could very well be gone with the wind
Improved Synopsis:
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate picks up three years after the infamous Dragon Inn was burnt down in the desert and its innkeeper Lim Yan Qiu vanished. A new gang of marauders have since taken over: innkeepers by day, and treasure hunters by night. Chasing a wisp of a rumour that the inn is the rumored location of a lost city buried under the desert, and its hidden treasure would only be revealed by a gigantic storm every sixty years.
After all that waiting, the storm is finally arriving. But the situation becomes complicated when a pregnant concubine, Jun Xuang Yu, who has escaped from the palace. The concubine was saved by a mysterious woman during an earlier encounter where she was almost caught by the imperial guards, and the two had fled to the Dragon Inn to seek refuge. Hot on their trail are the Imperial Assassins led by the powerful eunuch Yu Hua Tian. They are closely followed by the righteous Zhao Huai An, who is determined to take down Yu Hua Tuan to restore order in the palace and in China.
As the gigantic storm looms in the horizon, ready to wipe out everything in sight, the cat-and-mouse game inside Dragon Inn grows fiercer as subterfuges grows within the different groups and even within the group. Everyone is trapped and there's nowhere to go. Fortune, greed, love and vengeance, will all be swept into the open when the howling winds of the storm blows down on them and there's no where to hide.
Review:
I watched it in 2D if you were wondering, as I have more or less given up on all 3D shows... as the 3D is never quite worth the discomfort of the specs and trying to re-orientate and constantly refocus on the visuals, instead of enjoying the show for the acting, the plot and the movie's many nuances...
Okay, bad synopsis aside, the show has some pluses and minuses...
Plus points
I actually quite liked the majesty and beauty of the show, as with most Tsui Hark shows, there's sufficient grandeur and beauty in the composition, costuming and make up to wow me... the plot was actually not that bad, the twist at the end involving Mavis Fan, the concubine Jin Xiang Yu was pretty cool.
In particular, a few characters in the shows stood out (in order of how deep an impression was made):
1. Chen Kun: Probably made to test his acting chops by taking on a dual character of both the Eunuch (Yu Hua Tian) and the role of the street-spy, a man who sells information (Feng Li Dao). In particular, his role as the eunuch was well conveyed, he was sufficiently "艳“ enough and effeminate without over-doing it. His role as Feng Li Dao was a bit more forgettable... Oh, and he definitely looks better fairer, even though we all know it's the power of make up and it's not like I am expecting him to go bleach himself...
2. Kwai Lun Mei - first saw her in the movie "secrets", where she acted opposite Jay Chou... and she continues to impress in her role as the princess... a tad overdone at times, but I can overlook that given that she's still young and will continue to hone her acting chops. Mostly impressive throughout the show...
The fighting scenes were good, as to be expected with actors the calibre of Jet Li and Louis Fan (yes, that bad guy from Ip Man)... probably... I would have preferred if they had used less CG and instead, focused more on the actual skills...
Minus Points
I am sure you know that the minus points are going to be much longer than the plus points, since the movie had only received a 3 star rating. Well, first off, I was disappointed with the character or acting from the top billed leads, Zhou Xun and Jet Li. For all that there were fighting scenes, I actually think there wouldn't have been much difference if they had replaced Jet Li with some other actor. There was so much CG that there wasn't much of a focus on the actual "skills" that's required. It's the same as all the other pseudo fighting shows by those pretty boys who can't fight, use stunt doubles, add in a lot of CG, and just pose at the end of the fighting scenes... the CG/3D effects has spoiled the show.
And Zhou Xun's character is just too... over. She's like asking to die for Jet Li... so that she can forever be in his memories... she asks for nothing but to die for the man she loves.. I cannot tolerate such females and so, cannot tolerate her character.
Finally, that stupid stupid fighting in the eye of the cyclone... and Jet Li challenging Chen Kun... follow me if you dare... seriously, that has got to be stupidest addition, in the name of them wanting to add in CG, I am sure. I mean, Chen Kun, moved to become a top eunuch, controlling the entire West Chambers (aka, the internal security force with mandate from the emperor to do anything), can't be stupid. Sure, he has really good martial arts skills.. but which stupid idiot would take up a challenge to fight in the eye of the cyclone? I mean, if he had just let stupid Jet Li ride off into the eye and not take him up on the challenge, Jet Li would have just died inside. Wouldn't that achieve the same end without even needing to lift a finger? For that stupid portion, I reduced my rating by half a star, resulting in 3-star.
I hate to say this, but I wouldn't really be recommending this show, even though I have loved all the previous movies that has Tsui Hark and Jet Li... I would wait patiently for cable to show it or perhaps to rent it. I wouldn't waste too much money on it unless you are a huge fan of swordfighting shows.. :( And I was so looking forward to this pair coming together again... Sigh...
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