Guest teako170 Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Finally got around to watching this stellar cast of Shaw ladies doing what they do best - kick butt Ivy Ling Po was great as the leader of the pack and she pulled it off so well, I didn't even care that this was normally the role a male actor would play. She handled the character as good as any male would have. Lily Ho's character could have been a nuisance but again, she handled it very well. My only problem is why did the subs keep referring her as a "he?" I can understand a typo but they emphasized that she was a boy/son several times and I don't get it. Its not like she was masquerading as a boy and others were confused about her sexuality (i.e.: Fu Sheng/ Tien Niu in Brave Archer). Li Ching... what can I say? I looked for her in every scene. What a sumptuous set of lips and one of my favorite Shaw ladies. And she was kicking some major bootie in this film. My kind of woman! Bolo, oh poor Bolo. I've said it before and I'll say it again but can Bolo get some respect? Let him win a fight already. Every time I see this poor guy, he might get the upper hand early but then ends up getting pummeled by the end of the film. I do have to give this movie respect for one of the craziest stunts I've seen - in any film. That human bridge thing was quite surreal. Me? I would've just walked around that gorge until I found a new bridge (the wooden kind). My only (major) gripe is the awkward editing of this film. The other week I watched the French film "Breathless." That film used jarring edits throughout the film but that's what the director had intended as it was part of this avant-garde, new-wave cinema that popped up in the late 50s/early 60s. In 14 Amazons, it just looked sloppy. Overall, I highly enjoyed this film and it'll definitely get put on the list of films to rewatch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 My only problem is why did the subs keep referring her as a "he?" I can understand a typo but they emphasized that she was a boy/son several times and I don't get it. Its not like she was masquerading as a boy and others were confused about her sexuality (i.e.: Fu Sheng/ Tien Niu in Brave Archer). Er, she WAS playing a teenage boy. A ridiculous bit of Peter Pan miscasting IMO. Apart from that it was a great film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Linn1 Posted January 29, 2007 Member Share Posted January 29, 2007 My only (major) gripe is the awkward editing of this film. it came from all the cuts in the print the HK disc used. There was quite a bit cut from this release in HK. The French release added more in according to a review of the DVD, but there was some blood left out that was in the international cut of the film. As for bit about she/he, I had no problem with it myself. It's a very common Chinese tradition of females playing males in productions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 Yeah, but it made me uncomfortable thinking a male character was cute. Seriously, Lily isn't masculine in the slightest. They could've cast any young Shaw male actor in the role and it would've worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Linn1 Posted January 29, 2007 Member Share Posted January 29, 2007 the point was to shoehorn another female into a role in the film. Also it would have been strange if Lily was missing from the film at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 I don't see your logic, since there are other men in the film. If it had been an all-female production fair enough. But the fact that Lily's character is the only male left in the family should have have meant he stood out, but it doesn't work, as Lily as she looks could have played any of the sisters. I guess it was a gimmick that seemed like a good idea at the time. Shame we're stuck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Linn1 Posted January 29, 2007 Member Share Posted January 29, 2007 the point of the entire production was that it was a showcase for the Shaw females. There's other men in the film yes, but the point was to feature the female actresses of the time. If Lily had not been in it, that would be leaving out one of their major stars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 I think you're missing my point... I'm not saying Lily shouldn't have been in it... she could have played any of the sisters. To have her play a teenage boy just so she could have a big role is a bit much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Linn1 Posted January 29, 2007 Member Share Posted January 29, 2007 no I agree. I just think the mindset from the Shaws was put her in there no matter what. And if you give her a strange role, which she won a best-actress award for, all the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ivy Ling Po Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Hope when Image releases this film, it will be uncut. Otherwise is the extra footage significant enough to warrant purchasing the French DVD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest killer meteor Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Talking of Ivy Ling Po, would anyone reccomend Too Late For Love? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ivy Ling Po Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Killer Meteor Ivy Ling Po won a Golden Horse award for Too Late For Love. She was trying to diversify rather than keep on playing male scholars. If you like good storytelling or tearjerkers, this is the movie for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest killer meteor Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Sounds good. I'll give it a go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Linn1 Posted February 4, 2007 Member Share Posted February 4, 2007 Hope when Image releases this film, it will be uncut. Image doesn't have the rights to this film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ivy Ling Po Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Hi Linn What extra scenes does the French release have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ching li Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I know this movie was to showcase all of the shaw bros actresses, if that was the case why wasn't ching li or even lily li for that matter wasn't casted in this movie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Argento476 Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 was going to buy this. Since its cut, I'm backing off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drunkenmantis13 Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 Watched it for the first time also a few weeks ago. I found it much better than i expected. Quite moving and epic in all senses, plus loads of nice action/acting! Just a top Shaw production. I watched the French version. I used to have the IVL which i didn't watch but i think the runtime was the same excluding PAL/NTSC... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Linn1 Posted August 20, 2007 Member Share Posted August 20, 2007 the French disc did NOT use the uncut print that played there. It was the same cut version used by IVL for their release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Secret Executioner Posted December 18, 2014 Member Share Posted December 18, 2014 This is IMO one of the greatest from Shaw Brothers (a top 5, if not top 3 film for me). I love the characters (Lily Ho as a teenage boy may seem off but I find her cute acting all tomboy-ish, Ivy Ling Po kicks ass but with such a pretty face, some of the secondary characters are nice too like Fan Mei Sheng and the villains are great in the downright bastards they are - plus, they look the part), the story is very well-put and kept me on the edge of my seat (okay, I've only seen it once), the action is brilliant (epic battle scenes, great fights) and gets creative (the human bridge)... So much great stuff. Actually, except for Lily Ho somewhat bugging me a bit (the difference between an adult woman and a teenage boy... Though I liked the character, which I guess is the point) and some very harsh scenes (though they contribute to make the deaths of the villains even more satisfying), I don't recall this movie having any flaw. And it had a relatively happy ending (if we leave out all the Chinese prisoners, anonymous soldiers and central characters we saw die - sometimes in horrible pain - earlier). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member reason108 Posted December 19, 2014 Member Share Posted December 19, 2014 I started watching this movie a couple of years ago and never got that far into it. Haven't finished watching it yet. I hope to revisit it at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member laagi Posted December 20, 2014 Member Share Posted December 20, 2014 Is this movie actually available in any uncut/original cut form ? As far as I know only the Korean tape is uncut ? That's part of the reason I'm still holding out to watch this for now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member flashkicks Posted December 28, 2014 Member Share Posted December 28, 2014 Just watched the English dubbed version of this last night. I can see what people like about it but for me I finally learned I don't enjoy Wuxia. I am at least pleased I now know what a Wuxia film actually is:smile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Cold Bishop Posted December 28, 2014 Member Share Posted December 28, 2014 Don't care for One Armed Swordsman? Avenging Eagle? Kid with the Golden Arm? And are we sure this is actually cut, and not just another example of unfortunate framecutting? I know some fights have pretty oversped rhythms, but it didn't strike me as worse than other framecut casualties of the genre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member flashkicks Posted December 28, 2014 Member Share Posted December 28, 2014 I havnt seen any of those yet I mostly have been preferring Taiwanese productions to date, there is something about the cheapness/rawness I enjoy and thanks Coldbishop, your Shaw brothers thread over at Criterion forums is where I finally learned what a Wuxia film is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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