D V D R E V I E W

 

The opening sequence is a knockout. A breath-taking glide through the clouds above China, we swoop down over (and we even see the bird who’s POV we’ve just seen- nice touch)

Jinha is just about the coolest swordsman (swordsperson?) in the history of motion pictures. Maybe some of the Jedi (NOT Yoda), some of the better Musketeers, Princess Yuki from Shirayuki-Hime (Princess Blade), come close. But Jinha's low-key style, his non-agressive moodiness, his silent, anti-violent approach even when being threatened. Combined with his omni-cool costumes (the scarlet robe is stunning), his samurai-style hair and DO-NOT-MESS-WITH-ME-EVER sword skills, he's an unforgettable character. And as the master of the Bichun Shin G sword style, he can create huge energy waves (Street Fighter II style projectiles) with his sword. Now THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. He takes on all-comers, and he takes out all-comers.

Some have complained that the sword fights are more about combatatants spinning in mid-air than clashing blades. And that the camera-work is so dizzyingly fast, it's hard to see what is going on anyway. To this, I'd have to agree. And my first few viewings of the movie, I was disappointed by the lack of conventional sword fighting. With repeated viewings, though, the fighting style becomes more appealing. It's not regular, and if you want regular, find a copy of Shirayuki-Hime (Princess Blade) or The Three Musketeers. It's a semi-new style of combat, just like gun-kata in Equilibrium (martial arts with guns to the uninitialted - you have to see it to believe it. See it anyway, it's an awesome movie). And it is exciting to watch. After seeing the fights a number of times, and maybe slowing them down on DVD, it becomes clearer what's going on.

Jinha's battles are so full of emotion. None of them are wasted. So often he finds himself the target of an attack, and though he doesn't want to fight, he has to. His final duel with FRIEND is heart-breaking.

It's hard to talk about the Ten FLying Warriors without using the word 'cool'. Or 'Flying'. Under the command of Jinha, they appear out of nowhere, fly towards their enemies and atke out the trash in an orgy of spectacular sword swinging. Dressed all in black with big black hats, they say little and do nothing except fight and stay loyal to Jinha. They hide underwater. They run across rooftops. And they chop arrows in half. These guys are the definition of ‘cool’.

Unfortunetly several scenes are cut explaining exactly who these guys are, and what they are doing.
Jinha and Sullie are a magnetic screen couple. They don’t need to talk about their love, it flows off the screen. As does their pain, which reaches overpowering levels as the film reaches a climax. It’s amazing how they spent most of the film kept apart, and yet their love is what Bichunmoo is all about. There are so many films about the joys of being in love; Bichunmoo illustrates how much pain love can cause. Sullie and Jinha absolutely have to be together, and the forces of fate won’t let them. Like many Asian epics, this reaches a fitting ending that has both sadness and joy.

The special effects are admirably lo-key. The CGI is used for Jinha’s energy waves. The one unconvincing effect is a RoboCop style dummy which Jinha beheads.

BSome have complained that the sword fights are more about combatatants spinning in mid-air than clashing blades. And that the camera-work is so dizzyingly fast, it's hard to see what is going on anyway. To this, I'd have to agree. And my first few viewings of the movie, I was disappointed by the lack of conventional sword fighting. With repeated viewings, though, the fighting style becomes more appealing. It's not regular, and if you want regular, find a copy of Shirayuki-Hime (Princess Blade) or The Three Musketeers. It's a semi-new style of combat, just like gun-kata in Equilibrium (martial arts with guns to the uninitialted - you have to see it to believe it. See it anyway, it's an awesome movie). And it is exciting to watch. After seeing the fights a number of times, and maybe slowing them down on DVD, it becomes clearer what's going on.

Jinha's battles are so full of emotion. None of them are wasted. So often he finds himself the target of an attack, and though he doesn't want to fight, he has to. His final duel with FRIEND is heart-breaking.

It's hard to talk about the Ten FLying Warriors without using the word 'cool'. Or 'Flying'. Under the command of Jinha, they appear out of nowhere, fly towards their enemies and atke out the trash in an orgy of spectacular sword swinging. Dressed all in black with big black hats, they say little and do nothing except fight and stay loyal to Jinha. They hide underwater. They run across rooftops. And they chop arrows in half. These guys are the definition of ‘cool’.

Unfortunetly several scenes are cut explaining exactly who these guys are, and what they are doing.

Jinha and Sullie are a magnetic screen couple. They don’t need to talk about their love, it flows off the screen. As does their pain, which reaches overpowering levels as the film reaches a climax. It’s amazing how they spent most of the film kept apart, and yet their love is what Bichunmoo is all about. There are so many films about the joys of being in love; Bichunmoo illustrates how much pain love can cause. Sullie and Jinha absolutely have to be together, and the forces of fate won’t let them. Like many Asian epics, this reaches a fitting ending that has both sadness and joy.

The special effects are admirably lo-key. The CGI is used for Jinha’s energy waves. The one unconvincing effect is a RoboCop style dummy which Jinha beheads.

 

 

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Buy US, it is avaliable on VHS.