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In Ming Dynasty China, two pairs of siblings are destined
for each other. But fate throws countless obstacles in the
path of their happiness. One pair is high-born: the young
emperor and his sister Wushuang. The other pair is decidedly
lowborn: the wanderer Li Yilong and his sister Phoenix, who
still runs a restaurant in Meilong. When both the young emperor
and his sister Wushuang contrive to leave the palace and head
south, they meet the love of their lives in Meilong. But Wushuang
has disguised herself as a man, and the emperor is incognito.
Numerous confusions, complications and misunderstandings ensue:
genders and gender-roles are reversed, class differences prove
hard to negotiate and identities and egos block the prompting
of desire. It takes the interventions of a goddess to get
everyone back on the right road. But it may already be too
late to heal the wounds of disappointment and separation...
When
I started doing review for this site, I was told that I had
to write out the blurb that you get on the back of DVDs before
I do the review of them. So for the reviews that I have done,
I have adhered to the wishes of an increasingly erratic and
possibly senile editor (Just kidding, he is lovely and knows
where I live). But I have to say that this is the first time
that I have an issue with the blurb. On this occasion it does
not actually tell you that this film is funny.
Actually
it's really bloody funny. But as with most Chinese films that
are funny it helps if you have a really silly sense of humour
and whether or not you are a fan of Chinese films anyway.
This particular example does a very good job of using elements
from great films like Hero and Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon to produce something that makes you laugh
at the stupidity of it all and give you some funny-as-hell
fight scenes to go with it.
Now
don't get me wrong, this may not be everyone's cup of tea
but if you know a bit about the culture and can disengage
the serious part of your brain for 105 minutes (With me, its
permanently switched off) then you will laugh and be slightly
saddened at the same time. Why can't they just do a great
comedy flick instead of having to balance it out? Romance
is good but please, keep it out of action comedies.
But
besides my slight complaint, this film is great fun and had
this review been put on the site before Valentines Day,
I would have suggested this and Ichii the Killer to
spice the evening with your loved one up a bit.
The
disc itself has a tasty looking transfer and a sublime DTS
track. This, with some film notes, make up this entire disc;
bare bones with nothing else. A bit sad but you can forgive
Tartan. But they really should have said that it was "funny"
in the blurb.
I
can understand that the thought of a funny Chinese film may
not appeal to all people but give this one a go. I laughed
my ass off.
Simon
Lee
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