The Sorcerer and the White Snake. 2011. The saturation of overly-sentimental romantic notions combined with the brusque fortitude of Jet Li hunting demons, allows this movie to be kick-ass; while shamelessly flaunting its overuse of CGI affects. This movie manages to have captivating fight scenes without actually encorporating many fight moves. <<According to Wikipedia Jet Li says he has never been more exhausted..."After fighting the White Snake, fight the Green Snake. After fighting the Green Snake, then fight the demon. After fighting this demon, then fight another demon. After fighting this demon, then fight the water monster. Everyday on set I was letting out a big sigh." Why's this guy so tired? He stays pretty stationary for all the fight scenes and gets to wave his magic staff around a lot. Regardless, I'm into it.
Kung-fu movies haven't been a forte of mine, but the road beckons. Much of our campy fights come from old kung-fu movies: this I know. <<XENA>> I always appreciate themes calling for the balance of good and evil, and who doesn't want to see some hot snake babes slithering around being mischevious?
Susu white snake demon falls in love with poor herbalist Xu Xian by transferring some of her vital essence to him. Vital essence=life force=pure energy=magic=qi. Jet Li master monk of the Pure Land Buddhism sect makes sure this doesn't go smoothly. The film has inspired me to read Chinese legends. Why can't the demons just stay in their own realm? The grass is always greener, I guess.
The pure playfulness of the serious and catastrophic situations contrast well with the gut wrenching love story. -Always satisfying to immerse yourself in a fantasy world, just to learn they have the same problems as us. The end scene is probably the most dramatic thing i've ever seen. Let's leave it at that.
*Netflix instant viewing alert*
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