R E V I E W :    Swordsman II  

Reviewed 10/29/00 | Background | Movie Review | DVD Review | Recommendation

Background 

Mei Ah / 1992 / 108 minutes
Directed by Ching Siu Tung

Movie: plot, performances, production, rating

My first viewing was a complete disappointment. (Click here to read my first, much more negative review.) A second viewing was more rewarding. True, the plot is still a bit difficult to follow. The second time through, however, the motivations of the protagonists became more apparent, and the heartbreak of certain story lines became clearer. Although you can sit back, eat popcorn, and enjoy the visuals only, more careful attention will prove worth the effort. Performances by Jet Li, Michelle Reis, and Brigitte Lin stand out.

DVD: look, sound, subtitles, and features

The DVD is very good. There are a number of scratches and blotches, though. Black levels are inadequate. Much of the color scheme appears to be intentionally monochromatic: entire sequences are bathed in the burnt orange/yellow of candlelights and fire, or perhaps nighttime blue. The sound is limited to the center speaker with little for the surrounds or subwoofer to process.

Widescreen (1:85), Cantonese/Mandarin DD 5.1 and DD 2.0 audio tracks, multilingual subtitles (traditional & simplified Chinese, English, Malaysian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai). Also has "data bank" (just a brief synopsis and listing of main cast & crew), "best buy" (a trailer for Treasure Hunt, starring Chow Yun-Fat), and "original soundtrack" (a song sets to clips from the film wherein, incidentally, the film elements look better than those for the film itself).

Buy, rent, or pass?

A complex film that requires multiple viewings to fully appreciate and will justify a purchase. Watch it the first time just for the visuals and to get a sense of the plot and characters.

 

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