Wu xia Liang Zhu

First of all I need to start out by saying don't get suckered in by the movie's title, as "The Assassin's Blade" ("Mo Hup Leung Juk") is just about as misleading as it gets. Having seen the movie now, I understand nothing at all where this movie title comes to shine through in the storyline or the meaning of the movie.

And the DVD cover brandishes 'from the action director of "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers"', yeah, that might very well be so, but those two movies are epic martial arts movies, where as "The Assassin's Blade" is a lovestory and a soap opera drama at best. There is just nothing to hint at or even remotely make this movie epic in any sense.

That being said, don't get me wrong, because "The Assassin's Blade" isn't all bad. The movie is entertaining enough, just don't enter it with the hopes to see an epic martial arts movie. The story is about Zhu Yanzhi (played by Charlene Choi) who enters a martial arts school disguised as a boy. Here she has to impress the masters and learn the martial arts in order to stay at the school. However, back home there is something sinister brewing in the politics and old, trusted people turn out to be nothing at all what they appear.

The movie is beautifully shot, and there is some good cinematography throughout the movie, and it is spices up with some really interesting (and often beautiful) scenes and scenery.

However, the movie does tend to incorporate comedy into the story, which doesn't always work out well. And as for Charlene Choi to pass as a boy, well that was just too far fetched, and you'd have to be both blind and deaf to believe that illusion for even a second.

For a fan of the Hong Kong cinema, then I found "The Assassin's Blade" to be bewildering and too far straying from what the DVD cover let on. So don't judge a book (or movie) by its cover, eh?

I am rating "The Assassin's Blade" a mediocre 5 out of 10 rating, because it wasn't at all what it was wrapped up to be on the DVD cover, but at the same time, it wasn't an all together bad movie. However, it did come off as somewhat of a teenage love drama spiced up with a hint of comedy and martial arts.

From its looks, you'd be forgiven for thinking that The Assassin's Blade was a Jeff Lau film, with its bright colours, humorous opening fight scene, wild characters and crazed selection of weapons, But the fact is that this is a retitling of Jingle Ma's rom-com, wu xia film, The Butterfly Lovers!

While based upon a legendary myth, its story has been told a thousand times in many kung-fu movies. The super-cute Charlene Choi plays Yan Gi, who dresses as a man to learn martial arts from a famed school. We've seen it all before, and probably told much better with less flaws than this offers...

But even at that, there is something charming about The Assassin's Blade that I just enjoy watching. Perhaps its the more light-hearted approach to it, perhaps its the incredible Tony Ching Siu Tung's wonderful action sequences, or perhaps its the gorgeous Wu Chun - star of 14 Blades, My Kingdom, and Saving General Yang. Or maybe its all of the above!

Suiting its original title more than its new one, the film has taken a bad wrap from critics and fans of the genre with its miscasting, and blend of serious drama and romance, with humorous fight scenes and rom-com type situations. But if you go in to this knowing what its ingredients are, you'll be less disappointed. Personally, I really enjoy it - and besides, doesn't almost every Hong Kong film mix their genres?

Cinematographer-turned-director Jingle Ma is very much a hit-and-miss film-maker. He can make some exciting stuff, though can often disappoint. The Butterfly Lovers is shot beautifully, with some gorgeous sets and locations that fill every shot. It moves along at a great pace without ever boring, and I think this would be one of his better offerings along with Mulan and Tokyo Raiders (in terms of action movies).

The cast is plumped up with the addition of the legendary Ti Lung as Choi's dad, and fan favourite (no pun intended) Fan Siu Wong who ges to show some incredible moves in his cameo. And then we have Clubfoot himself, Hung Yan Yan as the head of the martial arts school on Soul Ease Mountain.

As mentioned, the great Ching Siu Tung handles the films fight choreography, delivering a host of fantastic fights spread evenly throughout. From the attack on Wu Chun at the inn, to the beautifully shot, yet brutal end battle between the latter and psycho, Hu Ge as Bro Ma - the head of security for Choi's family, who will have poor Charlene as his bride no-matter-what!

It all leads to a heart-breaking and darker final 30 minutes, as the legend of these young lovers comes to a head, and we learn what the power of love was really all about in ancient China...

Overall: One of Jingle Ma's better offerings, The Assassin's Blade offers some great martial arts action and beautiful cinematography, all wrapped up in a heart-breaking tale of young love!

Tagline: Jingle Ma is unable to revoke the success of the Tsui Hark's 1994 classic…

Review by Neo: As mentioned in the review of Playboy Cops (2008), Jingle Ma is an up and down director. Surely his films have a certain glossy look on it, but Butterfly Lovers simply does not work on a number of levels. Charlene Choi is too cute to be playing roles in ancient costumes and Fahrenheit's Wu Chun looks far too modern than ancient. With the casting already borderline leaning towards unconvincing, it is little doubt that the film fails to convince and the result is a film that is rather blend and uninspiring. Looking back at Tsui Hark now classic 1994 version, starring the likes of Charlie Young and Nicky Wu, this one pales in comparison by quite a long mile.

The story is the age-old tale of a girl pretending to be a guy so she can study in a martial arts school. Logically, a girl will be weaker than guys in martial arts training and therefore, with the kind hearted help from one of the guy student, the two become closer and closer. As per expectation, the guy fall for the girl and the girl fall for the guy, but the girl already have another pre-planned marriage. Basically, you probably already know how it will end and yes, there will become butterflies as love is in the air and so on.

Charlene Choi is not a bad actress and no matter how crap a movie is, Choi will still be able to shine through with her likable cuteness. Think, My Wife is 18 and Twins Effect just to name a few. It is not really a bad thing for Choi to reunite with director Jingle Ma. After all, it produced one of Choi's best performances to date back in 1999 with Funeral March. But the same cannot be said for Butterfly Lovers, while Choi still is able to maintain her cute image, she is unsuitably mis-casted and at the end of the day creating a string of unconvincing thoughts within the audience mind. Basically, it is a case of wasting the talents of Choi and also not allowing a more suitable actress, perhaps Fan Bing Bing or Zhou Xun the opportunity of delivering something truly special.

Likewise, Wu Chun is too raw and his acting is far too unrefined. Still, this is not the biggest problem as Nicky Wu is not Tony Leung Chiu Wai either. The difference is that Wu looks nothing like a martial artist in Ancient China and his modern good looks seem to be hampering his presence and the actual progress of the movie. Other supporting acts provides an interesting divergence, especially with the appearances of former kung fu heroes in the likes of Ti Lung, Xiong Xin-Xin and Louis Fan Siu Wong.

Unfortunately, the blame cannot be falling entirely on the casting, as it is ultimately the director choice as to how he wanted to approach the movie. Director Ma seems far too uncertain in many parts of the film, for instance, one moment Ma seems to be focusing on comedy and cuteness and then it goes serious with some slow motion crying sequences. Ma is confusing the audience and notwithstanding, he is losing the audience actual patience. It is these kind of movies that ultimately turns the Hong Kong cinema audience away from watching movies in the cinemas. There are no longer the same level of excitement as the early 90s, rehashing a film is not exactly sparkling originality, but if it comes up worst than its inspiration, then the film is not really doing a world of good.

All in all, Butterfly Lovers is really a pure commercial disappointment. Director Ma, who previously directed the brilliant emotional endings in films like Fly Me to Polaris and Funeral March is unable to reproduce the aforementioned form and quality. This flick is a dud in nearly all aspect of film-making. From the miscasting of Charlene Choi and Wu Chun, to the dislocated sound track and some unconvincing action directing from Ching Siu Tung and of course who can forget to put the blame on Ma's shoulders as well. As unforgiving as I am, and notwithstanding the fact that I used to be a big fan of the Twins duo (back in the 2002's), it is safe to pronounce that an astounding "NO" will be decerned from me. Not even Charlene's cuteness can change the fact that this is a commercial failure and a critical failure of actual film-making … (Neo 2009)

I rate it 3/10

• www.thehkneo.com

There was hardly no action in this movie! I mean hardly none except maybe for 3 total fight scenes and they wasnt that great! The ending is pretty trippy if you can make it that far.

I am not familiar with the actors in this film nor have I ever read the story nor do I normally watch romantic dramas so I guess I am not the intended audience for this film. Did it win me over? Not really.

The tale of a teenage (?) girl dressed as a boy and sent to a martial arts academy where she falls in love with the top student (and he her) is well photographed and handsomely produced. Probably not her fault but, the lead actress isn't a very convincing boy at all and is directed to hammy, stage style acting. We see her get bound in cloth to hide her womanly assets but later on they are clearly visible while she is supposedly fooling everybody. She is also made-up with lip stick and shaped eyebrows so it's a leap to buy the premise. The male actors fare better but the film is centered on the female character. The film is well photographed and edited until the martial art scenes which are shaky and choppy.

On the other hand if you are a fan of stories about ill-fated young lovers set in other cultures this is probably a good film for you. The plot turns when the woman is taken out of the academy to be forced into marriage to her childhood friend who has gone bad and become a sadistic general.

I can't give this more than 5 stars but I'm sure there are people out there who can value this film more.