Ching se

Director Tsui Hark is most well known for "Black Mask", "Zu Warriors" and "Once upon a time in China", but not too many have seen "Green Snake". "Green Snake" is one of the most breathtaking Hong Kong films next to "Hero". It has many similar elements to Zu Warriors, since so many of the characters can fly. The story is based on an ancient Chinese folk tale. Two sisters are snakes, but they disguise themselves as humans, since snakes are looked down upon. A master monk is out to destroy the sisters fearing that they're a threat. White snake wants to be normal, she marries a clumsy monk who has no idea she's a snake. Green Snake is the wild sister, who enjoys morphing from snake to human form. Although the film's giant snake looks kind of fake, the film makes up for it with creativity. Bright colors, surreal dreamlike landscapes and martial arts magic are all part of "Tsui Hark's "Green Snake". It's also very trippy, like "Fellini Satyricon". "Green Snake" is an amazing film that needs to be seen!

...and this one's very good. It's a retelling of the Chinese legend Madam White Snake, and while some of the effects aren't what a big-budget film would allow, Cheung and Wang convey a sexiness in their roles that make it highly entertaining.

Shaw Brothers made a version of the story titled Madam White Snake in the 60's or 70's. In 2001, there was a very lengthy Taiwan-produced TV series of the same name. So far as I know, neither of these are out on DVD.

Hong Kong cinema never shies away for some over the top story-telling, but when dealing with a lush fairy tale like this Green Snake, and having added a pinch of tongue-in-cheek like Tsui Hark did here, without slacking in the camera- and special effects-departments, it is an exciting, mesmerizing experience ! What a wonderful and loveable movie !

It is a really good movie. Both teal snake and white snake are charming and deadly attractive. Xu Xian is a everyday Joe male character. No man won't envy his good luck with beautiful women! ;) The monk--Fa Hai--is stubborn and prejudiced in his attitude towards human and non-humans. In the end, he seems to regret what he has done to the snake sisters. The story stresses the sexual desire of human beings. ;) Even the monk, who has reached the prestige of human-buddie, cannot deprive himself of sexual imagination and impulse.

The pace of the story telling is fast; the structure of the story plots is compact; the special visual effect of magic casting and fighting is eye catching; and the music and singing is touching and resonant with the progress of the story.

If you're in the mood for a chinese folk/fairy tale with great visuals and production design, this is right up your alley.

It's relentless, it never takes a break from the fantastical feel, for 98 minutes it wants you to escape your boring life and fully transport you to this realm in which two sister snakes (one green and one white) want to be human but are hunted by a buddist monk. It's great! I really don't know why it's called Green Snake when the White one is as much part of the story as the first one. Maybe because the green one is more in touch with her mystical side by the end, rather than the human side?

It's interesting how religion is the one fighting mysticism here...how religion fights fantasy. Only with Buddhism you can do this.