Dragon blanc

Saw this on a double bill with "Springtime in a Small Town".

What an odd pairing!

"Springtime" was a deliberately paced, beautiful period piece and "The White Dragon" was an in-your-face laugh riot.

Another movie patron warned me that I would be wasting my time, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it.

Never laughed so hard at an Asian film!

A lot of sight gags but Francis Ng's over the top performance won me over. Cecilia Cheung does a credible job as his foil.

Certainly not "high art", but if you desire a little levity and silliness, you won't be disappointed.

The late afternoon-evening that I spent watching these two films is one of my favorite solo adult experiences, so they'll always hold a place in my heart.

So here's the gist of it: Phoenix Black, a pretty young woman in China two hundred or so years ago, a one-dimensional victim of the director's need to rehash the silly-teen-girl-who-loves-to-shop jokes, inherits the powers of the White Dragon via simulated computer-download. Because she's in love with the Prince, she must fight to save him from the country's top assassin, a man named Chicken Feathers. She is aided by Gene, a young man with an impressive knowledge of modern forensics.

Throughout the course of the story, though, Phoenix finds out that Chicken Feathers is a decent man, and falls in love with him as well. Now she must learn where her loyalties lie and uncover the mystery of who hired Chicken Feathers to assassinate the Prince.

To be fair, if you can stomach the first twenty minutes of silicon-age silliness blending with feudal China affairs, and the last ten minutes of western-world make-me-puke-mega-happy-endings, then the rest of the show ain't so bad. Though the wire-fu is growing tiresome, the sword play is decent. The love story is slightly appreciable, though on the whole less than respectable.

Cecilia Cheung, who's always delightful to see does an admirable job of taking a lame role seriously, and she gets to play a character with two cool names: Phoenix Black and White Dragon, Jr. The other supporting characters are just silly. The conspiracy story is dumb and over-abused in Western cinema. The blind assassin with a pure heart story is even more over-abused in Eastern films. I would have hoped that something coming out of Hong Kong would have had more substance.

The worst of the film, though, is that the director tries to blend modern silliness akin to Leslie Nielsen's Mr. Magoo (actually, you could reference just about anything Nielsen has done for the last twenty years) with all the pageantry of Eastern period-piece films. What you end up with is computer download power transfers, and a débutante of ancient China playing ancient Chinese songs on a flute while acting like a rock star and stage diving.

Needless to say, the mixing just doesn't blend. People who honestly express the thought that this is a great movie only demonstrate their foolishness, and an all-too-frightening penchant for idiocy.

I chanced upon this film quite accidentally. It was double-billed with "Springtime in a Small Town" and lucky for me, simply enjoyed it wholeheartedly.

This is a 'martial arts' film, told like a folklore, in period costumes and sets (prince and palaces), yet with modern touches noted in the dialog exchanges. Among the scenes of sword fights, kung fu artists jumping, flying around in woods and forests, rooftops and walls, there are constant witty banters and the use of pun on colloquial idioms and visual references. If you know Cantonese, you're bound to be readily giggling with delight the way the fun-poking lines being tossed around by the actors and actresses. There is an endearing casual rhythm to how the words are thrown out, matching the action or movement at hand. An example of a modern touch (probably recognized by anyone who's familiar with using computers and the Internet): the sign of 'downloading' on screen is being 'borrowed' (where the subtitle is) to denote transference of mastery power from one character to another (our heroine of the story played by Cecilia Cheung, to be specific). Hm, ain't it cool!

I like "White Dragon" more than "House of Flying Daggers" - both had scenes of action sequences among trees and bamboo, a blind hero (in 'Dragon')/heroine (in 'House'), noble intentions - somehow the storyline is more substantial, lively and playful, and endearing in "White Dragon." There's no dispute as to how stylish the way "House of Flying Daggers" was cinematic ally presented, how lavish the costumes in colors and fluid in movements, yet like "Hero," there's a certain aloofness to director Zhang Yimou's two recent highly artistic filmic efforts (sort of precious but touch me not). While director Wilson Yip gave us a story that we can simply get down and literally rollick with the characters, laugh and cheer with them to the basic values of good triumphs over evil, and love can win and unite hearts.

With "House" - we are kept at a distance, just watching in awe how beautiful Zhang Ziyi is and the sceneries and props. With "Dragon" - we get to jump in and be next to Cecilia Cheung's "Litte White Dragon," her spunk, swiftness and warm smiles, and Francis Ng's "A floor of Chicken Feathers," the personable blind assassin with heart, gentleness and quiet moves. The way the film is directed appeals to both young and old. Another modern approach example: the scene in the shop, the words uttered (subtitle translations) reminded me of moments in 'teenage' films like Tina Fey's "Mean Girls." Some might find the humor 'silly', while some may take it as comic relief with ease.

"(Little) White Dragon" (2004) is available on DVD - yes, NTSC ALL region, widescreen, DTS sound, 93 mins., subtitles English and Chinese. For more info, try a search on "White Dragon" "Wilson Yip 2004" or can check out Asian DVD stores online. If you want entertaining action and drama, fun and wit, charming romance, non-heavy-handed treatment, give this film a chance. A literal translation of the film's Chinese title can be: "Little White Dragon: Tempestuous Sea of Emotions."

Other Zhang Yimou films worth seeing are: "Happy Times" (2001), "Not One Less"(1999), "Ju Dou" (1990), "Red Sorghum" (1987).

If you liked 'Cat and Mouse', this is a movie you're going to like. It is a great romantic comedy, where you inevitably fall in love with the characters. I enjoyed how they stepped it up a little with a touch of a different culture in it, but glad they didn't over do it. Cecilia Cheung is a funny woman with a lot of talent. I will watch movies that she's in, just because she's in them. She just seems so comfortable in the roles she plays, and humor seems to come easy to her. Her co-partner, who plays Chicken feathers, really brought his character out. I would like to watch more of his movies, because he played his role very well in this movie. He made quirky movements like a chicken, and a funky chicken at that, and was still quite charming and lovable. I don't know if people watch this because they are looking for action, but it is more of a romantic comedy with the bonus of action. The fighting style reminded me of the video game 'Mortal Combat', which I thought was pretty cool and can appreciate. I advise anyone watching this as a foreign film, to watch it with subtitles. Nothing beats hearing the tone of the real voices, and reading the subtitles is not difficult, but sometimes listening to voice-overs are. May I repeat...subtitles, subtitles, subtitles. I fear that some people did choose to have it sounded in English, which might have taken away from an otherwise good experience. This movie, and 'Cat and Mouse', are on my favorites list for romantic comedies.

If you have ever watched a 90s Hong Kong action/comedy...say city hunter with jackie chan (ie: Jackie chan as Chun Li from street fighter) then you know just how unserious these movies can be. This is an example of it (this genre happens to be one of my favorites). This movie has managed to incorporate jokes from the new millenia into the a feudal china setting. If you aren't entertained by a teenage girl smashing a sitar on a pillar in rock star form and then crowd surfing, then this movie might not be for you. If you are however just looking to be entertained and don't really care if the movie is real quality or not then this will do. The story isn't really innovative, the jokes are pretty cheesy, the lines are pretty cheesy too, but you know if people didn't make these types of movies then there wouldn't be a cliché or a norm. So take it for what it is, a silly movie designed to entertain you with out a lot of drama or required brain power. It's a movie, it's job was to entertain, it did for the most part. I could probably do without the last couple of minutes of the movie.

6/10, it is average for the most part, Cecilia Chung looks pretty cute in this movie. The blind guy...just looks goofy or like hes having seizures. You might say I have no taste, I say don't be so picky, you might starve to death.