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Plot:
Blending dazzling choreography, dramatic camerawork and a Shakespeare tragedy, LEGEND OF THE BLACK SCORPION debuts as a two-disc Ultimate Edition DVD set February 26th under the Dragon Dynasty label f...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:July 23, 2008
No kung-fu fighting this time from Ziyi Zhang. But theirs still plenty of action and some beautiful cinematography.
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MCT:July 14, 2008
This is one of two Chinese versions of Shakespeare?s Hamlet produced in the same year...
Wu?s Hamlet is much more subdued than most interpretations, requiring much of his turmoil to be expressed subtly through facial expressions and body language. Zhang gives a typically good performance, convincingly displaying a spectrum of emotions by the end of the film. Together, the actors perform a mesmerizing dance-fight sequence that is harmonious and graceful. The film?s art direction is stunning with the set built to scale in a building large enough to house a jumbo jet...
For a full DVD review, visit: http://www.popjournalism.ca/magazine/2008/03/25/dvd-review-legend-of-the-black-scorpion/ -
MCT:June 28, 2008This is a characterdriven drama rather than an action movie, but it is just as beautiful as I excpected, or even a tad more. I seem to like chistorical dramas only when they are from asia. But then I love them.
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MCT:June 19, 2008
The movie is very visually stunning and had great martial arts sequences, however like most of the artsy ancient chinese films they often leave something to be desired in the character development and plot aspects. The banquet is no different, the film moves slow yet doesn't allow much time to let any of the characters evolve much beyond what they were at the start. The adaptation of Hamlet was a good idea though it could have been better. Started out and ending strong though the middle was where the film was brought down. Worth the watch to feast your eyes on some beautiful swordplay and costume design, but if you are looking for an in depth drama perhaps it's better to look elsewhere.
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MCT:June 13, 2008
I found this Chinese Hamlet a bit flat it was interesting to see how the story translated into another culture but I felt compromises were made to stay true to Shakespeare that ultimately made it feel less entertaining. Some of the characters felt awkward and foreign. Shakespeare is not the bible and more liberties could have been taken to make this story more genuine. The cinematography was gorgeous but also monotonous I think some risks could have been taken and would have put this over the top. Some terrific scenes and great performances make it a rent for genre fans.
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MCT:May 2, 2008China 907. The emperor has died under suspicious circumstances. His brother Li (Ge You) ascends to the throne and marries the young former Empress (and thus ex-wife of his brother) Wan (Zhang Ziyi), who will as a result remain Empress. She does this both to protect Prince Wu Luan (Daniel Wu)- her stepson with whom she is secretly in love and who's a threat to Li's throne - and to secure her own position in power....Beautifully choreographed dances and sword fights (and gravity is not an issue - if I were a basketball coach I would definitely want these guys on my team), inventive use of slow motion, sets and costumes that have to be seen to be believed, etc.. But this is more than just a martial arts movie with the fantastic cinematography we know from Chinese movies. This is a near Shakespearean tragedy (Hamlet, MacBeth) of which the sword fights are merely an important ingredient. Probably one of the best movies in this genre and Zhang Ziyi does a good job in a role for which she's really too young (Gong Li was offered the role first).
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MCT:April 30, 2008
"Qing. Wuluan. It is I. I knew it when I sang the first line. Qing. Your Highness. Are you still alone? With you I am never alone."
Brilliant fight scenes by the master Woo-ping Yuen. Fantastic photography, great set designs and a great cast with Ziyi Zhang (Empress Wan), Prince Wuluan (Daniel Wu) and Xun Zhou (Qing Nu) among others. Great score by Tan Dun. A powerful and bloody epic drama, Hamlet chinese style. -
MCT:March 30, 2008Outstanding Movie, A Romeo & Jullet / Hamlet Story in Asian Theme, love the way people just float thur the air when fighting, much better then the ole school Kung Fu Movies (trash Can Lids). Rent or Buy you will not be sorry.
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MCT:March 22, 2008
Definitely "turns convention on its head." Loved it. It is a wonderful rendition of a classic tragedy.
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MCT:March 14, 2008
It is probably is the most visually stunning asian movie i've ever seen.Magnificent sightings and decent cinematography.And no one could make the role as graceful and beautiful as Zhang Zi Yi.Super package of both audio and visual presentation!
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MCT:March 13, 2008
beautiful.traditional.historical.flowing.and sleepy. They have lovely costumes & story.But,too much pointless scenes.That pointless scene made me sleepy,but awake again at another scenes.But,for overall this movie is quite worth it..~_~`
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MCT:February 20, 2008like shakespear this is a messed up movie. not as confusing like hidden dragon but its up there with the rest of them.
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MCT:February 17, 2008I dont know what this director was trying to achieve but the result is a bad movie. The impression I get is that he is trying to make a Crouching Tiger style movie but it just doesnt work. Th action sucks, the story sucks, bad visuals, and no suspense. Its a big bust coming for the same director that directed A World Without Thieves. That is still a great movie.
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MCT:February 9, 2008
Beautiful and eh, colorful but we've seen it before and with a lot more action and passion. Daniel Wu rocks though.
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MCT:January 1, 2008
'Chinese' and 'tragedy' go together often, but this here is the farthest from comedy as you can ever get! It's about visuals 1st, story 2nd, action 3rd. All three were done fabulously. But it is one of those epic movies that you would never want to watch often...barely ever again.
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MCT:December 26, 2007Shakespearean and Neighbours-ian at the same time. Over the top drama, lots of slow and boring scenes, but some fantastically choreographed fighting, which is, face it, the only reason you wanna see it. Only for hardcore fans of Ancient Chinese melodrama, but falls short in actually entertaining you and lacks engagement.
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MCT:November 24, 2007
What a fantastic adaptation of Hamlet into the Chinese culture. The cinematography is breathtaking and the acting fantastic. Zhang Ziyi is just one of those actresses that you can't help but love. Her on screen presence is just over powering. I thought the changes to the actual Hamlet storyline were very well done and I really liked this movie overall.
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MCT:November 4, 2007
This movie is one hell of a masterpiece! Anyone who has a passion for theater arts would surely love this!
Note: Get a copy with proper subtitles!! -
MCT:November 3, 2007
Hamlet in Ancient China is not enough to describe this wonderfully violent yet romantic tragedy. It is one of the best films of all time, no doubt!
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MCT:October 17, 2007
A true surprise from Feng Xiaogang. Although the storyline is very much like Hamlet, I enjoyed every minute of this film. Great cinematography too!
Spoiler alert:
Memorable scenes:
- The dance/fight between Empress Mother (Ziyi) and Crown Price (Wu) with the Maiden Sword.
- The final scene when Empress (Ziyi) got assassinated and then the theme song plays ("Only For Love" by Jane Zhang - What a BEAUTIFUL song) and finally the credit rolls. -
MCT:September 4, 2007
The plot is pretty interesting,however I dun really like it becoz of its slow pace!!Although the twist at the end of the show is shocking,but it is still not a movie that I will want to watch it again.However it is worth at least ONE view...hehehee=P
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MCT:August 25, 2007
I don't quite get the meaning of this movie, it is filled with chinese metaphors and literatures which I couldn't comprehen. Will love to watch it once more with english subtitles. Though I do not understand completely, this movie talks deeply about the dark side of the human mind.
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MCT:August 20, 2007
Beautiful cinematography. Beautiful costumes. Beautiful art direction. Beautiful soundtrack. A tragedy retold.
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MCT:July 15, 2007Oscar Wilde said that a thousand monkeys at their typewriters would make Hamlet; No they didn't, they made The Banquet instead. Beautiful production values, but horrible re-rendering of Shakespeare with clumsy narrative and characterization.
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Ye yan (Legend of the Black Scorpion) (The Banquet) Recent Reviews
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dannycook123posted 558 days ago
