Raining in the Mountain

First of all, the name is wrong. Clearly it should be "Running In the Mountain". There's so much running in this movie I half expected Tom Cruise to pop up in a scene or three. I wasn't sure about this movie for most of the first half or so of its running time (pun not intended. or was it?). Once the trial of sorts takes place, sentencing is made, then the new 'abbot' is named, the film comes more into focus. The ending was very apt, I felt, and shows the wisdom that granted Chiu his position. It's a very practical, common sensical resolution, and it immediately puts an end to any reason for the criminal acts that preceded it. I found most of what preceded those events rather silly, contrived, with some very hokey acting. I can appreciate to an extent that there is a particular style of filmmaking in southeast Asian cinema where acting as shown by some in this movie, and even in the likes of Kurosawa's "Ran", is common. But it's difficult for me to be an honest critic and not call this out for what it is to me. I feel if the same approach to directing and acting was used in a different, non-Asian culture/setting, it would be received much more negatively. I am aware this may seem like a cultural bias, but I know when I'm being taken out of a film I'm watching due to some glaring aspect(s) of the filmmaking, and that it's not ideal. There's some light, funny bits in the movie, to go along with the intrigue, fight scenes, and chicanery. Overall, 3.1 stars

I didn't get much out of this one other than the story, but it too was rather weak. A good remake is certainly a possibility.

WEB-LETTERBOX. Muy entretenida y bien construida, aunque el final se siente abrupto. / Very entertaining and well crafted, even though the ending feels abrupt.

King Hu's 7th feature. An action suspense setting in a big temple. The structure that the two stories - a scramble for the legendary book between two groups and who succeeds the position of Bishop - go on in parallel is great and tension-rising. Also, the idea of describing how a Buddhist temple is full of greed under the influence of and connection to the world is already very interesting. Little bit prolix, but full of lessons and great shots.

Another highly enjoyable King Hu movie set in a mountain monastery where several disreputable martial artists are trying to get hold of a priceless buddhist scroll. With some of the mysticism of "A Touch of Zen", I consider it one of King Hu's best three movies.