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The Legend of the Black Scorpion
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List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $19.99
Your Save: $ 4.96 ( 20% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Dragon Dynasty
Starring: Ma Jingwu, Ge You, Daniel Wu, Zhou Xun, Zhang Ziyi
Directed By: Feng Xiaogang
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: WELLSPRING/GENIUS
EAN: 0796019809917
Format: Color
Label: Dragon Dynasty
Manufacturer: Dragon Dynasty
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Dragon Dynasty
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-02-26
Running Time: 126
Studio: Dragon Dynasty
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
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Editorial Reviews:
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(Action) A cross between Shakespeare s Hamlet and Tarantino s Kill Bill scheming royals and other officials attempt to consolidate power in a empire in chaos. Packed with deadly plots sweeping camerawork and elaborate fight choreography. System Requirements:Run Time: 126 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/CRIME UPC: 796019809917 Manufacturer No: 80991
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Good stuff
Comment: I have gotten slightly addicted to asian films since watching the AZN Channel (which, sadly, is no more) so I picked up some films from Amazon. This was one of them and I was very impressed by it. Visually it's stunning, the sub-titles are easy to follow. I highly recommend it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: On Par With The Best of Yimou Zhang
Comment: How this film missed the American theater circuits is inexplicable! One of the most visually sumptuous portrayals of court life and intrigue since Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, and on par, if not surpassing, the historical martial arts epics of Yimou Zhang. This is a must for anyone that enjoys or appreciates this genre of Chinese cinema, and is the best cinematic adaptation of Hamlet that I can recall. It also is accompanied by an excellent critical commentary (which may aid those who find the film "cold" or the ending incomprehensible).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal Blend of Scenery and Style
Comment: The Legend of Black Scorpion is a phenomenal blend of scenery and style as the director uses operatic appeal in the form of the metaphorical phantom to stylize the sequential and breath-taking coreographic kung fu, especially as exemplified in the hide-away forests where the endangered and practically deposed crown-prince drowns in his sorrow, overwhelmed by the injustice of his uncle, the murderous usurper of the throne.
While this is the most fantastic scene, the flow is maintained to a great degree throughout the film. HOWEVER, a great disappointment like many previous kung fu movies, for example, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Jet Li's "Hero" and House of Flying Daggers, and not to mention Curse of the Golden Flower. Somehow, Shakespearean endings do not suit these martial arts. Eastern Philosophy is characterized by some forms of exquisite closure and transcendence, and these movies have none. Moreover, the kung fu was not enough. The movie gave a blast of unparalleled kung fu in the fighting scene at the prince's hide-away and from there took a down-hill turn into just drama. We watch these because we love to see a man being "kung-fu-ed" to death, not to see a woman killed by a sword or knife protruding from nowhere and no one. These directors need to snap out of the Shakespeareanism, be true to Eastern tradition in martial arts and give us closure and stop with the romance. SOMEHOW, romance always absolutely spoils a martial arts film. There are no really great martial arts films being produced today and the lack of closure without a sequel is incomplete artistry that detracts of satisfaction.
Legend of Black Scorpion has good scenery, costumes, and initial choreography, but faded into a drama with a disappointing ending.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I WRONGLY WHINED TO AMAZON ABOUT THIS RE-ISSUE, SORRY AMAZON...
Comment: I was irked that this retitled reissue of THE BANQUET wasn't identified
as such. Obviously, I had THE BANQUET already. But this reissue has a radically superior print and audio and very, very well-done subtitles.
It's really an Asian retelling of Hamlet. But an adaptation so slick and well-done, it's like a whole new story. The concept of combining dance with swordplay with an extraordinary musical track really comes across with this improved version.
The second disk of added features doesn't add much,
just the usual self-back-patting face-on spiels.
And humorously, so deadly serious.
The less-than heavy characterizations comment of other reviewers noted is true. But the graphics alone are worth the trip. Costumes, scenery and set designs are magnificent.
( But I still think that Amazing Amazon should PROMINENTLY
note that such repackaged/retitled films are not re-make's...)
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beautiful costumes. Artistic fighting scenes. Good acting of the main female actor. Confusing plot and ending.
Comment: The costumes are beautiful. The fighting scenes are artistic and attractive. The acting of the main female actor is convincing. However the plot and ending are confusing. The ending does not make sense.
It's still worth watching once. I prefer House of Flying Daggers.
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