Customer Reviews

Butterfly Sword (Special Edition)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This high art fantasy over-the-top costume piece is a "wire fu" lover's delight. All characters are dressed in coloful drapey, billowy robes and garments. The musical score is unusually well-orchestrated from beginning to end. But does everyone have to twirl 10 times while going 16 feet from point A to point B. There is very little walking in this film. Everyone twirls, flies, swings, flips, rotates, revolves (is that different from rotate?), levitates, somersaults, jacknifes, or pirohuettes (sp?) in nearly every frame. The fighting is fantastical and violent, to say the least. While the film is certainly different from the classic old-school kung fu film, I do, in fact, give the movie high marks within its own fantasy genre. Technically, the wire artistry and effects are mind-boggling, yet at times numbing. If wire fu is your cup of tea, I suppose this is your eye candy. For others, it's probably worth a peek, as I would suspect it is probably one of the best in its genre.

Do not try to apply western thinking to Asian movies! They are not done with the same intent or even at times for the same purpose. These movies go deep into culture and you have to go with it to enjoy what goes on. This movie has good action and fantastic plot lines! I searched until I found it. I like wire fu and prefer it to "real" kung fu movies because I like to escape. Butterfly and Sword will take you places you haven't likely been before.

Believe it or not -- this is a fantasy costume drama which actually has a complex plot, multi-layered meanings and ways of interpreting personal relations, quality dramatic acting (particularly from Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung) and comical scenes AS WELL AS unbelievable visuals and action sequences.

The cinematography is rich, the pacing is quick...There's plenty for the eye to see and for the mind to absorb. In fact, almost too much the first time round; which is why you need to see it at least a second time to really appreciate it. Also, it may help to get a plot synopsis/summary (I would recommend Pete's review off the "Yes Madam" web site) to know what to watch for.

On the other hand, one could just look upon it as eye candy, give up trying to understand what is actually going on (a love square amidst schemes to become master of the martial arts world) and just prepare to be blown away on a purely visual basis...Although that would be only half the experience, it would still be enjoyable enough for many Hong Kong movie fans and fans-to-be (if you crave something very different from American movies, this is it!).

On a cautionary note: The action sequences feature "wire fu". This is NOT Jackie Chan -- not necessarily better or worse but definitely different...and actually way fantastically weirder (After this, "Supercop" is s-o tame!)!!! In fact, it might come closer to "Excalibur"...I KID YOU NOT.

This is a pretty fun movie, with lots and lots of crazy action, and some pretty well acted scenes, but it is unbelievably confusing, so you never totally get behind the characters. Michelle Yeoh looks great and does a decent job but she just seems too wholesome to pull off the role of the somewhat evil kung fu master. She is not as intense as Brigitte Lin who is really the master of that sort of character. Tony Leung, Donnie Yen, and Joey Wang are all really great in this movie. This is highly recommended for HK fans but not so much for casual kung fu fans who are better off with something like Swordman II. Be warned that there are mandarin only editions of this movie on the market, so make sure you are getting a cantonese version if that is what you want.

It is a great martial arts movie. The story line is a little weak but the choreography on swordsplay and martial arts is excellent. Michelle Yeoh is outstanding as always with her grace, acrobatic style and skill in martial arts. A worthwhile DVD collection if you are a martial arts fan.

It is one of the better wuxia pien's I have seen. Very good acting and an exciting story. I liked the fight scenes a lot too.
Definitely recommended if you like Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Michelle Yeoh and Joey Wong, even Donnie Yen is less annoying than usual in this one.

Off the wall, the ceiling, treetops, clothesline, and just about anything else.

Oh, there's some kind of convoluted plot in there about multiple levels of secrecy and multiple loyalties, a scheme to take over the world of martial arts, and a chastely inept romance. We also have Michelle Yeoh, a few years before the West discovered her in Tomorrow Never Dies, in a role that threatens to bring credibility to this flying-swordsman flick. Fortunately for all concerned, not even she could pull it off.

The movie starts off slowly. The final fight scenes are all you could hope for, though, with magical weapons, mystical powers, and cartoony if bloody violence. The flying fighters, whirling off (and sometimes through) walls are enough to leave any professional wrestler crying in envy, but the costumes, scenery, and group scenes are far better. If you're after serious cinema, you've made a horrible mistake; if your tastes have matured beyond cartoons but only just barely, this might be a good one for you. Or might not.

-- wiredweird

This movie is one of the greatest Martial Arts movies I've ever seen. The action is fast paced, and the romantic story of 2 hired swords, one who wants nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with his lover, and the other who just wants to let a woman (another assassin) how he truly feels about her. Both are bound by honor to put their duties first. This movie is fantastic. Another movie I think you should see after this is Last Hurrah For Chivalry. Both are a must buy for those who dig non-stop Action, feats of the impossible, with a little bit of a romantic flair.

Comet, Butterfly, and Sword (also known as Butterfly and Sword) is an interesting movie. It features Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon & Tomorrow Never Dies), Joey Wang (City Hunter), Tony Leung (Hard-Boiled & Gorgeous), and Donnie Yen (Highlander: Endgame & Once Upon a Time in China 2). The acting and direction is well-done, considering the usual Hong Kong action movie. Michelle Yeoh turns in a good performance (but not as good as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), and she manages to look gorgeous and intimidating at the same time. The action is constant and moves at a rapid pace. This movie is definitely not for those with a weak stomach because there is a lot of blood, flying limbs, impailings, and other sorts of gruesome deaths. The martial arts action is sometimes hard to see because of the direction, but that's what makes it look like such a frenzy. There's lots of wirework and other unbelievable stunts like that.

I did not like the movie for a few reasons. This movie is really for people that like these kinds of films. Personally, I tend to like lots of martial arts movies, especially those with Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, etc. I loved the cast, and I thought they did a good job in this movie. However, the action is what got to me. The movie has too much wirework (or wirefu) and blood. If you enjoyed movies like Yuen Woo Ping & Tsui Hark's Iron Monkey, Jet Li & Michelle Yeoh & Yuen Woo Ping's Tai Chi Master (aka Twin Warriors), and Michelle Yeoh & Anita Mui & Maggie Cheung's Heroic Trio, then I think you will enjoy this movie. If you are into those kind of movies, you will love this. However, if you just want to see it because it is martial arts, and this is not your type, then obviously don't get it.

I'm sword fight movie fan - Toshiro Mifune, Kurosawa, and the more recent Zaitoichi, the blind swordsman (never much liked the original). The Duelists, Scaramouche, The Mask of Zorro, The Three Musketeers (1973 & 1974), and of course Highlander and Rob Roy. The first Pirates of the Carribian, Kill Bill, Gladiator, Star Wars Episode V, etc. My experience with the Chinese movies is much more recent, starting with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon & Hero, etc.

I've enjoyed Michelle Yeoh in CTHD, and she is the all time best Bond Girl in Tomorrow Never Dies. She was interesting in the SciFi psychological thriller/head trip movie "Sunshine", and belivable as Mameha in "Memoirs of a Geisha". I've gone out of my way to watch her in "The Touch" and "Silver Hawk" - both mediocre, but watchable. I love chicks with swords, so I broke down and spent $12.00 on "The Butterfly Sword".

The production values are better than I expected, and the fight scenes are beautifully choreographed. But the WIRE-Fu is too over the top, to the point of becoming boring. I didn't care for any of the characters, therefore couldn't get involved in the movie's complicated plot line. It wasn't a waste of time to watch, but I wish I'd seen it on cable - not paid $ for it. I suspect you need to be a hard-core wire-fu fan to truly enjoy the movie.