Customer Reviews

Green Snake

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Green Snake is a movie directed by the imaginative hands of Tsui Hark (Once Upon A Time In China, Time and Tide).

This movie is a enthralling fantasy set during the Southern Sung Dynasty about a monk who sets out to eradicate the world of evil spirits. During his moral missions, he encounters "Green Snake," a spirit who takes the shape of a beautiful woman in order to benefit humankind.

Maggie Cheung (Police Story, The Heroic Trio, In The Mood For Love) and Joey Wong (Butterfly & Sword, A Chinese Ghost Story) play two beautiful half-human/half-snakes. Son Ching (Wong), after 1000 years of discipline, has begun to evolve from her snake form into a human being. Green Snake (Cheung), with only a mere 500 years of practice, is content on simply slithering around, until a Buddhist monk, played by Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo (Fong Sai Yuk), with magnificent powers becomes their greatest foe.

In her human form, Son finds love. However, Green Snake is torn between the love of her best friend Son and her mischievious spirit-self that wants nothing better than to middle with the love interest of Son as well as play with and beguile humans.

Enraged over the fact that either would dare to even attempt to assume human form, the Buddhist Monk quickly passes judgment and takes matters into his own hands.

This movie stars: Joey Wong (Wang Zu Xian), Maggie Cheung (Cheung Man-Yuk), Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo (Chiu Man Cheuk), Wu Hsing-Guo (Wu Kuo Chiu, Wu Hsin-Kuo), Ma Cheng Miu, Tin Fung, Chan Dung Mooi.

This movie offers exquisite plateaus, vivid costumes and sets, and simply unforgettable imagery.

Lastly, the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because of the subtitles. The subtitles at times are barely legible. They are small and in white. Its hard very difficult to read them at times. Other than this, it makes an excellent addition to my growing of films from China.

This movie is beautiful, but if you care about video quality and the readability of subtitles, you might want to look instead for the 2004 "DTS Version" from Mei Ah Entertainment.

From highly-acclaimed special-effects Director Tsuk Ke, comes a story based on a old Chinese Folk Story (but with a twist).

Story goes like this:

2 Snake Spitirs, one White & the other Green (played excellently by Joey Wong & Maggie Cheng respectively) wanted to feel what's it would be like to be a human, decided to descend onto earth to become one. What they desired was also, most importantly, to understand it's complexity and feel what human love is.

Wise and more powerful was White Snake (as she has been mediating for more than 1,000 years) as compared to Green Snake (500 years).

Fun they had but trouble soon erupted when White Snake choose an honest man (played by i can't remember the name)to wed and to hold. To make matters worst, Green Snake incidentally falls for the Monk (played by another HK actor), which is determined to ride the world of all spirits & devils. This soon brings upon jealousy between the 2 sisters as one has a happy marriage while the other cannot fufill her wish to be human & being love.

Finally, after discovering the 2 Snake Spirits. The Monk decides to capture White Snake's husband by force in hope to awaken him from the sins (for have a relationship with a unworldly spirit).

Both Snake Spirits, bonded together as sisters, decided to make an attempt to rescue him from the monk despite knowing their chances of winning are slim. For Green Snake, she finally understand the cost of being a human and the love for her Sister. As for White Snake, to finally become a human and have in her the child of her husband. She's determined to save the only man she so love, even if it means ...

** The story boost some of the Best Special Effects in the history of Chinese film making (Coming from Tusk Ke, it's no suprise) and a great story line.

One last note, although this movie didn't do well at the box-office. But look beyond that, it does help tell you -- never underestimate the power of love and the human race or spirits for that matter.

Green Snake is an excellent movie, based on the story "Madame White Snake," an old Chinese folk tale.

White and Green are snake women, intent on becoming human. When White falls in love with a human man, Hsui Xian , White and Green go to extraordinary lengths to keep their true selves hidden. Hsui Xian , a teacher, loves his wife White, and eventually learns her secret despite her efforts.

White and Green are pursued by the vigilant Monk Fa Hai, who captures and punishes 'evil spirits' by confining them to his mystic 'alms bowl.' Fa Hai, a good man, has become self righteous in his pursuit of evil, overlooking the compassion and understanding that Buddha dictates and has become almost evil himself. (Partly, through the movie, he realizes this, and endeavors to change). Can Fa Hai overcome his pride to see the truth before its too late?

I really liked Green Snake. While the special affects are not 'high quality' the film manages to get its point across quite well, and the scenes where White and Green were 'slithering' bonelessly around the house as 'snakes' were both creepy and well-done!

Warning: Because of sexual scenes and overtones I would recommend this movie for mature audiences only.

The cinematography blew me away when i watched this movie! such beautiful settings and beautiful composition! it's too bad the computer special FX were pretty bad since it's made in 1993, it's the ONLY downside to this movie and it's why I didn't give it 5 stars. it'd be wonderful if they re-release this movie with new CG technology but that's highly unlikely since HongKong's known to re-make movies by the batch rather than restoring old classics.

the story itself is one of the most memorable chinese mythologies. the legend of a 1000 year old white snake taking human form to experience love and emotions... the stubborn and narrow minded monk who believes only humans are good and all other spirits are evil... the sisterly relationship between the white snake and her 500 year old green snake companion... everything about it is just sooooo beautiful!!! a very heartful movie for those with a taste for romance.

The story of Green and White Snake had been one of the most talked about fairy tales in Chinese folklores. Hark Tsui is by far the most prestigeous period fantasy film director in HK for the last two decades, and this may not have been his best work, but it's beautiful and touching all together. With elaborate sets, costumes, dance scenes, soundtrack, and stimulating visuals of battles between good and evil, makes it an entertaining period piece. What's more memorable is that two of HK's top Divas are featured here; Maggie Cheung is the Green Snake, and Joey Wong is White Snake.

Green Snake is 500 years old, and she's trained by her adopted sister White Snake, a 1000 year-old snake who is more wise and powerful. One day, they decide to transform into humans and headed to town for some life experiences. Their interactions with the humans caused the local "demon slayer" to come and track them down, but Green and White are so powerful, that they were defeated miserably. White met a handsome scholar and they fell in love, while he's clueless about her identity. She's very skillful, and has the knowledge of a doctor and treats the local peasants. They soon got married, and Green Snake was very jealous of them, and wanted to experience love and marriage. She threatens to sabotage White's marriage, and White was furious, and wanted to break off their sister relationship. Also. Green is too weak to handle any incoming attacks on her own. Just when White was about to bring a baby to life, a very powerful monk comes to town and threatens to arrest her. Will she survive without Green? And will her husband accept her as a snake fairey. Will she reconcile and join forces with Green to defeat the Monk?......

William Cheung's exquisite costumes and art direction made Maggie and Joey so stunning feminine and beautiful. Even though Maggie Cheung is a stronger actress, and managed to steal scenes here, but this is ultimately Joey Wong's better performance alongside with her signature A Chinese Ghost Story Trilogy. It's so hard to chose who's more likeable or better in this movie, because their roles are so different from each other.

2 giant snakes named White (Joey Wong) and Green (Maggie Cheung) are trying to become humans. White does her best at trying to act like a human but Green finds it too hard to change. White falls in love with an honest man, and even after he finds out she is a snake he still loves her. But Green doesn't like all the attention that White is getting and starts flirting with her man. Vincent Zhao plays a high monk with unlimited power and his job is to kill any evil beings who do not follow the Heavenly laws. He has problems of his own and does not know for sure if these 2 snakes are truly evil.

This is quite an adventure and it never gets boring. Joey Wong is very good in her role, but Maggie Cheung manages to outshine her. I would have liked to see some actual kung fu moves from Vincent Zhao, but he is perfect for his role. He is a master of playing straight-faced roles like the one he plays in this movie. The music is mesmerizing and the ending is very special even though it is a bit illogical. But then again, this is a movie with snakes and spiders acting as humans so the end doesn't feel too far fetched. It is one of the best endings I have ever seen. This is not you typical mindless Hong Kong movie. I had to watch it a few times to take it all in, and it manages to get better every time I see it. This movie is a real gem.

There is no real fighting, and the action is what you would expect from a Tsui Hark wuxia. All of the action involves flying around, posing, and using magical powers.

4.5/5

A retelling of the Chinese folk Tale Madame White Snake. The story has been filmed three times before in the 50's and 60's: twice in Hong Kong and the third a Hong Kong/Japanese production. Whatever merits these earlier productions may have (none are in print in any format), they surely can't have Tsui Hark's sensual filming of Maggie Cheung (sigh) and Joey Wang (sigh sigh).

The cinematography has a lush, tropical feel, and both Cheung (sigh) and Wang (sigh sigh) do a creditable job of conveying their reptilian qualities with posture and motion rather than excessive special effects.

The only annoyance with the DVD is that the subtitles are in both Chinese and English simultaneously, and cannot be turned off. Also, the type is too small to be read easily, and often blends in with the film's background.

One of my favorite Chinese movies, "Green Snake" is based on the old Chinese folk tale of "Madam White Snake", about a goodhearted snake who fell in love with a mortal man, only to be twarted by a self-righteous monk. Of all of Tsui Hark's movies, this one has the lamest of special effects, but then special effects aren't the point of the story. "Green Snake" is given various twists that inject the classic tale with a fresh perspective. The White Snake isn't the paragon of virtue that she was in the old tale, and nor is the Green Snake the steadfast and loyal younger sister. They were both given much more depth than that - simultaneously innocent as newcomers to the world of human desires and emotions, and seductive and relentless in the use of feminine wiles to bewitch men at the same time. The monk Fa Hai is not simply a self-righteous religious fanatic who sees the world in black and white, but a man who grapples daily with his human frailties and lustful desires. Only the scholar Hsui Xian is pretty much the bumbling scholar that he was in the original version of the tale. But even here, he is much more human - cowardly, attached to worldly pleasures, and wishy washy. Maggie Cheung and Joey Wang both gave wonderful performances as Green Snake and White Snake respectively, while Chiu Man Cheok (also known as Wing Zhao) is also convincing as the all-too-human monk. And no monk has ever looked as sexy as he does in the movie. Okay, so I'm a big fan of his. :-)

"Green Snake" stars Maggie Cheung, Joey Wong, and Zhao Wen Zhuo/Chiu Mun Chuk. Based on an old Chinese legendary myth, this film is a classic.

At the time of its release, its special effects were quite impressive, and wirework was well done by Zhao Wen Zhuo, who plays a monk. Directing was well done, and unlike many kung-fu films, camera angles are just right so that an audience can actually see what's going on. Although Zhao Wen Zhuo is one of the main characters, he receives very little screen time until the last scene, which is well done. The script, dialogue, and acting performances by Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong allow wonderful character development and an audience sympathizes for them. And the movie fairly displays both perspectives from Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong vs. Zhao Wen Zhuo.

Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong play snakes who may take human form, while Zhao Wen Zhuo (kung-fu artist; "BLACKSHEEP AFFAIRS", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA IV and V") plays the monk who seeks to destroy them. The ending isn't predictable, even if you do know the Chinese myth that this film bases itself around. This is a must-see, though there is not much intricate kung-fu choreography. Fight scenes are not impressive compared to Zhao Wen Zhuo's other works, mentioned above. The movie in general, however, is extraordinarily well shot and deserves praise.