Worth a watch if you are into action
This is a short lazy review :)This movie is not bad at all. Very watchable, lots of action (and blood and if you're into it, gruesome deaths), and the story is ok. It could've been a lot better though, I'm not sure why scenes were edited a certain way, but I could follow it.
There are some annoying troupes, but at least they keep it simple. I will mention that they swap the usual male and female roles that you see in C-dramas. Remember that annoying/gullible/child-like female lead you disliked, well imagine them making the husband to the female lead like that... I do like that they at least made it seem that he was worthy of her.
I rated it a 6/10, but I enjoyed watching this greatly (I wouldn't watch it again though). It surprised me on how they handle some things well, but then there were just some things (editing and effects) I couldn't let go.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Good Dynasty Era Detective Story
First, I would say the casting in this one is top-notch, especially Liu Yong Xi, Zhao Ran and Yang Xing. The specific ally / enemy colleague-hood between Liu Yong Xi's Detective Tang and Yang Xing's Detective Sai is something rare: two female characters of similar martial disciplines who aren't 'catty' with each other but also aren't 'allies' in the common feminist western movie sense. Just two masters whose priorities in life diverged with one being the younger version of the other. I also like how the movie never feels the need to 'soften' Detective Sai.On the CGI of shadow and light mirror play, I feel like people who are raised on the lexicon that CGI must be 'photoreal' (but it never is anyway) will receive this one awkwardly because the whole point is that the illusory entities should both be lethal AND look artificial, not creatures that look like they exist with solidity in the real world. Since I'm not in the 'CGI must always be photoreal in live-action' camp, I pretty much got what they were going for here.
Lastly, without any spoilers, I would say the action sequences are well-choreographed and elegant but also quite brutal and raw, and of course, bloody. It gives the feeling of a hybrid detective / wuxia underground story that I really find interesting.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This was an action packed watched
DisclaimerWhat I am writing here are my views and thoughts about this movie (and yes, you can have your own views in a review). Some of you may not like it. That does not give you the right to try to come at me with your opinions on why this movie should get a higher or lower score and why it is better/worse than I think it is. You have your own opinions, and I have mine. Kindly respect that.
I watched this movie, as I needed a movie that started with 'Q' for one of my challenges. I will say that I did enjoy this movie, as it had action-packed sequences with the actors carrying out the storyline as well. There were not really any dull moments, which is a plus for me, as sometimes even movies are not able to keep my attention for how long they are.
What I will advise is not to read the synopsis of this movie, as it did give away a major point that occurred in the movie. While this did happen, the actors were still able to pull off the scene well for me. When watching this movie, some CGI can be seen as questionable, as it does look like what it is – CGI. Other than that, it was a good movie that I am shocked that I actually enjoyed, as I basically only watched this to get 'Q' for my 'Drama and Movie Challenge'.
Was this review helpful to you?
