This review may contain spoilers
They don't make 'em like that anymore.
Firstly - I appreciate that this comes from a time before ubiquitous CG use - it's really quite minimal here.
It's shot quite nicely on real sets, real locations, with real stunt people etc.
Compared to the overpolished airbrushed wuxia these days, it's more gritty and closer to realism - people get sweaty, dirty and bloody and not everyone is young and conventionally attractive.
I also have to say that this is probably one of my favourite, if not the favourite Jin Yong story and adaptation. There's no courtly intrigue, no annoying patriotism. Yes, the main theme is of course strife in the jianghu, but that's fine.
It's, in fact, surprisingly anarchistic even - no martial move, no countermove. No party, no enemies.
It heavily explores the idea of transgressing boundaries - there's the (fairly common) theme of orthodox parties vs. "evil cults" and what it really means to be/do evil. There's some queer subtext in the concept of male soulmates from opposing factions leaving society altogether and living together in seclusion. (they "play music together", sure they do. :))
And the main McGuffin of the whole story - the Purity Skill Book/ Mallow Journal (or Sunflower Manual as translated elsewhere) - is all about crossing the boundaries of gender. I appreciate that despite a lot of visible disgust over the "self-castrated" villains, Dongfang Bubai is actually portrayed by a woman and it's made quite clear she's different to the others.
(I'm using "she/her", because in my mind she's clearly a trans woman - at least in this adaptation. "I'd rather be a woman than the emperor." and so on.)
Unlike Yue Buchun who transgressed for power and prestige, and Lin Pingzhi who does it for revenge, she seemingly just...transitions. Girl really just wanted to leave the jianghu behind and spend her days doing embroidery. (and spoiling her scheming mediocre boyfriend)
Ultimately even in defeat she's shown sympathy and we understand her love was real, and her end tragic.
Finally - I'm glad that while sympathetic characters die, it's not a complete tragedy in the end. (as is so common in wuxia and Jin Yong stories.)
Oh and the music is an absolute banger.
I'm glad to have this on DVD, it's worth revisiting.
It's shot quite nicely on real sets, real locations, with real stunt people etc.
Compared to the overpolished airbrushed wuxia these days, it's more gritty and closer to realism - people get sweaty, dirty and bloody and not everyone is young and conventionally attractive.
I also have to say that this is probably one of my favourite, if not the favourite Jin Yong story and adaptation. There's no courtly intrigue, no annoying patriotism. Yes, the main theme is of course strife in the jianghu, but that's fine.
It's, in fact, surprisingly anarchistic even - no martial move, no countermove. No party, no enemies.
It heavily explores the idea of transgressing boundaries - there's the (fairly common) theme of orthodox parties vs. "evil cults" and what it really means to be/do evil. There's some queer subtext in the concept of male soulmates from opposing factions leaving society altogether and living together in seclusion. (they "play music together", sure they do. :))
And the main McGuffin of the whole story - the Purity Skill Book/ Mallow Journal (or Sunflower Manual as translated elsewhere) - is all about crossing the boundaries of gender. I appreciate that despite a lot of visible disgust over the "self-castrated" villains, Dongfang Bubai is actually portrayed by a woman and it's made quite clear she's different to the others.
(I'm using "she/her", because in my mind she's clearly a trans woman - at least in this adaptation. "I'd rather be a woman than the emperor." and so on.)
Unlike Yue Buchun who transgressed for power and prestige, and Lin Pingzhi who does it for revenge, she seemingly just...transitions. Girl really just wanted to leave the jianghu behind and spend her days doing embroidery. (and spoiling her scheming mediocre boyfriend)
Ultimately even in defeat she's shown sympathy and we understand her love was real, and her end tragic.
Finally - I'm glad that while sympathetic characters die, it's not a complete tragedy in the end. (as is so common in wuxia and Jin Yong stories.)
Oh and the music is an absolute banger.
I'm glad to have this on DVD, it's worth revisiting.
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