The Butterfly Lovers (2008)

I can't believe I almost passed this up.

I had very little expectations of this movie. I didn't really know the story and I definitely didn't know the actors, which meant I was a blank slate.

It was a wonderful experience. First of all, the romance feels real. You can see them falling for each other piece by piece, and it's that deep, profound affection kind of love. They like being around each other. Second, the villain. He really did it for me—as in, I could totally get behind our heroine trying to protect the hero from him, because Dude was legitimately off his rocker. That's the kind of thing not many stories pull off well; it just reads as noble idiocy. I was so pleased that this was not the case with this movie.

Next, the look and feel of the film. It's nothing amazing, but it feels and looks good, especially the mountain scenes. The end scene is also awesome. I also have to mention the music. It really carried the mood, and was never intrusive.

Last, the actors. They're natural, have wonderful chemistry, and I really enjoyed watching them. It might be a stupid point to mention, but I also enjoyed the fact that the lead actor is not a stick? Like, he LOOKS like someone who has spent his life dedicated to martial arts?

The end isn't for everybody, but if you're in the right kind of mood, THIS is the movie to watch.

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