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Some of the over the top acting can put some people off which is understandable but I believe that just adds more of the historical feel to this type of ancient folklore story. This movie's setting is all taken place in a fictional setting with myths and folklore embedded in it and this type of acting, to me, is meant to bring out more of the historical feeling to these ancient folklore characters. The overly theatrical acting in this movie was so unique to witness and I loved it.
The cinematography and music really exemplify the ancient folklore setting that the movie is trying to portray. I really felt like I was in a mythical world while watching this movie. The ambiance of every scene was incredible. The beautiful traditional Chinese music just adds more of the historical feel this movie has.
This movie talks about ethics and morals by giving us human characters and demons communicating with other interchangeably. You start to see the deeper picture of our own morals in the world of what we consider right and wrong. Another strong theme implemented in this movie is love. The main characters go through a big trial one after another just to go through this journey of experiencing love. In the end, you realize how the humans and demons in this movie think about their own values with what is ethically right or wrong along with the idea of what love actually is. Every character has their own purpose in the beginning and seeing all their lives intertwine with each other will open your mind more about the world we live in.
Overall, I highly recommend this movie to anyone looking to be introduced to a movie with ancient Chinese folklore. This movie may be old and very aberrant than your typical movie but it's truly a jewel that's still hidden and deserves to be seen more.
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An ethereal tapestry
Upon this ancestral stage, even the most virtuous are drawn in by the temptations of Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong. A rich ethereal tapestry of stunning colour, kitsch illusionism and slow-motion eroticism, Green Snake has been on my radar for a while now but little prepared me for how vividly imaginative it would end up being. A profound metaphor for the frailties of humanity and the fallacy of religion, Tsui Hark's take on the White Snake folk tale left him plenty of time to ruminate on what would happen post-1997. The snakes are depicted as creatures simply seeking to live their lives in the human world, but they face denial and persecution from strict societal norms and overzealous individuals enforcing the so-called "natural order." The primary enforcer of these rules is devoted monk, Fa-Hoi, who is also shown to be just as susceptible to desire, anger, and even hypocrisy as the snakes. While the snakes seek love, family, and hope, Fa-Hoi and his Buddhist enforcers are denying the very humanity that they claim to be upholding. Fate, love, sex, hate, religion and desire all play a role in eventually bringing down the world the two snakes attempt to build. The allegory here is obvious, Fa-Hoi’s large red surplice only means one thing: China. Beyond the film's fangs with its messaging, it's directed with all of Tsui's usual flair for the kaleidoscopic that's part art-house wuxia, part softcore smut but all beauty. Bringing weight to the proceedings are fantastic performances from its central trio with Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong turning in gorgeous performances as the sister snakes, while Vincent Zhao gets an equal opportunity to shine when the two ladies aren't bathing in the limelight. The art direction, outstanding musical score and beautiful costume design all add to the spectacle, really I only have slight niggles with the hilariously charming rubber snakes and horrendous early CGI which are thankfully kept to a minimum, other than that, Green Snake is a must-watch.Was this review helpful to you?
