The Legend of Zu (2001)A battle between good and evil is ongoing in Sichuan's Zu mountains. Local warmonger Insomnia is on the attack again, having already put an end to the Kun Lun clan 200 years earlier. The evil presence takes root under the mountain and busies itself draining the energy that sustains Zu and keeps its floating rocks from falling. When an attempt at combining the powers of Omei's Heaven and Thunder Swords fails, heavy hitters including Kun Lun immortal King Sky (Ekin Cheng) and Omei head student Red (Louis Koo) make moves to wipe out Insomnia so the Zu folks can sleep easy again. The Legend of Zu's storytelling shoots by at a brisk pace, with heroics at every turn along the tale's busy course. Though there's plenty to follow, the overall presentation comes across as loud and dark, with little sense of excitement or fun in either the dialogue or visuals. While the thrills and adventure of director Tsui's 1983 film Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain aren't revisited, similarities to the older production still key in, particularly in the initial credits, in the powerful combination of two swords, in Cecilia Cheung attractively dressed like Brigitte Lin, and with the use of modern filmmaking technologies behind the scenes. The incredible amount of computer animation in The Legend of Zu places the production far from other effects-driven fantasy flicks made in Hong Kong over recent years. Every scene in Tsui's latest vision requires heavy computer animation for backgrounds and a diverse range of computer-generated weapons. The landscape the filmmakers paint is undeniably eye-catching and unique while the creativity offered by the techniques appears to have been explored at every turn. But for every moment that offers a new element of visual trickery, so too does the production become increasingly overwhelming and wearying to watch. Computer animation frequently holds the cast among digital settings, in which characters appear dislocated from their surrounds. My excitement at seeing Herman Yau's co-cinematographer credit proved unfounded when so many images comprised cast members superimposed against the new backdrops. Action scenes are similarly laden with effects and often feature characters that appear posed while the digital effects and animated weapons do all the work around them. Only once evil firms its foothold in Zu does some brief traditional action work appear, notably featuring Zhang Ziyi. The actors perform well within the scenario, speaking loudly and looking enthusiastic in their costumes, but The Legend of Zu's mix of extensive computer animation and scarce low-tech entertainment does not always compliment their screen time. |
Credits: Directed by Tsui Hark |
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