|
| July 2005 | SITE MAP SEARCH |
|
The Magnificent Trio cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh, and Cheng Lui director: Chang Cheh 104 minutes (12) 1966 widescreen ratio 2.35:1 Momentum Asia DVD Region 2 retail RATING: 4/10 reviewed by Andrew Hook |
|
|
This is an early Chinese movie by Chang Chen, released as part of a series overseen
by the legendary Shaw brothers that is probably for completists only. A group of farmers
kidnap the daughter of a corrupt magistrate in the hope of breaking his hold over their
village, but he employs bandits in an attempt to overcome the villagers, who - rather
traditionally - manage to attain the services of a trio of expert swordsmen to win
the day. Original plotting isn't the keystone to this movie, nor original dialogue, or original acting, but there are some set piece fight sequences that are worth watching to pass the time although most of these have been superseded in quality by the development of the genre since the film was made, and lack the balletic, mesmeric choreography of recent times. What is interesting - and often quite extraordinary - is the indiscriminate killing of seemingly major characters that I would have expected to make it to the end of the film. Their sudden, often arbitrary demise adds a sense of battle realism that would be lacking in a Hollywood movie. Our three heroes (played by Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh, and Cheng Lui) are almost expressionless when it comes to their acting skills, which is unfortunate as if they had been given more of enthusiastic roles, then this movie might have wandered towards some excitement. As it happens, I wouldn't particularly recommend this DVD to anyone other than those who are interested in Chinese film history. The only extras are trailers for similar films from this studio.
NEXT
Did you find this review helpful? Any comments are always welcome! Please support VideoVista, buy stuff online using these links - Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Send it | W.H. Smith |