MovieChat Forums > Xia nü (1971) Discussion > Such a Schizo film.

Such a Schizo film.

posted 9 years ago by JacintoCupboard
1 reply | jump to latest

Parts of this film were so masterful I would go so far as to call it a classic. And then it lurches into some of the silliest kung fu nonsense, stuff that would not have been out of place in a drive-in in the early 70s. I get it that for some, the fight scenes will be the best part of movie, and that's great for them. But for me the juxtaposition of an interesting story, beautifully filmed, and some of the campest action scenes one is ever likely to see, is bizarre. It is almost like a mash up of films made by two different directors.

And the last 15 minutes or so... really? The principal characters just get forgotten about and we have this strange religious photo montage.

The good half of the movie is near enough a ten imo. The rubbish half wouldn't get a pass mark. I can't think of any film I have seen that is so schizo.

[–] andrewhollingsworth 8 years ago

You seem to fail to recognise that this is a Wuxia movie. Also the era in which it was made meant that choreography of this nature was in its infancy. The choreography was groundbreaking at the time. Although I do agree somewhat that the ending feels tacked on but maybe this is a fault with the original story that dates back 500 years rather than the storytelling by the movie makers.