Peking Opera Blues Rating: Release Date: 26 October, 1999 Retail Price: $29.95 Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: Mark Lee Ma Wu Mark Cheng Ling Complete Cast (10 total)

Peking Opera Blues Reviews

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Peking Opera Blues
I went out on a limb and bought Peking Opera Blues without having viewed it previously and wasn't disappointed. The film is essential viewing for those interested in Hong Kong cinema or more agressively open action films. The comedy and action are both played above high pitch. My only complaint about the DVD is the language problems on the subtitles. You can get the jist of the dialogue but it lacks the clearness of some better efforts; namely Criterion's supurb The Killer and Hard Boiled. Give Peking Opera Blues a shot and keep an opened mind.

A very enjoyable Tsui Hark film, without all the frills
The most enjoyable aspect of this movie is it's three lead female characters: Tsao Wan, who is the daughter of a powerfull general, Pat Neil, who is an aspiring actress in her father's Chinese opera theater, and Sheung Hung, a mischievous musician chasing after a box of lost jewelry. The three end up joining forces to aid a revolutionary faction, bent on foiling a government plot.

This well-conceived story never drops the ball for a moment, combining tense drama, intrigue, and a lot of great laughs. Brigette Lin's performance as general Tsao's loyalty-torn daughter is especially enjoyable, as are the performances of all the main characters.

Contrary to the tradition Tsui Hark seems to have built for himself, this movie relies very little upon special effects and wire-oriented choreography. Although there is a fair amount of action, this is by no means a martial arts or swordplay film. In nearly all its respects, it is a film which can easily be enjoyed by western audiences, even if they are unfamiliar with the Hong Kong movie tradition.

For fans of Hong Kong cinema, this film is definitely a must-see. It is without question a classic of the genre and guaranteed to entertain.

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