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Reviews2
mjer123's rating
This is no doubt the best wuxia film of the 90's. The costume, fight scenes and compelling cast all add up to an excellent and engrossing film. The story revolves around swordsman Ling Wu Chung (Jet Li) who on his way to retreat from the martial arts world, having to rescue a kidnapped leader of the Sun Moon Sect and confronting the powerful Asia, a person who have master an invincible form of martial arts, but at a terrible price. Yes, the plot is complex but is far more interesting than the simple and cliche "you kill my master, I want revenge" plot we get from some other martial arts films. The brillant colours and thrilling action scenes are also well-made and serves to grab and hold the attention of the audience until the very end of the film. All in all, a superb film. Those who thought "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was the best martial arts will have to see this film.
The previous reviewer completely fails to understand the charm and pleasure of watching a Godzilla film. What makes this Godzilla movie stand above the other monster-in-a-suit film is that there are real human drama involved. The film, even with this American editing. is a dark and serious tale of the horror of the atom bomb as experienced by Japan. The previous reviewer fails to realize that this American edition cut the original film from almost 97 minutes to a mere 79 minutes, leaving many details of the plot out.
Second, The romance between the two characters of the scientist and the daughter betrothed to her was not the central theme of the story. The story concentrates on the the moral dilemma that Dr. Serasawa is forced to confront, to either use his powerful weapon of oxygen destroyer to eliminate Godzilla or prevent its use and hence preventing it falling into the military hands into another weapon like the atom bomb. It is his painful choice at the end that gives the film so much poignancy.
Third, looking at the special effects from the present, of course it is cheesy and fake. But for its 1950's period, it is indeed quite good. The night scenes with Godzilla rising out of the water is meant to convey the ferocity and evil of Godzilla, heightened by the excellent music score. The scene of Godzilla's silhouette against a burning Tokyo is a classic scene itched into Japanese cinema.
All in all, an excellent film, subsequent Godzilla films are indeed rather comedic, but this original film is a dark, serious and unforgettable film.
Second, The romance between the two characters of the scientist and the daughter betrothed to her was not the central theme of the story. The story concentrates on the the moral dilemma that Dr. Serasawa is forced to confront, to either use his powerful weapon of oxygen destroyer to eliminate Godzilla or prevent its use and hence preventing it falling into the military hands into another weapon like the atom bomb. It is his painful choice at the end that gives the film so much poignancy.
Third, looking at the special effects from the present, of course it is cheesy and fake. But for its 1950's period, it is indeed quite good. The night scenes with Godzilla rising out of the water is meant to convey the ferocity and evil of Godzilla, heightened by the excellent music score. The scene of Godzilla's silhouette against a burning Tokyo is a classic scene itched into Japanese cinema.
All in all, an excellent film, subsequent Godzilla films are indeed rather comedic, but this original film is a dark, serious and unforgettable film.