Green Snake (1993)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

I was very much entertained, then touched and finally saddened by the movie. It was very beautiful, despite some technical shortcomings and lack of good fights. Definitely the CG and magic could seem funny and outdated, they are not important though and do not detract from the overall quality and value. The music seems very good as well, at least to my not very discerning ear, I liked it a lot.The movie was very interesting to watch for a few reasons. Obviously, the two actresses were very pretty and there were many really pleasant scenes in the movie involving them taking the clothes off. There are enough silly and funny scenes as well.I would not say this is a martial-arts or Kung Fu movie, definitely not a typical one. There is litte going for the martial arts and the movie concentrates on the love life of the two heroines and their naive teacher, with some interruptions from a crazy blind taoist monk ghost-hunter. For me it was deep enough to think about and entertaining at the same time, with an unfortunate but (maybe)typical pessimistic ending.What is important in the movie, is the moral story of Buddhist improvement and the circle of life and death. Two snake spirits, sisters most likely, are training to become humans to be able to advance their spiritual position, the way I understand it, in order to achieve nirvana? Or maybe because they think the emotions of humans are very important and beautiful, it is difficult for me to say. I did definitely find this story touching. One of the sisters, the white snake (wifey says white is the color of wisdom), has been training twice as long as the Green (Blue) Snake and is very powerful. She gets herself a man and they fall in love. Part of the movie is about her falling in love with him, with the sister being doubtful if human emotions are worth it. This is indeed a very light and beautiful part of the movie, I did love it. The Blue is trying to understand the emotions, but she is a bit lazy and likes being a snake so is not training hard enough. Additionally, she is an erotic dancer, to add a bit spice to the movie, the initial scene where the two appear is worth watching for sure. She is also trying to get the man of her sister, maybe out of jealousy, were it not too human a feeling.After the first part of the movie, there is the second where the sisters live together with the man, who starts noticing that they are a bit strange and suspects they are indeed "evil" snake spirits. In fact, he is absolutely terrified, the more noble to be later when, despite terror, he refuses to poison them. He obviously loves both of them and cannot help the monk who is after themThe Monk... I really truly despise this persona. He did seem noble, besides incredibly powerful. He is a Buddhist monk, living his belief 110%, holier than thou. He seemed to understand that the spirits are not all to be hunted. However he has a terrible fault in his character, a typical universal, trans-cultural "hamartia" where he cannot see that he has human emotions and that he is a man who cannot escape desire. He is fighting those feelings and though the refusal to accepts them, develops hatred, pettiness, vengefulness, PRIDE , and forgets about mercy and compassion. He does realize it at the end but it is too late for some of the main characters... I hate when it happens.It is too much to describe the movie in its totality. However, it is difficult to stop writing about this movie too. I need to finish saying that the last part of the movie is spent despising the proud monk and hoping he realizes the mistake. In other words, the hallmarks of good tragedy. Beautiful but sad, with the lasting feeling that by changing a minute of the ending, we would be able to finish with a more positive and heartwarming outcome. I understand this would not be as cathartic but catharsis is often and overpriced commodity.If you are inclined this way, you could consider the ending more positive, with some characters having a chance to meet in future lives, having achieved the humanity they sought, others realizing the mistakes and being burdened with the feelings and unwelcome pain.Hated the ending and loved the movie.

WOW.Chinese film makers have definitely made great strides since the days of the shaw brothers cookie cutter chop socky genre.this film is based on a legendary story but clearly takes the story line and presentation to a remarkable and very entertaining spot.sexuality is explored and well as the gamut of emotions humans experience. these are explored in the context of the snake beings learning how to behave as humans.I am dazzled by Maggie. I wish I had known she was in Hamilton doing 'Clean' maybe I could have gotten an autograph.honestly, I've never seen a film with such a wondrous fantasy setting that still presented some moral lessons and thought provoking ideas about human interaction.

Director Tsui Hark is most well known for "Black Mask", "Zu Warriors" and "Once upon a time in China", but not too many have seen "Green Snake". "Green Snake" is one of the most breathtaking Hong Kong films next to "Hero". It has many similar elements to Zu Warriors, since so many of the characters can fly. The story is based on an ancient Chinese folk tale. Two sisters are snakes, but they disguise themselves as humans, since snakes are looked down upon. A master monk is out to destroy the sisters fearing that they're a threat. White snake wants to be normal, she marries a clumsy monk who has no idea she's a snake. Green Snake is the wild sister, who enjoys morphing from snake to human form. Although the film's giant snake looks kind of fake, the film makes up for it with creativity. Bright colors, surreal dreamlike landscapes and martial arts magic are all part of "Tsui Hark's "Green Snake". It's also very trippy, like "Fellini Satyricon". "Green Snake" is an amazing film that needs to be seen!

Two snakes that evolved into women, a tibetan priest, a teacher of poetry and a wonderful frame made up of peach blossom petals, lotus flowers and lanterns lit at night on the river are the ingredients that make "Green Snake" a dream-like movie. The story, slow compared to Tsui Hark standards, flows through two paths: on the first one (lighthearted, playful and with a touch of irony which is never unwelcome) we get to enjoy the life of two snake-girls (White Snake, played by Joey Wang, and Green Snake, played by Maggie cheung) who, by stumbling into a village and alluring every one, cause a lot of turmoil among the people's hearts. White Snake, having trained much more than Green Snake and thus having acquired human feelings, actually succeeds in winning the love of the poetry teacher. On another scenario, the tibetan priest lives in a nearby temple, meditating, trying to gain spiritual ascension, helping people whenever they are in trouble and in general doing his best to preserve the natural balance of the world. However, not everything is like it seems at first glance: while the two snake-girls actually show some positive will and determination as they tend sick people, the priest, although he stops tidal waves from flooding the village, never goes down to experiencing the condition of people... and, by acting as judge, risks of falling into the trap of self-esteem and prejudice. Apart from the thoughtfulness it inspires, the movie is unique in fantasy and never ceases to wonder, regardless if it's autumn, winter or spring! 10/10