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白蓮邪神 (1993)
White Lotus Cult


Reviewed by: wyeeso
Date: 04/13/2012
Summary: A mix of history and martial arts

[Plot: 3.5/5]
I guess I took the story a bit too serious. I thought the whole story will get the audiences to think more of the social issues (such as discrimination) and changes (such as China becoming westernized) that took place during the Guangxu era due to foreign invasion and the chaos created by the White Lotus Cult. The reason why I think that way is the story does begin with an illustration of how China has become a chaotic place that's full of discrimination and hatred among the Chinese civilians, Imperial government and the foreigners. And behind the chaos, the White Lotus Cult (which is full of thugs and swindlers) has been favored and appointed by Empress Dowager Cixi to attack foreigners, threaten the civilians to join their side, and frequently show contempt for the law. Eventually, the civilians can no longer define what's right and wrong, who's good and bad. As for the social changes, the audiences should notice a few western features in the imperial China. For examples, you'll see the Imperial family skating on ice, the Chinese soldiers using firearms, and civilians riding on the steam train for transportation! And that's the first half (it's actually less than a half) of the story that has led me to think about the corruptions and peaceless movements during Guangxu era.
Then comes the second larger half of the story, which goes back into a typical martial-art/revenge film. It all begins with the leader of the White Lotus Cult, Chan Sing Tim (played by Ji Chun-Hua), having a kundalini syndrome while conducting a retreat, so he plots to take the White Lotus Classic from his senior, Kim Jan (played by Gan Tak-Mau), to cure himself. In his plot, Sing Tim tricks Kim Jan into assassinating Empress Dowager Cixi while he tries to terminate Kim Jan so he can get the Classic and gain more favors from Cixi. Following the betrayal, Kim Jan and his former lover, Hung (played by Lily Li), decides to train a medicine delivery boy, Sam (played by Do Siu-Chun), to become a martial artist in hopes to defeat Sing Tim. And just right after Sam finishes his training, Kim Jan immediately dies from a fatal internal injury. Now, Kim Jan's daughter Siu Tieh (played by Elise Yip) and Sam are both desperate to avenge for Kim Jan, but on the other hand, Sing Tim only has 49 days to live if he doesn't get himself cured. The point is, since they know they are too weak to defeat Sing Tim, they should just hide with the Classic and wait for the 49 days to pass, so that Sing Tim can be "self-destructed" by then, ending up in a sure-win situation! Oh well, Sing Tim ends up getting an easy death anyway at the end.
Given that this story is related to revenge, brotherhood and betrayal naturally become the themes for this film. The relationship between Sing Tim and Kim Jan is definitely relevant to the themes, but, unfortunately, it's illustrated without depth. So comparing to that, I find the friendship between Sam and Kuang (played by Tam Chiu) a bit more appealing.

[Actors: 2.5/5]
I don't think anyone really stands out in this film. Well, I guess except for Ji Chun-Hua, who's always the best choice to play the bald and cocky villain without eyebrows in kung-fu films. But anyways, average jobs from everyone.

[The Production Crew:]
Being a martial-art film, the martial choreography is fine, but I wish the last fight can be a bit more entertaining.
Also, I realize the editor has done some poor jobs in this film. For example, a shot doesn't connect well with the sequel shot. It's as if a few second has been taken out between the shots.

[Memorable scene(s):]
Don't really have a memorable scene, but I see a common (or expected) scenario in this film. If you get caught by the bad guys and you beg them to let you live, you'll get killed for sure. Otherwise, if you get caught and you beg them to end your miserable life right away, the chance is they won't kill you and you'll get to live (or at least a bit longer).

[Worth Watching A Second Time?]
I didn't regret watching it the first time, but I probably won't be watching it a second time.

Reviewer Score: 6

Reviewed by: Gaijin84
Date: 01/19/2007
Summary: Excellent martial arts drama...

White Lotus Cult takes place in the same period as the original Once Upon a Time in China. Liang Kun (Do Siu-Chun) is a medicine delivery boy along with his best friend, Kuang. The sentiment around Peking is very anti-foreigner and their are often skirmishes that arise between locals and westerners, sometimes provoked by the ultra-nationalistic White Lotus Cult. Their leader, Chan (Ji Chun-Hua) is physically worn down from his practice of the incredibly power-sapping style of kung fu he practices. In order to regain his strength, he needs the original documents that explains the martial art, but it has been hidden away by his one-time brother Chin Chen (Wong Kam-Kong). A former member, Chin Chen has become disillusioned by the cult's recent dealings and is very opposed to the Empress Dowager and her corrupt government. His desire to assassinate the Empress leads him into danger and embroils Liang Kun in the conflict as well. As it turns out, Liang is interested in Chin's daughter and unfortunately, his friend Kuang has joined the cult and its power-hungry members. Now Liang must learn Chin's White Lotus style in order to take on the leader of the cult.
This martial arts drama is a very enjoyable film and it reminded me of great wuxia stories. There are omnipotent heroes and villians along with a naive hero who gets caught up in the whole mess. The martial arts in the film are also of quite high-quality, with Ji Chun-Hua once again showing his impressive skills. Another nice surprise is the appearance of the Shaw Brothers legend Lily Li Li-Li as the spurned lover of Chin Chen who agrees to teach Liang her powerful martial arts. Although some of the martial arts scenes are undercranked, the quality is still high. An enjoyable film and the first in a trilogy. Sam the Iron Bridge is the next in the series.

8/10

Reviewer Score: 8

Reviewed by: mehaul
Date: 03/25/2002

Good action in this well acted movie about two brothers, one of which is the leader of the white lotus Cult.
The first of a trilogy.
8/10


Reviewed by: pjshimmer
Date: 06/26/2001
Summary: Good action in a mediocore film

I cannot believe that there isn't a review of mine on this film. I think I reviewed it time after time, but each was erased somehow. Oh well.

I thought it was a quite decent movie on the whole. The quality of my copy was extremely bad. But there's a need to mention the good action included. It's perhaps the utmost attraction of the movie, as the plot is not quite up to the standard of good films and the production is obviously a very cheap one. The ending is truly a tragedy. Had it been more fulfilling, the whole movie would generally have been considered better. The beginning could suck and the film could still be a classic (see Once Upon A Time in China). As the beginning is probably 100 minutes away and nearly forgotten towards the end, you tend to lean on the ending, expecting a little more than the beginning.

[7/10]


Reviewed by: hkcinema
Date: 12/21/1999

A corrupt leader of the White Lotus Cult plots to seize the"sacred scrolls" in an attempt to secure his martial arts power. This fanatical cult promises immortality to those who rise against the Europeans in China - resulting in the Boxer Rebellion.

[Reviewed by Tai Seng Catalog]


Reviewed by: pablo
Date: 12/09/1999

First of a trilogy chronicling the adventures of Liang Kun. This time he gets involved in a feud between the leader of the White Lotus Cult and former classmate Ching Chen. Plot is somewhat hard to follow, but is cleared up a bit in the sequel, _Sam the Iron Bridge (Champion of Martial Arts)_.


Reviewed by: hkcinema
Date: 12/08/1999

Lots of flying people. The bad guy from New Legend of Shaolin and many other movies is the bad guy in this one. Really confusing story at times, with the bad guy suffering from poisoning because he practices White Lotus pugilism too much (at least I think that's where the poison is coming from). He needs the White Lotus classics in order to cure himself. Problem is, his brother, who he doesn't get along with, has the classics. Obviously, brother versus brother action ensues for awhile. Then the "good" brother trains a student to fight. The student, of course, ends up killing the "bad" brother. Great fight scenes, confusing story overall.

(8/10)



[Reviewed by Dale Whitehouse]