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Saviour
of the Soul |
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review | awards | availability | |
Anita Mui and Andy Lau
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Year: |
1991 |
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Director: |
Corey
Yuen Kwai, David Lai Dai-Wai |
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Producer: |
David Lai Dai-Wai,
Chan Pui-Wa |
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Writer: |
Jeff
Lau Chun-Wai |
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Action: |
Yuen
Tak |
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Cast: |
Anita
Mui Yim-Fong, Andy
Lau Tak-Wah, Aaron
Kwok Fu-Sing, Kenny
Bee (Chung Chun-To), Gloria
Yip Wan-Yi, Carina
Lau Ka-Ling, Corey
Yuen Kwai |
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The
Skinny: |
Creative
and enjoyable action fantasy that's too messy and uneven
to be a workable film, but earns its wings as fun Hong
Kong Cinema. The film has style to spare, and action
that's exciting and inventive. |
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Review
by Kozo: |
This truly baffling fantasy-action-romance from Corey
Yuen has great anime-inspired cinematography and great
action but a hollow and occasionally silly story. Kwan
(Anita Mui), Chuen (Kenny Bee), and Ching (Andy Lau)
are a love-triangle trio of assassins who kill people
and act wacky around each other. Kwan kills the master
of evil bad guy Silver Fox (Aaron Kwok), so Silver Fox
retaliates by attacking Kwan. He fails, but manages
to off Chuen in horrific fashion.
Kwan decides to go into hiding
to avoid her attacker, and also to protect Ching, who's
been entrusted with Cheun's younger sister Gloria Yip.
However, Kwan's disappearance doesn't sit well with
Ching, and he tries desperately to find her. Ching even
challenges the mysterious Pet Lady, thinking that she
is actually Kwan in disguise. Meanwhile, Kwan's twin
sister (also Anita Mui) provides even more comedy relief.
And Silver Fox eventually returns, and he isn't too
happy.
Saviour of the Soul
took home HK Film Awards for Cinematography and Art
Direction, and it was deserving for both. Like Warren
Beatty's Dick Tracy, it effectively creates a
fantasy world that's obviously manufactured but beautiful
in design and scope. As a film, this strange mixture
of action, comedy and fantasy barely registers as its
too uneven and overdone to take seriously. However,
it manages to hit some real highs thanks to its blistering
action and terrific soundtrack. Saviour of the Soul
is a movie best appreciated after more than one
viewing. The jarring pace and strange comedy is more
tolerable upon second viewing, and the positives of
the film are more apparent. (Kozo 1996) |
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Awards: |
11th
Annual Hong Kong Film Awards
• Winner - Best Cinematography (Peter
Pau Tak-Hei)
• Winner - Best Art Direction (Yee Chung-Man)
• Nomination - Best Supporting Actor (Aaron
Kwok Fu-Sing)
• Nomination - Best Editing (Poon Hung, Hai Kit-Wai)
• Nomination - Best Action Design (Yuen
Tak)
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Availability: |
DVD
(Hong Kong)
Region 0 NTSC
Universe Laser
Widescreen
Cantonese and Mandarin Language
Removable English and Chinese Subtitles |
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image
courtesy of Universe Laser & Video Co., Ltd.
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| LoveHKFilm.com
Copyright ©2002-2017 Ross Chen
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