Book and Sword

Chinese, English subtitles

115 minutes

3 stars

One of these days, I'll learn to read the other reviews before ordering something; however, I didn't. The book is by Louis Cha and I've enjoyed the movies (not TV series) I've seen from his other books, alas, this one not so much. Lots of great martial arts with fly by wire, but not so much plot. And what plot was there, wasn't very good. The history wasn't great, either, and if I, a Westerner with very little Chinese history can see some of the flaws, well, that should tell you something. Several reviewers state it was originally a TV series, chopped down to movie length. That's what it looked like, which is too bad, because had it been redone as a movie, it might have had a few more redeeming qualities. Costuming gets 5 stars, story gets 1.

Trailer: None

More on the Handsome Flying Fox(es)

Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain 

Discs 2, 3 of 8 discs (series)

Mandarin, English subtitles

5 stars

Rainy Day is now very frustrated that the discs don't come quite as fast as she finishes them. After viewing 3 discs (15 episodes) she is totally hooked. The costuming is sumptuous (when they got off Snowy Mountain, they took their coats off). The theme music during opening credits is a bit off-putting, but doesn't intrude in the movie. Rainy Day would like to take a couple of the characters (a mother and her daughter) and teach them some manners. They are both spoiled, and the child whines too much. Rainy hoped a visit to the Valley of the Poison King would cure it. Rainy Day is of the notion that children should be seen and not heard. The subtitles are downright hilarious at times. Eat your heart out, Jay Leno.

There is some fantastic kung fu in this series and great photography. Rainy Day is pretty sure the director was a student of Kurosawa. Have you seen any of the series yet? Are you going to? Your loss, if you don't.

For the You Tube trailer, click on the title, above