While Tsui Hark certainly has his fans around the world, for us, we’re mostly waiting for him to make something to match the inspired audacity of 2000’s “Time And Tide.” As anyone who has seen that movie knows, it’s a ridiculously awesome and totally bonkers action flick that still has some of its setpieces seared into our brain (the shootout between guys scaling two tenement buildings anyone?). Everything since has been kind of disappointing, just lacking the sheer balls-out verve of that flick.
And that applies — thus far — to Hark’s next effort, the period film “Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” starring Jet Li. Featuring an ensemble that includes Zhou Xun, Aloys Chen Kun, Li Yuchun and Kwai Lun-Mei, the story follows a Ming dynasty general (Li) who battles a power-hungry eunuch for control of the titular inn. The trailer for the film certainly looks nice — no period detail or expense seems to have been spared — but it also feels like any number of period-set flicks from Eastern cinema we’ve seen over the past few years. Granted, it’s just a teaser and maybe there is more to show off, but frankly, maybe we should just dust off that “Time And Tide” DVD.
The film is getting the IMAX 3D treatment and will hit Chinese screens in the format in December. No word yet on any North American dates. [MCN/THR]