Two snake demons and their love-hate relationships with mortal men is a dazzling visual feast filled with unforgettable images. Features: dolby digital sound. Languages: cantonese mandarin english and chinese subtitles. Tr... more »ailers chapters. Studio: Tai Seng Entertainment Release Date: 08/23/2005 Starring: Maggie Cheung Run time: 98 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Tsui Hark« less
J. L. Shipp | Richmond, Virginia United States | 04/28/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Green Snake is a movie directed by the imaginative hands of Tsui Hark (Once Upon A Time In China, Time and Tide). This movie is a enthralling fantasy set during the Southern Sung Dynasty about a monk who sets out to eradicate the world of evil spirits. During his moral missions, he encounters "Green Snake," a spirit who takes the shape of a beautiful woman in order to benefit humankind.Maggie Cheung (Police Story, The Heroic Trio, In The Mood For Love) and Joey Wong (Butterfly & Sword, A Chinese Ghost Story) play two beautiful half-human/half-snakes. Son Ching (Wong), after 1000 years of discipline, has begun to evolve from her snake form into a human being. Green Snake (Cheung), with only a mere 500 years of practice, is content on simply slithering around, until a Buddhist monk, played by Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo (Fong Sai Yuk), with magnificent powers becomes their greatest foe.In her human form, Son finds love. However, Green Snake is torn between the love of her best friend Son and her mischievious spirit-self that wants nothing better than to middle with the love interest of Son as well as play with and beguile humans.Enraged over the fact that either would dare to even attempt to assume human form, the Buddhist Monk quickly passes judgment and takes matters into his own hands. This movie stars: Joey Wong (Wang Zu Xian), Maggie Cheung (Cheung Man-Yuk), Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo (Chiu Man Cheuk), Wu Hsing-Guo (Wu Kuo Chiu, Wu Hsin-Kuo), Ma Cheng Miu, Tin Fung, Chan Dung Mooi. This movie offers exquisite plateaus, vivid costumes and sets, and simply unforgettable imagery. Lastly, the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because of the subtitles. The subtitles at times are barely legible. They are small and in white. Its hard very difficult to read them at times. Other than this, it makes an excellent addition to my growing of films from China."
A better edition?
Aaron Shepard | 10/15/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This movie is beautiful, but if you care about video quality and the readability of subtitles, you might want to look instead for the 2004 "DTS Version" from Mei Ah Entertainment."
Old Folk Story with a Twist !
Yi Chieh | Singapore | 02/18/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"From highly-acclaimed special-effects Director Tsuk Ke, comes a story based on a old Chinese Folk Story (but with a twist).Story goes like this:2 Snake Spitirs, one White & the other Green (played excellently by Joey Wong & Maggie Cheng respectively) wanted to feel what's it would be like to be a human, decided to descend onto earth to become one. What they desired was also, most importantly, to understand it's complexity and feel what human love is.Wise and more powerful was White Snake (as she has been mediating for more than 1,000 years) as compared to Green Snake (500 years).Fun they had but trouble soon erupted when White Snake choose an honest man (played by i can't remember the name)to wed and to hold. To make matters worst, Green Snake incidentally falls for the Monk (played by another HK actor), which is determined to ride the world of all spirits & devils. This soon brings upon jealousy between the 2 sisters as one has a happy marriage while the other cannot fufill her wish to be human & being love.Finally, after discovering the 2 Snake Spirits. The Monk decides to capture White Snake's husband by force in hope to awaken him from the sins (for have a relationship with a unworldly spirit).Both Snake Spirits, bonded together as sisters, decided to make an attempt to rescue him from the monk despite knowing their chances of winning are slim. For Green Snake, she finally understand the cost of being a human and the love for her Sister. As for White Snake, to finally become a human and have in her the child of her husband. She's determined to save the only man she so love, even if it means ...** The story boost some of the Best Special Effects in the history of Chinese film making (Coming from Tusk Ke, it's no suprise) and a great story line. One last note, although this movie didn't do well at the box-office. But look beyond that, it does help tell you -- never underestimate the power of love and the human race or spirits for that matter."
Great Movie!!
Yi Chieh | 12/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Green Snake is an excellent movie, based on the story "Madame White Snake," an old Chinese folk tale.White and Green are snake women, intent on becoming human. When White falls in love with a human man, Hsui Xian , White and Green go to extraordinary lengths to keep their true selves hidden. Hsui Xian , a teacher, loves his wife White, and eventually learns her secret despite her efforts.White and Green are pursued by the vigilant Monk Fa Hai, who captures and punishes 'evil spirits' by confining them to his mystic 'alms bowl.' Fa Hai, a good man, has become self righteous in his pursuit of evil, overlooking the compassion and understanding that Buddha dictates and has become almost evil himself. (Partly, through the movie, he realizes this, and endeavors to change). Can Fa Hai overcome his pride to see the truth before its too late?I really liked Green Snake. While the special affects are not 'high quality' the film manages to get its point across quite well, and the scenes where White and Green were 'slithering' bonelessly around the house as 'snakes' were both creepy and well-done! Warning: Because of sexual scenes and overtones I would recommend this movie for mature audiences only."
Love separates Green and White Snake.
Wing Lee | Toronto, Ontario | 03/25/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The story of Green and White Snake had been one of the most talked about fairy tales in Chinese folklores. Hark Tsui is by far the most prestigeous period fantasy film director in HK for the last two decades, and this may not have been his best work, but it's beautiful and touching all together. With elaborate sets, costumes, dance scenes, soundtrack, and stimulating visuals of battles between good and evil, makes it an entertaining period piece. What's more memorable is that two of HK's top Divas are featured here; Maggie Cheung is the Green Snake, and Joey Wong is White Snake.
Green Snake is 500 years old, and she's trained by her adopted sister White Snake, a 1000 year-old snake who is more wise and powerful. One day, they decide to transform into humans and headed to town for some life experiences. Their interactions with the humans caused the local "demon slayer" to come and track them down, but Green and White are so powerful, that they were defeated miserably. White met a handsome scholar and they fell in love, while he's clueless about her identity. She's very skillful, and has the knowledge of a doctor and treats the local peasants. They soon got married, and Green Snake was very jealous of them, and wanted to experience love and marriage. She threatens to sabotage White's marriage, and White was furious, and wanted to break off their sister relationship. Also. Green is too weak to handle any incoming attacks on her own. Just when White was about to bring a baby to life, a very powerful monk comes to town and threatens to arrest her. Will she survive without Green? And will her husband accept her as a snake fairey. Will she reconcile and join forces with Green to defeat the Monk?......
William Cheung's exquisite costumes and art direction made Maggie and Joey so stunning feminine and beautiful. Even though Maggie Cheung is a stronger actress, and managed to steal scenes here, but this is ultimately Joey Wong's better performance alongside with her signature A Chinese Ghost Story Trilogy. It's so hard to chose who's more likeable or better in this movie, because their roles are so different from each other."