THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE

Another Jet Li movie this time around. It's THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (2011), which does much to wipe the bad taste left in my mouth from watching Li's THE ONE (2000). This Chinese fantasia was previously known as IT'S LOVE and MADAME WHITE SNAKE before being released in the U.S, as THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE.

It's a lavish, lush, beautifully shot fantasy/martial arts film that features state-of-the-art CGI effects, great fight scenes, superb wire work, and some very good miniatures. It's essentially a love story in which two snake women (the drop dead gorgeous pair of Eva Huang and Charlene Choi), take human form and mingle with humans. Huang falls in love with a herbalist healer (Raymond Lam) while Choi flirts with Neng Ren (Wen Zhang), an acolyte to the demon hunting monk Abott Fahai (Jet Li). The monk is sworn to destroy all demons no matter when and where they're found and that includes snake women (no matter how luscious they are in human form). This of course leads to much conflict before finally climaxing in an assault on the pagoda where defeated demons are imprisoned and where the snake women must be confined.

Directed by Tony Ching, THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE is a terrific example of the kind of fantasy films that Chinese filmmakers excel at. It's got great action, exotic locations, some moments of humor, fierce martial arts battles, mind boggling special effects, and at it's heart, a tender, moving love story. Highly recommended.