The popularity
of Chinese epics is such that they have begun to pillage the narratives already
adapted to film, utilizing the classic historic narratives with the same fervor
and predictability as Hollywood comic book adaptations.
The genre provides opportunities to bring to life stories which are already
known (guaranteeing a loyal audience base), while also catering to the
cinematic stylistic trends of the times. Sometimes the style takes precedence,
while others focus on the strength of the narrative and beloved historical
figures. White Haired Witch attempts
both simultaneously, though is only half as successful as a result.
Based on a
classic fantasy novel by Liang Yusheng (which was previously given a cinematic
adaptation in 1993), White Haired Witch
is a star-crossed love story that takes place near the end of the Ming Dynasty.
The Imperial court is full of corrupt officials, and tyrants run the land at
the detriment to the common people. When a sorceress named Jade Raksha
(Bingbing Fan) attempts to fight back against the oppressors, she is framed for
the murder of Governor Zhuo Zhonglian. At the same time, her lover Zhuo Yihang
(Xiaoming Huang) is framed for the murder of another prominent government
official in the infamous “Case of the Red Pills.” This should give them
something in common, but there is a constant struggle between the two to trust
each other, especially since Jade is accused of killing her lover’s own
grandfather. In the end, they have nobody but each other to lean on in the
battle against corruption.
The film can’t
seem to make up its mind whether to be a love story or a martial arts epic. It
is possible for a film to be both, of course, but White Haired Witch seems to
sacrifice elements of one for the other. They do not blend well together,
perhaps because of a lack of chemistry, ridiculously CGI-ridden action and
effects, or the combination of both. Either way, the end result is a bit
muddled and consistently underwhelming. Part of the problem is the mere fact
that these two characters are clearly the center of the narrative, yet still
get lost often within the collection of convoluted sub-plots and supporting
characters. This is one instance where less would have been more, both in the
action sequences and the screenplay itself. No amount of flashy fantasy action
can make up for the fact that we don’t care about the characters, and the end
result just feels like a rehashing of better films.
The Blu-ray
release comes with a making-of featurette and trailer, though the only real
reason for choosing this disc over the DVD must be the high definition
presentation. It does not help make the film any better, but at least the CGI
looks more fluid and realistic on Blu-ray.
Entertainment Value:
4.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 5/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
Special Features: 3.5/10
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