Le Sorcier et le serpent blanc

Crazy digital tricks, that's not exactly something I would expect from a Chinese film that in recent years impressed me mainly with its classic tricks, especially that beautiful flying during the fights. But right from the beginning, the movie dives into digital effects and it doesn't look nice. Even Jet Li doesn't look good in that digital world. Those digital effects simply aren't beautiful and they turn the movie into a sci-fi illusion. The animals don't help much either when they are talking even underwater. The fight scenes are overdone and not good here either. It's without inspiration and it doesn't even try to be very Chinese. (20/11/2013)

I came across this Asian fantasy film by complete accident and I have to say it wasn't that bad at all. I'll probably never get used to the typically Asian way of acting, which is a bit too affected at times, but so be it. As far as the technical workmanship goes, it was watchable despite the visual effects being weaker in places – I've certainly seen worse. What irritated me the most was the henchman who was slowly becoming a demon, otherwise I didn't mind any of the actors in any significant way (aside from the sometimes unnatural acting). A fantasy piece from a slightly different part of the world than we are used to, but all the more reason to recommend it for viewing. (01/07/2016)