The Princess Blade (2002)
Okay, I'll be the first to admit
that I don't know very much about Asian action type
stuff. I like some of the Hong Kong stuff I've seen
but I don't really search it out and I don't really
keep up with it. And I'm definitely not into Anime.
But "The Princess Blade" had me
captivated from the very first scene. Finding out
it was an Asian flick and, even less to my liking,
based on a comic, had me expecting the worst. But
from the first shot, the film is like a work of art.
The plot is simple and yet complex.
A young woman who works for a sort of vigilante-for-hire
group is an orphan, her mother has died several years
before. When she finds out how her mother died, she
goes on the lam and runs into a hot young guy also
with a history. He is also a sort of vigilante but
he's working with a more political agenda rather than
a financial one.
But while the story is compelling,
and has a wonderful arc, it is the beautiful images
that propel the film. Artistically shot, with the
naturalistic settings looking remarkably lush and
the interiors looking stark and minimalist, the film
is frame after frame of beauty. This thing never gets
dull to look at.
And the action scenes, Wow! The
female hero here kicks ass. Occassionally, the film
gets a little long in the tooth between action segments
(still beautifully photographed and wonderfully acted),
but when they do come, they are well worth the wait.
Of course, many of the scenes feature the female taking
on a plethora of adversaries, making the opportunity
to think "yeah right" frequent. It doesn't matter,
however, the action here is wonderful and perfectly
choreographed.
I'm telling you. I think those who
are into Asian films, with a Anime type storyline
and lots of action, will love this film. But the real
treat is for those of us who aren't normally into
this type film; "The Princess Blade" is a 90 minute
feast for the eyes for us as well!
Note:
In an, um, Asian language with subtitles.
