White Vengeance (2011)

What movie! Wonderful Film! I loved it!

Portrays very well what was the confrontation and rivalry between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang. Images shot well done, their relationship with Yu Ji. The Beginning of Han Dynasty in its essence with the famous banquet in Hongmen Palace. The story was almost transliterated to the cinema.

The main weapon of the film is the mental battle of the strategists of our two main protagonists, which is almost impressive as Zhang Liang and Fan Zeng was far ahead of their time. Right at the opening scene of the film, a mysterious hermit meets with students and a scholar of one university, and tells the story for us since that date the choice of who would arrive first to Qin capital.

The acting is almost perfect. Leon Lai was perfect on Liu Bang.

In short, a film that deserves to be seen for those who enjoy history or who want to know what it was and how began one of the greatest dynasties of all time. The major strategies, great battles, legends told and love of a warrior for a dancer and singer ... All this is found in this movie.

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I will give up kindness in order to fight for justice

White Vengeance gives an epic look to the story of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu as they struggle to see who will ultimately wear the crown after rebelling against the Qin Dynasty.

Despite the gorgeous, colorful costumes, grand battle scenes, excellent cinematography and strong cast, White Vengeance could never figure out what the focus of the movie was. Was it the bromance gone wrong between the two men determined to become the next emperor? Was it a love story? Or a love triangle? Was it a bromance between the the two advisors to the opposing sides? The beginning of the film was particularly vexing as the focus jumped back and forth between characters and also time jumping leaving the viewer with no clear ground to stand on and making it hard to find their bearing in the story. If you are completely unfamiliar with this this historical event, it may be even more confusing. If you are familiar with the history, you may be upset with the obvious artistic liberties taken.

The famous banquet contained few of the historic events. If the beginning of the movie was confusing and moved too rapidly, the ending dragged and was quite anticlimactic. The changes to Xiang's and Yu Ji's story didn't move me, in fact, the changes caused me to roll my eyes. Director Lee couldn't seem to decide if Xiang Yu was an evil emperor wanna be or a tragic romantic hero. Liu Bang came across as having almost no agency of his own and being completely dependent on others until he made the quick jump to pathologically paranoid.

Feng Shao Feng played Xiang Yu and did a fine job, but lacked the fiery presence for a renowned warrior. Leon Lai's subdued performance lacked the cunning edge of the future emperor. Zhang Hanyu as Zhang Liang and Anthony Wong as Fan Zeng, the two strategists behind the big men gave the most compelling performances. Their two characters were the most interesting as well. Liu Yi Fei was the woman passed back and forth between the two leaders with little to do.

With the exception of a few wuxia style scenes that did not fit comfortably into a movie based on historical events, the fights and battles scenes were well choreographed. The CGI enhanced armies played well, with only a few glitches.

The look of White Vengeance was exceptional. However, WV's erratic focus and underdeveloped main characters took away from my enjoyment worsened by the creative license taken with the historical events.





8/12/22

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