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Jet Li, Eva Huang, Raymond Lam Fung, Charlene Choi, Vivian Hsu

White Snake, in the incarnation of a beautiful lady, falls in love with a young herbalist Xu Xian. With the help of Green Snake, she ventured into the human world and got married to Xu Xian. In a twis... read more read more...t of event, Fa Hai, a sorcerer from Jin Shan Temple, crosses path with White Snake. A fiery battle is about to begin...

Flixster Users

65% want to see it

550 ratings

Critics

20% liked it

5 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: Tony Siu-Tung Ching, Siu-Tung Ching

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Eva Huang and Jet Li
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Flixster Reviews (98)

  • skactopus
    November 2, 2011
    skactopus
    Tony Ching goes for heavy duty fantasy and romance with The Sorcerer and the White Snake.

    Story-wise, the film never drags, but at times it is cumbersome and even a little jumbled. The explanations, especially for the fantasy pieces, have only enough explanation to

    ... read moreget by and that's all there pretty much is to it. The rest all relies on the story of love between a demon and a human.

    It's hard to classify this as an action adventure, even though it does have its share of action. Martial arts this is not because nearly all of the encounters are laced with CG effects, which are so-so at best. The film's final act relies heavily on the CG and this is a downgrade when it comes to Jet Li.

    Jet Li is the biggest name and he does have a prominent and integral role; however, acting-wise, this picture belongs to Eva Huang. While likable to view, her character tends to be unlikable with the way the story pans out.

    The Sorcerer and the White Snake is what it is and this 95 minute tale has its audience.
  • panta2
    October 8, 2011
    panta2
    I saw this movie yesterday in Suzhou cinema under the name It's Love and I have to say reading some of the reviews that I am sick of people who give negative reviews because they do not understand something! I'll suggest to them to start working on themselves and their improvemen... read moret and education about different cultures instead of slamming the hard working artist who give everything they had in a movie adaptation of an ancient Chinese legend... Movie had a success in Venice festival and I know why... it is amazing work of art!

    I found some unacceptable changes in the legend, like adding characters and changing the initial reason for the demon and human falling in love, but the film was so well made that I could not give anything less than 90%! I know the pagoda where all this "happened" is situated; couple of hours from where I live and for me is much more realistic than for most other viewers of this last work of the director Chan Xiaodong (Ching Siu-tung).

    Jet Li as Abbott Fahai (法海) (not the "sorcerer"), Eva Huang as White Snake/Susu (白娘子), Raymond Lam as Xu Xian (許仙), Charlene Choi as Green Snake (小青) and Wen Zhang as Neng Ren (能忍) were perfect choice for the roles. Wen Zhang was invited by Li to play his disciple Neng Ren and he was a real acting revelation for me! Regarding the action scenes, Jet Li said he had never been this exhausted before. And there is a lot of action in this love story! After fighting the White Snake, Li fights the Green Snake... after fighting the Green Snake, he fights the Demon... after fighting this Demon, he fights another Demon... after fighting this Demon, he goes to fight the Water Monster...

    The official English name It's Love was changed to The Sorcerer and the White Snake by the distributor... I do not know why... it is a love story after all! If you like films in which the visuals are dominant go and enjoy this fantasy realm where the director has pulled out all stops to impress!
  • wumeixian
    October 10, 2011
    wumeixian
    What a bad adaptation of a legend. Too much CGI takes over the story itself. I AM HUGELY DISAPPOINTED!! I know this story could have been better as I was a fan of the series when I was 4. I even went to the pagoda and people are still very intact with the legend, but the CGI take... read mores over the beauty of Hangzhou itself and also the wuxia action. I gave it two cos I appreciate Jet Li's acting and how it has potential. Since I know the difficulties of making special effect, I also appreciate it. But there is just too much.

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Critic Reviews

Jason Di Rosso
September 30, 2011
Jason Di Rosso, MovieTime, ABC Radio National

It's a sometimes charming film from the veteran action filmmaker, but remains a curiosity, lacking comic sharpness and romantic intensity. Full Review

David Stratton
September 29, 2011
David Stratton, At the Movies (Australia)

There's hardly any love affair left really because the CGI has taken over with a vengeance. I got a bit bored by this, because it's just special effects, just CGI all the way through and the story is ... Full Review

Margaret Pomeranz
September 29, 2011
Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies (Australia)

The director has pulled out all stops to impress, perhaps a bit too excessively, so that the fragile emotions of this love affair are undermined. Full Review

Michael Simms
September 29, 2011
Michael Simms, FILMINK (Australia)

Though The Sorcerer and the White Snake is excessive and at times jumbled, younger viewers will surely respond to the colourful characters and settings, and the bold vision on display is charming... f... Full Review

Simon Weaving
September 29, 2011
Simon Weaving, Screenwize

With the mushometer maxed out, and a score that starts on overdrive and heads for overbearing, this ridiculously melodramatic tale of forbidden love tries to bury its narrative flaws with a colourful ... Full Review

Mark Adams
September 6, 2011
Mark Adams, Screen International

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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