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Temptation of a Monk

Original title: You Seng
  • 19931993
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
363
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Joan Chen in You Seng (1993)
AdventureDramaRomance
Near the beginning of the Tang dynasty, in 7th century China, General Shi Yan-sheng is tricked into leaving the crown prince unguarded. The crown prince is murdered by one of his brothers wh... Read allNear the beginning of the Tang dynasty, in 7th century China, General Shi Yan-sheng is tricked into leaving the crown prince unguarded. The crown prince is murdered by one of his brothers who then becomes emperor. Shi retreats to a monastery, perhaps to hide, perhaps to plan a co... Read allNear the beginning of the Tang dynasty, in 7th century China, General Shi Yan-sheng is tricked into leaving the crown prince unguarded. The crown prince is murdered by one of his brothers who then becomes emperor. Shi retreats to a monastery, perhaps to hide, perhaps to plan a coup. When his loyal troops as well as the princess he desires are slain, he seeks refuge in... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
363
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Clara Law
  • Writers
    • Eddie Ling-Ching Fong(screenplay)
    • Pik-Wah Lee(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Joan Chen
    • Hsing-Kuo Wu
    • Fengyi Zhang
Top credits
  • Director
    • Clara Law
  • Writers
    • Eddie Ling-Ching Fong(screenplay)
    • Pik-Wah Lee(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Joan Chen
    • Hsing-Kuo Wu
    • Fengyi Zhang
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 13 nominations

    Photos16

    Joan Chen and Hsing-Kuo Wu in You Seng (1993)
    Joan Chen and Hsing-Kuo Wu in You Seng (1993)
    Joan Chen and Hsing-Kuo Wu in You Seng (1993)
    Joan Chen and Hsing-Kuo Wu in You Seng (1993)
    You Seng (1993)
    Fengyi Zhang in You Seng (1993)
    Hsing-Kuo Wu in You Seng (1993)
    Hsing-Kuo Wu in You Seng (1993)
    Joan Chen in You Seng (1993)
    Joan Chen and Hsing-Kuo Wu in You Seng (1993)
    Joan Chen in You Seng (1993)
    Joan Chen in You Seng (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joan Chen
    Joan Chen
    • Princess Hong-e - Scarletas Princess Hong-e - Scarlet…
    Hsing-Kuo Wu
    Hsing-Kuo Wu
    • General Shi Yan-shengas General Shi Yan-sheng…
    Fengyi Zhang
    Fengyi Zhang
    • General Huo Daas General Huo Da
    Ming-Yang Li
    • The Abbotas The Abbot
    Lisa Lu
    Lisa Lu
    • Shi's Motheras Shi's Mother
    Teddy Robin Kwan
    Teddy Robin Kwan
    • Soldieras Soldier
    • Director
      • Clara Law
    • Writers
      • Eddie Ling-Ching Fong(screenplay)
      • Pik-Wah Lee(screenplay) (novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Near the beginning of the Tang dynasty, in 7th century China, General Shi Yan-sheng is tricked into leaving the crown prince unguarded. The crown prince is murdered by one of his brothers who then becomes emperor. Shi retreats to a monastery, perhaps to hide, perhaps to plan a coup. When his loyal troops as well as the princess he desires are slain, he seeks refuge in a remote, abandoned monastery where an aged abbot schools him with practical, earthy teachings. The emperor's forces pursue Shi: first a woman, then a general seek to overpower him with lust and might. Over the course of the film, the reds of battle give way to blues of meditation. —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    monasterygeneralprincessseductionbuddhist nun61 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • Action
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Joan Chen had her head completely shaved for the role of Qingshou (Violet).
    • Quotes

      General Huo Da: [kneeling down] 19th Princess Hong-e.

      General Shi Yan-sheng: [kneeling down] Shi Yan-sheng, General of the Crown Prince Jian-cheng, attends Your Highness.

      Princess Hong-e: What was that?

      General Shi Yan-sheng: Shi Yan-sheng, general of the Crown Prince...

      Princess Hong-e: Forget it. Come drink with me.

      [a servant brings them a drink]

      General Huo Da: I thank Your Highness.

      General Shi Yan-sheng: I have duties to guard His Highness. I can't drink.

      Princess Hong-e: Fate makes us meet, never mind. Drink.

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Stunning visuals; but little else... a moody misfire of a piece.
    Narrative structure has never been Clara Law's strong point; but she usually has some kind of conceptual development to tie her images together... this one tries to float like a dream; & ends up sinking like a stone. Watching it, one can't help wondering whether there was a three hour version either scripted or shot: all the elements for an intriguing take on individual responsibility seem to be in place; but none have been allowed to develop beyond the level of operatic manga. As Gertrude Stein observed (probably unkindly) of Oakland, there's no there there....

    Then again: perhaps Ms Law just fell in love with her (admittedly quite stunning) images....
    helpful•0
    2
    • RobertC
    • Mar 31, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 25, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Hong Kong
    • Languages
      • Mandarin
      • Cantonese
    • Also known as
      • Temptation of Monk
    • Production companies
      • Golden Harvest Company
      • Tedpoly Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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