Wu xia Liang Zhu

I am not familiar with the actors in this film nor have I ever read the story nor do I normally watch romantic dramas so I guess I am not the intended audience for this film. Did it win me over? Not really.

The tale of a teenage (?) girl dressed as a boy and sent to a martial arts academy where she falls in love with the top student (and he her) is well photographed and handsomely produced. Probably not her fault but, the lead actress isn't a very convincing boy at all and is directed to hammy, stage style acting. We see her get bound in cloth to hide her womanly assets but later on they are clearly visible while she is supposedly fooling everybody. She is also made-up with lip stick and shaped eyebrows so it's a leap to buy the premise. The male actors fare better but the film is centered on the female character. The film is well photographed and edited until the martial art scenes which are shaky and choppy.

On the other hand if you are a fan of stories about ill-fated young lovers set in other cultures this is probably a good film for you. The plot turns when the woman is taken out of the academy to be forced into marriage to her childhood friend who has gone bad and become a sadistic general.

I can't give this more than 5 stars but I'm sure there are people out there who can value this film more.