Seven Swords Of Wayland (DVD)

Advantages: Some lovely cineamtography and really good fight choreography
Disadvantages: Rather overlong and hammy

...breathtakingly inventive and often balletic martial arts smack-downs. Hark is a master of this, having previously helmed instalments of the "Once Upon a Time in China" and "Chinese Ghost Story" franchises. His take on epic Chinese cinema is faithful to its roots but, thankfully, with far higher production values. He knows his audience and provides romance, adventure, mysticism and cracking fight choreography. The cinematography is crisp and Hark's direction sharp yet reverential to the genre. He shoots in luscious colours that direct the audience in how to feel. The opening massacre appears in muted greys and saturated reds, while the pastoral idyll of Martial Vilage is presented in golden hues and Fire-wind's city in a range of unappetising greys and blacks. His attention to detail is superb, giving each of the seven swords as much of a personality... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Fabulous ending
Disadvantages: Some of it is quite dull

...Detective Lieutenant William Somerset is just six days off retiring when he becomes involved in the hunt for a serial killer. Aided by Detective David Mills, it soon becomes clear that the murders, although initially random, do have something in common - each of them is the representation of one of the seven deadly sins. Gluttony, for example, is represented by a man so overweight that he was unable to escape from his tormentor. Slowly, the two detectives begin to piece the evidence together, and Mills almost catches the serial killer, nick-named John Doe, at one point, only to narrowly escape with his life. Will they finally catch up with John Doe? Or is he destined to always be one step ahead? Made in 1995 and directed by David Fincher, this film was much praised on release for being excellent in just about every way possible... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good Story
Disadvantages: Sad

...Seven Pounds This is a very touching story and you will need some tissues. It is about a young man who gets engaged to is girlfriend and she is killed in a car accident, (this is the opening scene) but unfortunately he causes the accident and kills 7 other people too. He can't forget this and helps other people in need anyway he can, especially the really ill ones. He falls in love with one of the people he is trying to help. There are three people he wants to help one are a young lady with two children who is in a violent relationship and is in a bad way. One is blind and one is in need of a heart transplant. (The average heart is 7lb in weight hence the title) Unfortunately, I can't tell you much more otherwise you will no what happens, and you won't need to watch it. He needs to help these people to make... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful