Movies

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday November 17, 2008

Doug Anderson

Bichunmoo

(2000) SBS, 11.50pm

This is a martial arts-romantic drama based on a comic book and shot in China by a South Korean cast and crew. It begins in 1343 near the end of the Yuan Dynasty, when Mongols rule the land but intrigues and power plays are constant. A brave young orphan, Jinha, apprenticed to a Bichun master, saves a pretty teenager, Sullie, the daughter of a powerful general, from a wolf. They become firm friends and, later, sweethearts. But their love is stymied when Sullie's father promises her to Namgung Jun-kwang, a Mongol lord. Namgung is a half-decent chap who fights hard but not always fair. It turns out Jinha is the son of a master swordsman, killed by Sullie's father many years ago. When he learns of this, Jinha pledges vengeance and, using an explosive form of fighting - with lots of wind, powerful cosmic elements and autumnal leaves - gets stuck into various adversaries including Namgung. When it appears Jinha has perished during a clifftop dust-up with Namgung, Sullie marries a man she doesn't love and produces a son, Sung. But of course Jinha isn't dead. He's a survivor. Is he what! He forms a band of 10 black-clad Bichun fighters - assisted by a Mongol bodyguard (Sullie's brother?) whose life he has spared - to rip into Mongol adversaries. He's trying to win the girl and keep the Bichun secrets intact. The bodyguard seems destined to carry on some kind of proud heritage but not before a lot of raucously ballistic fight sequences, longueurs and melodramatic tosh. This is often confusing and florid material, too sad for its own good but mounted and performed with admirable intensity. An exquisitely tragic fairytale, visually appealing and untidy by turns. Blood's thicker than water and the sins of a family fall on the daughter, along with plenty of blood on Sullie's beautiful gown, recalling Jackie O's pink Dallas outfit - and lashings of syrup. Not to mention the healing power of sex and true love.

Someone Is Watching

(2000) noon, Seven

Thank goodness life, which has a habit of imitating art, doesn't imitate what little art there is in lunchtime movies. It's hardly surprising many midday dramas feature women prevailing in difficult circumstances, given that such fare is targeted at women struggling with equally difficult situations. Here, Stefanie Powers (who you may recall from Stefanie Powers' Broadway Workout video and searing comedies such as 1970's Boatniks) features as a capable mother who, after being robbed by intruders in her home, takes her six-year-old son and moves to a safer community, only to discover that her secure townhouse has a long history of inexplicable mysteries. Should she have hosted more dinner parties to discuss the most efficaceous laundry detergents? Has she studied the form displayed by Sigourney Weaver's Ripley in Aliens? Don't die wondering. Better yet, don't die. Someone may well be watching but it won't be me.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home