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I can't believe how some of the viewers thinking works today... some believe that we watch movies just to see something without imagining it ourselves? what?! has the IQ decreased really so much over the years, I mean that definitely was not the reason why the cinema was invented in the first place and why people are watching movies at all, if we can't imagine or in other words use the brain, we can't feel the suspense, we can not predict or form our own ideas and feelings about characters and situations, that would be very boring experience watching movies. If you want just stupid entertainment where's everything just spelled out for you, don't watch the real movies like this one. Even Hitchcock believed in the power of imagination, which is one of the most important things that allow us to be creative, there's lying the essence of the art itself. As a matter of fact, a lot of films offer certain portions of imagination, simply put, if there was none i would be just reading books, but the movies always try to incorporate some of that to get closer to this potency of the books. This movie is even more vigorous and successful in it and most of the people grown up on the Hollywood generic movie-making seem to be very confused and find it very hard to get used to this eccentric new film-style.
My point is that the film Seven Swords is just a brilliant example of an absolutely challenging cinema! When you decide just to pass through the film without paying attention to little tiny details offered to connect with the screen or imagining what you don't see like in reality you'll obviously find the film very boring. This film offers the reality possibly unlike any film you've seen before, the reality is not as clear-cut and obvious, we also are not part of every event happening around us, there are not always explanations to what we see in reality. That's the biggest strength of the the film and the reason why it's leaving several paths for the viewer to solve out something what's not on the screen. Don't come to this film expecting a mindless entertainment, in all probability you'll just end up bored and confused. Keep in mind that this is a pure art that demands a certain effort from the viewer to connect with the given reality of the film and help you to properly appreciate its merits.
First of all the action sequences were probably the most creatively shot in a very long time, something what can not be surely compared to what you still see nowadays. The stylistic way how are shot certain scenes is undoubtedly far ahead of our time. What's very impressive about the fight scenes in particular is the given exuberance and richness in its complexity, each movement of the warrior was connected to the essence and limitation of the particular sword but also each sword was clearly resonating with the personality of its holder. The unique strength of the film is also the visual stylishness that incorporates the jagged, disorienting camera and editing in order to create the confusing reality especially in the middle of the furious fight (with the camera right in some characters face or even under the water) so as to give the feeling as if you were part of the actual fight to the point you'd feel the attacks, pain and sweat on yourself. This was close to the most realistic fight scenes that were ever filmed.
The movie absolutely exceeded my expectations, it's already one of the best epic films i've ever seen in my life. Thus far i can go here because Seven Swords is a film one of a kind that you don't see every year and as a moviegoer grown upon the most essential martial art films in Asian history, i can fully assure you that you will hardly find better martial art film in terms of the character development, visual virtuosity, art direction, story-line. It's easily one of the best films out there... get it! 10/10
score 9/10
SuzyGL 28 March 2006
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1327830/ |
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