Seven Swords in the Blink of God's Eye (2019) Chinese fantasy
4709DVD
Original
Chinese title ZHAYAN JIAN YOU QI GE JIAN [Seven Swords: In the
Blink of God's Eye]
also known as QI JIAN XIASHANAND [Seven Swords Descending the
Mountain]
director:
Nam Chi Wai (as Francis Nam)
starring: Tian Chuan · An Ziyi · Li Xing-yun · Di
Wang-yi · Cu Zhen-sheun · Yu Zie-hu
This film is based
on the Seven Swords Descending the Mountain series of books
by Liang Yusheng [also the source for Tsui Hark's 2005 actioner SEVEN SWORDS]. The story is set in the late Ming and Qing dynasties
where Zhang Hua-hao meets a white-haired female warrior, Yi Lanzhu. He
mistakes her for a white-haired witch named Fei Hong-jin, an evil princess
of the Western Region wanted for the assassination of four tribal chiefs.
Oblivious to his error of mistaken identity, Zhang immediately captures
poor Yi to take her to justice. Although she attempts to explain herself,
Zhang is determined in his mission. However, his trek is constantly interrupted
by other vengeance seeking warriors, bounty hunters and the witch Fei.
As their journey continues, the two join forces against the enemies and
they eventually become lovers.
Here is a big-budget
Beijing actioner that relies on many supernatural elements to tell its
story. This is evidence of the Chinese government further relaxing such
restrictions. Officially the Ministry of Civil Affairs says these
types of stories are outlawed [citing the section of the censorship code
known as FEUDALISTIC IDEOLOGY OR PSEUDOSCIENCE].
Recent exceptions have been made if the motion picture is based on Chinese
folklore (NEW
CHINESE GHOST STORY). This is still a delicate situation in China,
often resulting in banning and condemnation of many films (e.g., HAUNTED
CITY, MIDNIGHT
HAIR, VIXEN
AT THE END OF DEMON ROAD, et al).
A Chinese
film; widescreen, uncut version (91 min.), with English/Chinese subtitles,
DVD encoded for WORLD FORMAT NTSC, playable on any American machine.
Extras include selected theatrical trailers.
Violence/Sexual
Brutality/Supernatural Elements
For Mature Audiences
