Chinese Odyssey 2002

Chinese Odyssey 2002
DVD cover of Chinese Odyssey 2002
Directed by	Jeffrey Lau
Produced by	Wong Kar-wai Jacky Pang Charley Zhuo
Written by	Jeffrey Lau
Starring	Tony Leung Chiu-Wai Faye Wong Zhao Wei Chang Chen
Music by	Frankie Chan
Cinematography	Peter Ngor
Editing by	Wong Wing-Ming
Distributed by	Shanghai Film Group Corporation
Release date(s)	2002
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese

Chinese Odyssey 2002 (simplified Chinese: 天下无双; traditional Chinese: 天下無雙; pinyin: Tianxia Wushuang) is a 2002 Hong Kong film written and directed by Jeffrey Lau and produced by Wong Kar-wai. It stars Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Faye Wong, Zhao Wei and Chang Chen.

The Chinese Odyssey 2002 is a prime example of the persistence of Huangmei opera in mainstream Chinese cinema, in which the movie itself is a comedic parody of huangmei films like The Three Smiles (三笑), The Kingdom and the Beauty (江山美人), and The Love Eterne (梁山伯與祝英台).^[1] It is a Lunar New Year film, a practice of the Hong Kong movie industry to release a movie (usually a comedy) so as to boost movie ticket sales during the holiday season.

Plot

The film is set in Ming Dynasty, China. Ah Long (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) is the town bully, known for his boorish manners and reckless attitude which have endeared him to no one, save his sister Feng (Vicki Zhao) who has a curious penchant for cross-dressing. It is apparent early on that both these siblings are such misfits they have virtually no prospect of marriage.

Faye Wong is cast as a runaway princess who is dressed as a man, a disguise which fools both Long and Feng. Long immediately decides that he likes his new-found friend so much that he will entrust his sister's hand in marriage to "him". The princess, of course, cannot marry another woman and tried to fend off Long's suggestions of a match; but also, she is attracted to Long.

Emperor Zheng De (Chang Chen) also leaves his palace temporarily in order to search for his missing sister. He dresses like a commoner and by a twist of fate meets Feng. He is smitten with Feng, and begins to court her, while keeping his imperial identity secret from her. His motives for leaving the palace also included the fact that he is unhappy and lonely at court and wants to escape the smothering influence of the Empress Dowager (Rebecca Pan), his mother, who plays a dictatorial rule in the actions of her son. A convoy of imperial guards try to protect him while he is out in town and bring the Emperor back to the palace, but unsuccessfully.

The Princess is also assisted by her "fairy godmother" (Athena Chu) in marrying her match. The Empress Dowager hears of her wayward children and storms Long's house, where her children are holed up, only to hear that they wish to marry two commoners with unwholesome and eccentric tendencies. The Emperor is adamant about marrying Feng and the Empress Dowager relents, but Long is unable to pass a "ring test" to prove he is the destined one and the Empress Dowager forbids his marriage to her daughter.

All ends well, however. After a separation, Long is enlightened by the "fairy godmother" and passes the "ring test". He is reunited with the Princess, the Empress Dowager accepts him, and happiness reigns.

Cast

• Tony Leung Chiu-Wai - Li Yilong
• Faye Wong - Princess Wushuang
• Zhao Wei - Phoenix, sister of Li Yilong
• Chang Chen - Emperor Zheng De
• Roy Cheung - Chu Liangshim
• Athena Chu - Amour Amour
• Rebecca Pan - Empress Dowager (Queen mother)
• Jan Lamb - Commentary (voice)
• Chan Fai-hung - Emperor (voice)
• Goo-Bi GC - Phoenix (voice)
• Eric Kot
• Jeffrey Lau - President Chen
• Ning Jing

Awards

• 39th Annual Golden Horse Awards
  • Nomination - Best Supporting Actress (Zhao Wei)
  • Nomination - Best Art Direction
  • Nomination - Best Costum Design
• 22nd Annual Hong Kong Film Awards:
  • Nomination, Best Actress, 2002 (Faye Wong)
  • Nomination - Best Art Direction (Tony Au Ting-Ping)
  • Nomination - Best Costume Design (William Cheung Suk-Ping)
  • Nomination - Best Original Film Score (Frankie Chan Fan-Kei, Roel A. Garcia)
• 9th Annual Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards:
  • Winner, Best Picture
  • Winner, Best Actress (Faye Wong)

See also

• A Chinese Odyssey (Stephen Chow film)
• Hong Kong in films

References

1. ^ Brian Hu (4 August 2005). "The Butterflies Return". Asia Pacific Arts. UCLA Asia Institute. http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/070713/article.asp?parentid=27606. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 

External links

• Chinese Odyssey 2002 at the Internet Movie Database
• Chinese Odyssey 2002 at AllRovi
• Entry at lovehkfilm.com
• Movie website (Taiwan, in Chinese)