Oddly enough I have never gotten around to watching "Green Snake" (aka "Ching se") before 2016, despite being a huge fan of Maggie Cheung. But with hand on heart, then I can say that I hadn't been missing out on a masterpiece. Sure "Green Snake" was entertaining enough for what it was, but it just wasn't outstanding or particularly memorable.The story is about two female snake spirits aspiring to become humans, and they are mingling with humans in order to learn how to become human. And a monk comes across the two snakes, learning about their nature and behavior, he must rectify their behavior in the eyes of Buddha.The storyline was adequate, but I think you must be Chinese in order to fully appreciate the story and be familiar with the legend upon which director Tsui Hark based his movie. For a Westerner then "Green Snake" seemed a silly action comedy more than anything else.What makes "Green Snake" work out on the screen is the acting talents that they had recruited for the movie. Joey Wang (playing White Snake) and Maggie Cheung (playing Green Snake) were really carrying the movie quite nicely and they were well-cast for the roles of the snakes-morphed-into-human-shape. Hsing-Kuo Wu (playing the scholar) was also adding a good amount to the movie with his performance. However, personally, then I can't claim to think that Wenzhuo Zhao (playing the monk) really had any good acting skill in this movie.The effects in the movie were adequate for what the movie was, and taking into consideration that the movie is from 1993, then don't get your hopes up too high. The snakes were adequate, but the summoned fiery dragon was ludicrous to look at.What did work for the movie was the transition between human and snake that the sisters had going on. There was a great sense of them actually being snakes in human bodies. And thumbs up to Tsui Hark, Maggie Cheung, Joey Wang and the special effects team on their accomplishments in order to make this believable.If you are expecting a grand martial arts drama, then "Green Snake" will leave you sorely disappointed. This is not a martial arts movie, despite having some fighting sequences here and there. This is a fantasy drama movie based on a Chinese legend.This 1993 movie is not really amongst the more impressive of movies to have been directed at the hand of Tsui Hark.

I read one review that called this not a great film but great cinema and that is about right. Visually this film is stunning and a with Maggie and Joey, a delight for the senses in all sorts of ways. When the Monk is 'tempted' by Maggie (at his request) he failed, as would 99% of males on this planet. The story makes some sort of sense but you do get the feeling you are temporarily living inside Tsui Hark's head. At least you can more or less follow the plot unlike the remake of Zu Warriors. A word on the sets - brilliant - and very good acting from all involved. The special effects are cheap but work. You just know that Hollywood would have thrown millions at creating amazing snakes but would have missed the point of the film which I read as a commentary on love and lust where good and evil can not be easily defined. Both the music and the imagery of this film will stay with you for a long time.

WOW.Chinese film makers have definitely made great strides since the days of the shaw brothers cookie cutter chop socky genre.this film is based on a legendary story but clearly takes the story line and presentation to a remarkable and very entertaining spot.sexuality is explored and well as the gamut of emotions humans experience. these are explored in the context of the snake beings learning how to behave as humans.I am dazzled by Maggie. I wish I had known she was in Hamilton doing 'Clean' maybe I could have gotten an autograph.honestly, I've never seen a film with such a wondrous fantasy setting that still presented some moral lessons and thought provoking ideas about human interaction.

It is a really good movie. Both teal snake and white snake are charming and deadly attractive. Xu Xian is a everyday Joe male character. No man won't envy his good luck with beautiful women! ;) The monk--Fa Hai--is stubborn and prejudiced in his attitude towards human and non-humans. In the end, he seems to regret what he has done to the snake sisters. The story stresses the sexual desire of human beings. ;) Even the monk, who has reached the prestige of human-buddie, cannot deprive himself of sexual imagination and impulse.The pace of the story telling is fast; the structure of the story plots is compact; the special visual effect of magic casting and fighting is eye catching; and the music and singing is touching and resonant with the progress of the story.