The Duelist (2005)

THE DUELIST is a very enjoyable piece of cinema. Rather than try to make a pale imitation of classic wu xia (like Shadowless Sword), Lee Myung-Se manages to make something quite original - a film with its own personality and style, and actual characters (rather than just cliches). The comedy/comic moments do seem a bit anachronistic, but since I was prepared I didn't find them as bothersome as other viewers appear to have done.

The film did feel a bit incomplete - there were aspects that could have done with more fleshing out. The 'falling in love' being one glaring example. But it's not a love story, it's a... err, well... it is what it is.

I thought the action in the film was really good - very nicely filmed, anyway. The fight=dance=sex between the main characters was clearly meant to be more stylised and symbolic than action-packed, but some of the other fights were genuinely good pieces of action. Still filmed in a stylised way of course, but effective.

It goes without saying that the film is generally gorgeous to look at, so... I won't mention it again :P

Can't understand how anyone can say "nothing interesting happens"! Kept me engaged throughout, and the running time went by quickly.