This period martial arts fantasy film that was originally released in 1994 as SEMI-GODS AND SEMI-DEVILS. The film is based a long and complicated novel by Jin Yong. Despite having a big budget (for a Hong Kong movie) and a multicultural cast to appeal to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China, the film bombed at the box office. Like THE KUNG FU COLT MASTER, the film failed to find an audience because it has a complex storyline rooted in ancient mythology, and far too many characters to keep track of. Mei Ah LaserDisc company is responsible for releasing this action fantasy on DVD.

Though the film lacks a coherent plot, one thing THE DRAGON CHRONICLES does not lack is star power. Brigitte (THE BRIDE WITH THE WHITE HAIR) Lin toplines as twins Chong Hoi and Chou Shui, two demigoddesses who have nothing in common except that they both love their master. Popular actress Gong (THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN) Li stars as the lesbian demigoddess Mo Han Wan. Cheung (THE KUNG FU COLT MASTER) Man is Purple, a beautiful young demigoddess in training who will do anything to get ahead. Norman (ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN 94) Chu portrays the villianous demigod, Master Ting. Director Andy (LORD OF HANGZHOU) Chin does a great job of capturing the spectacle on film.

Two twin sisters, the good Chong Hoi, and the power hungry Chou Shui (both played by Brigitte Lin) are in love with (and are students of) the all-powerful master of the mystic martial arts, Siu Yiu Tze. A powerful demigoddess named Mo Han Wan (Gong Li) loves good twin Chong Hoi. All these women are demigoddesses who exhibit supernatural powers, but they do not possess the powers of the omnipotent Siu Yiu Tze.

Siu Yiu Tze’s chief adversary is Master Ting, who has assembled his own army and wants mastery of Siu Yiu Tze’s martial arts powers and his material holdings as well. During their initial encounter, Master Ting’s forces manage to poison Siu Yiu Tze, and he retreats to the spiritual retreat called Piu Miu Peak, where his adversaries in the physical world cannot reach. Siu Yiu Tze takes Chong Hoi into seclusion with him, which makes Mo Han Wan jealous because she loves her too. Chong Hoi’s sister Chou Shui is angered as well, because she has feelings for her master, and he has gone into hiding with her sister.

Master Ting’s poison takes its toll on Siu Yiu Tze, and he proclaims that he will relinquish his martial arts mastery and knowledge upon a worthy successor. Whoever lays claim to the old one’s powers must win a metaphysical game of chess. Once the successor gains the powers of Siu Yiu Tze, they must use this newfound power to depose the threat of Master Ting.

Master Ting leads his troops against the Shaolin temple. The head monk fails to stave off Master Ting’s onslaught, but an old Shaolin monk bestows a jade pendant and an ancient kung fu bible to a young monk. These two artifacts enable the young monk to learn the Pei Ming Magic Stance. This technique opens up a doorway and allows Siu Yiu Tze’s godlike powers to flow through him.

The villainous Master Ting has a disciple named Purple (Cheung Man). Purple has her own agenda and is always conspiring to make herself as powerful as her master and the other demigods. She also forms a bond with the young Shaolin priest whom she discovers as being the next successor to Siu Yiu Tze. The demigods Chou Shui and Mo Han Wan wage war on one another, while Master Ting attempts to kill the young Shaolin monk. Master Tong chases he Purple and the young monk through the real world and the metaphysical world. The demigod’s power struggle for Siu Yiu Tze’s powers threatens the well being of the people, and only the chosen monk can stop the chaos.

The main problem of the plot is the complexity. I found myself shaking my head in disbelief at each new revelation. THE DRAGON CHRONICLES is a movie you need to see more than once if you are to fully understand it. Much of the cast have multiple roles, and each time we see them, their characters look completely different and even go through constant changes in wardrobe, so you can’t even depend on clothes to keep track of who is who. There is too many characters in the story, and the film ignores many of them after they are introduced, and focuses mostly on the plight of the demigods. The demigods are in constant conflict, and behave similar to the opposing gods of Greek mythology.

Despite the plot problems, this is one beautiful film. Besides the constant beauty radiated by Brigitte Lin, Gong Li, and Cheung Man, the production design and camera work is equally artistically appealing. The film takes place in the real world, and on a metaphysical plane. Both worlds are wonderfully depicted, though each of these worlds is dark and murky. Like most cable-fu films, the film is visually dazzling, but that does not hide the fact that the script is confusing and shallow (just like Hollywood movies!). Andy Chin’s direction is decent enough, and he does what he can with the script and concepts.

Though the script is over-ambitious and problematic, the graceful trio of Brigitte Lin, Gong Li, and Man Cheung make this film worth recommending. Brigitte Lin imbues her twin sister characters with emotion and sensuality. Gong Li is an angel unto herself, and demands your attention when she is onscreen. Cheung Man is both sexy and girlish cute, and she can act too. Her character has so many hidden agendas that she could con the devil herself to further her schemes, yet she constantly exudes innocence while making that deal. Norman Chu is excellent as the sinister Master Ting, who proves to be a conniving and constant menace; Chu’s villainy keeps the to keep the story flowing.

The stunt work is breath-taking; but there really is not a lot of martial arts combat. Instead the demigods fly through the air hurling bolts of lightning at one another. The demigods also display a mean streak, as they pulverize their enemies with a mystical assault causing their opponents to blow up. This allows the special effects team to do their thing. A man gets both arms sliced off in battle, and blood spews across the floor. The young monk who inherits the powers of Siu Yiu Tze spends the last half of the movie performing various supernatural deeds. The sheer number of stunts and special effects scenes are unreal, and the way they are filmed with EVIL DEAD-style camera movements make the film that much more fantastic.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is very good. We are not talking LUCASFILM THX quality sound here, but the 5.1 soundtrack is generally crisp, loud, ambient, with surprising 5.1 panning activity. The rear soundstage is quite powerful, and nearly overpowers the wide front soundstage. The soundtrack includes clanging weapons, explosions, human bodies get blown up (!), magicians hurls thunderbolts at each other, and characters leap through the air, surrounding the viewer with the sound of rushing wind. Despite the bass being a little low, overall the DD 5.1 soundfield was powerful, and full of true stereo separation. The Cantonese/Mandarin dialog was undistorted and emanated cleanly from the center speaker. THE DRAGON CHRONICLES features a nice electronic/symphonic score with touches of medieval Chinese sounds (including some classical flute), and a swirling traditional mix that someone like Jerry Goldsmith may have composed. The music is not constant, but well-placed to accentuate the drama and action. The score, the dialog, and the sound effects are perfectly synchronized in the mix, making this one a winner.

- Tony Mustafa

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