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dragynfaerie

USA

dragynfaerie

USA
The Mermaid chinese movie review
Completed
The Mermaid
4 people found this review helpful
by dragynfaerie
Apr 11, 2017
Completed
Overall 5.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 4.5
Rewatch Value 1.0
I'm too tired to even put in words how disappointed in this movie that I am. It zapped all my strength. Stephen Chow can and has done better. China has and can do better. I still can not wrap my mind around how THIS is China's #1 grossing movie of all time? I'm just confused. What was done well: The film is heavy on the environment as it should be considering we're talking a sea creature and what man is doing to the oceans. The cast is also good for their roles. What was done not so well: The CGI was iffy. The story is shallow (a little water humor there). The story isn't your typical The Little Mermaid. I won't spoil it for you, but let's just say Ariel isn't looking for her prince. Instead Chow did an interesting twist on the old Hans Christian Andersen story. A tycoon buys a gulf without any idea about the marine life. His partner (and crazed stalker) has a team of scientist using new tech to chase away protected marine life so the area can be developed. The mermaids aren't too happy about this. I think the idea is interesting and sound. I just wish it had been played out and developed more. Like I said the cast was good for their roles. What I mean is they didn't have very much acting to do. It seems like the script was thin with very little meat on it's bones. Much of the cast was reduced to silly and primarily unfunny gags that Chow has done much better. That being said I enjoyed Deng Chao's performance. He was entertaining. The music. OMG the music. Only if you are a lover of Chinese opera. I'm still trying to figure out how Chao was latin dancing to traditional Chinese music. The man has moves. It's weird, but it seemed like the music was mixed too loud. It was overpowering to me sometimes. It didn't really add to the story, help convey emotion, or push the story along. I have no need to rewatch this movie. Admittedly, I wouldn't mind seeing the entire office scene including Chao's dancing again. They can keep the rest.
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