| The Sorcerer and the White Snake | |
|---|---|
| Traditional | 白蛇傳說之法海 |
| Simplified | 白蛇传说之法海 |
| Mandarin | Bái Shé Chuán Shuō Zhī Fǎ Hǎi |
| Cantonese | Baak6 Se4 Cyun4 Syut3 Zi1 Faat3 Hoi2 |
| Directed by | Ching Siu-tung |
| Produced by | Chui Po Chu Yang Zi |
| Screenplay by | Charcoal Tan Tsang Kan Cheung Szeto Cheuk Hon |
| Starring | Jet Li Eva Huang Raymond Lam Charlene Choi Wen Zhang Vivian Hsu |
| Music by | Mark Lui |
| Cinematography | Venus Keung |
| Editing by | Lam On Yee |
| Distributed by | Distribution Workshop[1] |
| Release date(s) | 3 September 2011 (Venice Film Festival) 29 September 2011 (Hong Kong) |
| Country | Hong Kong China |
| Language | Mandarin |
| Budget | HK$200 million[2] |
The Sorcerer and the White Snake, previously known as, It's Love and Madame White Snake is a 2011 film directed by Ching Siu-tung and starring Jet Li. It is based on the Chinese Legend of the White Snake. Production started in September 10, 2010[3] and ended on January 16, 2011.[4] The film will be in 3-D[5] and was shown out of competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival on 3 September 2011.[6] It was released in Hong Kong on 29 September 2011.[7]
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The film starts with Abott Fahai with his assistant Neng Ren going to a front door to a snow blizzard. The ice harpy appears at the top of the mountains. Neng Ren starts to get her but the Ice Harpy freezes him. Fahai and the Ice Harpy start to talk then they start to fight each other. At the end of the battle, Fahai traps the Ice Harpy with his demon trapper which unfreezes Neng Ren. Fahai asks his assistant to confine her at Lei Feng Pagoda and the two of them go back to the door which disappears when it closes. Later the films moves to Jin Shan temple, a place where monks pray to Amitabha. At Lei Feng Pagoda, Neng Ren goes upstairs to go to the magic circle where demons are trapped in. He tells the demons that if they make real progress in meditation, they well be released then traps the Ice Harpy in the circle. Then the movie now starts with mountains. One mountain has a waterfall and shows a naga slithering around while another one starts slithering with her. The two start enjoying their life and they look at the other mountains. Later, men who are climbing up the mountain to dig for herbs. The two nagas watch them while still looking for herbs. Qingqing, the green naga starts to give Xu Xian a scare which made him fall down the lake and Qingqing starts laughing. Susu assumes human form and saves Xu Xian. Susu kisses Xu Xian which makes a flow of vital essence. Later, Xu Xian wakes up and tells his friends what happened which only made them laugh. Soon, Fahai and Neng Ren found a victim of the bat demons, that they have to catch them tonight. They ride a boat while talking to Xu Xian. Susu starts thinking about the day she kissed Xu Xian. Their animal companions wonder why she's bothered. She explains that she wants to go to the human world just to see Xu Xian.
Leading actors Ethan Ruan, Peter Ho, Mark Chao and Raymond Lam fought for the lead role in the film. In the end, Lam got the role. It was reported that Ruan and Chao were dropped as they were deemed to be not well known enough in China and Ho's image did not suit the male lead.[2]
Jet Li was announced to be part of the cast during early pre-production however his role was not revealed until September 2010, when some actors' roles were announced including Jet Li as Fa Hai, Eva Huang as White Snake, Raymond Lam as Xu Xian, Charlene Choi as Green Snake and Wen Zhang, whom Li invited to play his disciple Neng Ren.[8]
Regarding the action scenes, Jet Li said he had never been this exhausted before. Li says,
After fighting the White Snake, fight the Green Snake. After fighting the Green Snake, then fight the Demon. After fighting this Demon, then fight another Demon. After fighting this Demon, then fight the Water Monster. Everyday on set I was letting out a big sigh.[5]
Raymond Lam said he was always being hit by others,
Especially Ah Sa, she even requested for the director to add fight scenes. As a result, added scenes to hit me! Furthermore she fought much more fiercely than before![5]
Filming wrapped on January 16, 2011. Originally titled Madame White Snake in English, the film logo was unveiled during the production wrap press conference with the new official English title, It's Love.[9] However, the English title was changed to The Sorcerer and the White Snake when the distributor was announced.[1]
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