Review of The Bride with White Hair 2 (1993) by Steve W — 14 Oct 2009

I think this film would have got better reviews if it had been called something else. The problem is Ronny Yu made a great, almost perfect film with the original Bride and this has rather a rushed feel to it.

The epic, mythological feel of the first film has been replaced by something else and Brigitte Lin has no real space to develop the tragic character until right at the end when she is reunited with Leslie Cheung in a not exactly happy ending, if perhaps fitting.

But the photography is wonderful and Sunny Chan is, in my opinion, a better actor than some give credit for. Joey Man does what she is there for and provides the eye candy and some nudity. They are supported by the great Helena Law Lan and Christy Chung plays it for fun and dies a suitably tragic death.

This is much bloodier than the first film and the feminist, even lesbian overtones are too obvious at times. The kung fu and sword play is minimal but I sat through the film really enjoying it and if you don't consider it a sequel then it is still better than many other films.