Shang Hai zhi yen

Movie 4000. Tsui Hark directs every bit of slapstick, every musical number, every romantic scene with the same intensity and momentum that he'd apply to an action scene.

it's a weird feeling, being so excited to finally track down a movie after reading several glowing reviews, and then there's some terrible blackface jokes right in the middle of it. i'm not necessarily shocked this (or the sexism and date-rape subplot) is in the film, just thrown off by how it's possible to read five star reviews that don't even mention it. there's some great stuff here, i wish i could love it. watch peking opera blues instead