"What ever happened to the days when we saw real martial artists doing real kung fu in movies? Nowadays if you can sell a millions copies of your latest record you can automatically do kung fu in a blockbuster HK movie."
- Ben Poppel
Para Para Sakura (2001)
Director: Jingle Ma (Choh Shing)
Cast: Aaron Kwok (Fu Sing), Cecilia Cheung Pak-Chi, Aniu, Shunichi Kikukawa, Yam Fei Fei
Running Time: 111 min.
Plot: A color-blind dance instructor struggles to hold on to his one true love.
Reviews
BEN POPPEL'S REVIEW: What ever happened to the days when we saw real martial artists doing real kung fu in movies? Nowadays if you can sell a millions copies of your latest record you can automatically do kung fu in a blockbuster HK movie (with the help or wires and tricky camera angles). This is the case for Aaron Kwok. Granted, I have to say he is one of the better singers that can pull off the "action role". But it is kind of a hit or miss as if the movie will suck or not. For the case of Para Para Sakura, though this is one of those movies that is just barely watchable. It has an easy story to follow and the action pieces where Aaron uses his "Dance Fu" to out maneuver his foes are also kind of fun. But where this movie falls apart is in the boring dance sequences and drawn out dramatic plots. And the sheer nature of this film seems to be for the younger audience. Yea, there were a couple funny parts but I felt like I was almost watching a Disney movie. What ever the case, this movie is alright to a certain level, I almost turned it off a couple of times hoping we would get to see Aaron perform one last cool kung fu sequence...oh I mean dance fu sequence...but instead were treated to more of what made this movie so bad ...more dancing...at least the song at the end is pretty cool...
BEN POPPEL'S RATING: 6/10
