Vampire vs Vampire
From Zanecorpwiki
Mixed... I really liked Vampire vs. Vampire except for one fatal flaw...
Summary
Humorous, decent action, light hearted, poking fun at the west, based in ancient mythology, aimed at a modern audience, Vampire vs. Vampire comes close to my definition of everything I like most about Hong Kong Cinema. In some ways it's the very scatter shot, somewhat immature plat that I like. This would be a "top favorite" where it not for one thing: the obvious use of real bats in two (extended) scenes. The first instance is bearable, but the second involves multiple crush sequences that are just too hard for me to watch. There are a number of instances where actresses literally crush bats against walls and under foot.
It's really unfortunate because the bulk of the movie is unpretentious fun. I would in fact think it worthwhile to create at edited version that removes the worst scenes. As much as I like everything else about the film, the memory of bats being crushed and broken is enough to ruin the film for me forever.
Details and Notes
I just can't get over how disappointed I am in this film. If I had to give a rating, I have no idea what I'd do. On the one hand, it's simple fun with good action and unreflective camp that I love. On the other hand, I just can't get the image of the poor bats being crushed out of my head. You could take the two offending scenes from the movie, and removed from the large context, they would be simple crush films. It's not the intent, but I just can't get away from it. I almost wish I could.
I happened to watch this movie in two parts. In the first part of the viewing, there were bat corpses which were obviously real and which I assumed where killed for the sake of the movie. Unfortunate and disturbing, but I thought, "Well, it's part of the culture, enjoy the film." Whether that was right or not, I don't know. But in the second part of my viewing... ugh... there's just no rationalization. Live bats being mangled on-screen for the sake of entertainment is just stomach turning.
It's clear that the scenes are not the raison de etre of the film, so it would be unfair to call it a crush film, but the scenes are inescapable... and long... and brutal. It's not the intent, and my guess is that the culture simply holds bats as akin to insects--vermin to be crushed--so there's no real moral problem with killing real bats on screen, or using freshly killed bats as props, but to my sensibilities it's just... well, it obviously dominates my thinking about this movie.
Which is unfortunate because if that was remove I would adore this movie. I don't feel I can praies it too much, though, because of the crush content. Maybe when I'm fifty, I'll remake the thing in a clean version, preserving all the wonderful camp but expunging the unfortunate bits.
There's just something really unsettling about watching an actual death on screen. It's like... simulated is simulated, and I can suspend disbelief without really believing it while the reality of seeing an animal crushed to death destroys the suspension itself.
