"Vengeance of Snow" Hong Kong Theatrical Poster
AKA: A Daughter’s Vengeance
Director: Lo Wei
Cast: Li Ching, Yueh Hua, Guk Fung (Ku Feng), Tin Fung, Lisa Chiao Chiao, Paul Chang, Wong Chung-Shun, Lee Kwan, Nau Nau, Lo Wei, Hsu Yu, Kok Lee-Yan, Tsang Choh-Lam, Yee Kwan, Nam Wai-Lit, Gam Gwan, Sammo Hung, Chow Siu-Loi
Running Time: 118 min.
By Mighty Peking Man
A crippled female assassin (Li Ching) is on a mission of revenge against those who murdered her parents. Her goal is compromised when she falls in love with her target’s son (Tung Wa).
To some, Lo Wei is known as the prolific director who jump started Bruce Lee’s Hong Kong career by directing him in his first two films: The Big Boss and Fist of Fury. To others, Lo Wei is the guy who couldn’t make Jackie Chan a star, no matter what approach he took.
Then there’s others who are aware of Lo Wei’s pre-Golden Harvest/Bruce Lee/Jackie Chan periods. It was supposedly a time when Lo Wei (employed at Shaw Brothers Studios) was at the top of his game, quality-wise.
Vengeance of A Snow Girl is proof that – with some good writing, a fair budget and lavish set designs – Lo Wei was capable of making solid movies.
At times, it doesn’t feel like the fastest paced film, but then again, there’s never a moment where you lose interest. The production values are slick. The choreography and wire work is pleasant, smooth and sleek; Especially considering the time the film was made.
As cute as Li Ching is, there’s something inexplicably creepy about her playing a vengeful woman who is paralyzed from the waste down. When she’s shown waste up, she glides when she moves. While in combat, she stands still, swinging her arms as she fights off enemies. While she’s walking, she limps like a helpless soul. The rest of the time, she’s flying around. You can almost think of her as having a bizarre hint of Linda Blair from the Exorcist, of course a more beautiful version.
Co-star Tung Wa is a little less vicious than what I’m used to seeing him as. Though he can hold his own, you won’t see him taking on a room full of men, and outdoing them with no problem (ie 12 Gold Medallions). Most of the bloody rampage lies in the hands of Li Ching’s character.
It’s refreshing to see a Chinese film that partially takes place in the snow; not to mention a cheesy, but appreciable, volcano scene, that easily makes us think we’re watching a sci-fi flick for a few minutes. One’s gotta love the “frozen” special effects (probably compliments of Glad® Plastic Wrap).
The bottom line? Compared to something like Lo Wei’s Slaughter In San Francisco, Killer Meteors – or even The Big Boss – Vengeance of A Snow Girl is quality. I’m not saying it’s a better movie than any of those, but it certainly shows that a lot more hard work was put into it.
Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 6.5/10
