This film is a remake of one from the 70's about a young lady named Ai Nu, played by Hu Kwan-Chan, who is forced into prostitution. The keeper of the place called Merryland is Lady Chun, and she tries her best to make Ai Nu feel at home. There are violent scenes in this film, including martial arts and gang rape, as well as murder. There is also some lesbian erotica, as well as men/women. Surprisingly, there is not much nudity in it, very unlike, lets say, "Sex And Zen". As with other Shaw Brothers films, the costumes and sets are impeccable. Its not a bad film by any means, and the two female leads are very attractive, but there isn't anything essential going on. Its fine, a little better than average. If you're into this kind of film, then watch it. Otherwise, you can skip it.
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crossbow010619 August 2008
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Now, I had actually never heard about this 1984 Hong Kong drama titled "Ai Nu Xin Zhuan" (aka "Lust for Love of a Chinese Courtesan"), but seeing it was a Shaw Brothers release, and it being an Asian movie I hadn't already seen, needless to say that I sat down to watch it.
Writer and director Yuen Chor put together a fair enough script and storyline for the movie, however the sex scenes just turned the movie into a somewhat lewd and watered down version of what it could have been. Had director Yuen Chor opted to hint at the sex instead of showing it, "Ai Nu Xin Zhuan" would have been a much more enjoyable and watchable movie.
While the cast ensemble in the movie was good, I wasn't familiar with any performer in this particular group of casted actresses and actors. But I will say that they put on good performances.
Visually then "Ai Nu Xin Zhuan" was an okay movie. There was a lot of effort put into the sets, the wardrobe and the props. But that is usually the case with the movies from Shaw Brothers.
"Ai Nu Xin Zhuan" is not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time, simply because of the sex scenes that made the movie unnecessarily lewd. And I am a bit amazed actually, that the Shaw Brothers would lend their name to such.
My rating of "Ai Nu Xin Zhuan" lands on a five out of ten stars.