Sure we're accustomed to the American movies, and their formulas. In the same time, it isn't a problem to be accustomed to other formulas, as long as they proved themselves solid. This time, I think it didn't.
At its start, the movie puts a story with a great basis. A widow grand auntie, who is less than 20 year old, hides her youth, and suppresses her rebellion under so serious looks, and old fashioned clothes. Now she meets someone of her age, who's totally the opposite, so love must be in the air by now. Le alone that there is also an evil antagonist who chases both, and wants to steal and destroy them.
So, it's some romantic comedy about clinging to the past, while not living the present (the girl represents the past of Hong Kung, while the boy is the present with all the recent inventions, modern culture,.. etc), and it's a kung-fu movie in which fights must solve a big conflict, and beat a very wily relative who has such an incredible booby-trapped house, and unbeatable henchmen.
The thing is the romance wasn't completed. I don't know is it inappropriate, in the Hong Kung's culture, for the guy to marry the girl at last?! And the climactic sequences went on and on, like it's forever. True that bringing the 4 old men into the battle was a good move that should attract the older audience, giving Chia-Liang Liu, who played the character of Yu Ching-Chuen, and wrote / directed the movie, the time of his life as well. But I felt so board, especially with not changing the place.
The movie has a sense of difference for the Shaw Brothers movies at the time. I mean we have the 20th century's start, automobiles, masquerades, singing, dancing, being so far away from the Shaolin Monastery and the bald monks! Though, in terms of the movie's undertone substance, I believe that progress isn't about learning dancing, getting more sexual, or forgetting decency. Tending to certain western values, while disengaging from your eastern roots, isn't always a winning.
Save the last 20 minutes, still this movie is so watchable. Kara Hui is the jewel of it as the auntie. She proves that her acting is as perfect as her martial arts. It's fascinating how she was turning from a staid statue into just a teen girl with all the natural astonishment. Her amazed looks to a new colorful world, which she didn't experience before, waking up her youth inside, assured how a gifted actress she is. Fair enough to win the Best Actress honors at the first annual Hong Kong Film Awards for that performance.
Chia-Liang Liu wasn't less powerful himself, making such a nice character. And I believe by writing that end, he kind of implied that the new generation can't have victory only by itself; they need the older generation to really overpower.
Hou Hsiao, as the son Ah Tao, was the least interesting cast-member, doing well in the fighting scenes and the comic ones, while lacking the charisma of everyone around. The cameo of the legendary Chia Hui Liu (aka: Gordon Liu) as the friend James was odd, he didn't do much as if that was a rest role for him, and he looked extremely ridiculous in that big blond wig too!
My Young Auntie is enjoyable. I liked most of its story, comedy, and action. This time, the Shaw Brothers films proved that they could do something else pure martial arts. However, the third act ruined the taste of the final product. Whether it was a movie from Hong Kong, or Hollywood, it needed more balanced climax. Sometimes, breaking some rules isn't for the sake of its breakers.
At its start, the movie puts a story with a great basis. A widow grand auntie, who is less than 20 year old, hides her youth, and suppresses her rebellion under so serious looks, and old fashioned clothes. Now she meets someone of her age, who's totally the opposite, so love must be in the air by now. Le alone that there is also an evil antagonist who chases both, and wants to steal and destroy them.
So, it's some romantic comedy about clinging to the past, while not living the present (the girl represents the past of Hong Kung, while the boy is the present with all the recent inventions, modern culture,.. etc), and it's a kung-fu movie in which fights must solve a big conflict, and beat a very wily relative who has such an incredible booby-trapped house, and unbeatable henchmen.
The thing is the romance wasn't completed. I don't know is it inappropriate, in the Hong Kung's culture, for the guy to marry the girl at last?! And the climactic sequences went on and on, like it's forever. True that bringing the 4 old men into the battle was a good move that should attract the older audience, giving Chia-Liang Liu, who played the character of Yu Ching-Chuen, and wrote / directed the movie, the time of his life as well. But I felt so board, especially with not changing the place.
The movie has a sense of difference for the Shaw Brothers movies at the time. I mean we have the 20th century's start, automobiles, masquerades, singing, dancing, being so far away from the Shaolin Monastery and the bald monks! Though, in terms of the movie's undertone substance, I believe that progress isn't about learning dancing, getting more sexual, or forgetting decency. Tending to certain western values, while disengaging from your eastern roots, isn't always a winning.
Save the last 20 minutes, still this movie is so watchable. Kara Hui is the jewel of it as the auntie. She proves that her acting is as perfect as her martial arts. It's fascinating how she was turning from a staid statue into just a teen girl with all the natural astonishment. Her amazed looks to a new colorful world, which she didn't experience before, waking up her youth inside, assured how a gifted actress she is. Fair enough to win the Best Actress honors at the first annual Hong Kong Film Awards for that performance.
Chia-Liang Liu wasn't less powerful himself, making such a nice character. And I believe by writing that end, he kind of implied that the new generation can't have victory only by itself; they need the older generation to really overpower.
Hou Hsiao, as the son Ah Tao, was the least interesting cast-member, doing well in the fighting scenes and the comic ones, while lacking the charisma of everyone around. The cameo of the legendary Chia Hui Liu (aka: Gordon Liu) as the friend James was odd, he didn't do much as if that was a rest role for him, and he looked extremely ridiculous in that big blond wig too!
My Young Auntie is enjoyable. I liked most of its story, comedy, and action. This time, the Shaw Brothers films proved that they could do something else pure martial arts. However, the third act ruined the taste of the final product. Whether it was a movie from Hong Kong, or Hollywood, it needed more balanced climax. Sometimes, breaking some rules isn't for the sake of its breakers.