May 6 2012
“Tang Dynasty China, 759 A.D. Yao Ru Jiang, known as River, has woven many romantic dreams of honorable swordsman Wei Chen from her brother’s stories. Their meeting should have been a happy event; instead, Chen arrives to tell River he is duty bound to kill her brother for rebelling against the warlord they both serve. [...]
Mar 20 2012
“Tang Dynasty China, 823 A.D. Musician Jia needs a valuable book of poems by a famous courtesan to buy her freedom…and she believes Luo Cheng has taken it. Her attempt to steal the book from him fails, but the tall and powerful scholar unexpectedly offers to help her quest! But when they finally find the [...]
Aug 5 2011
Iron Monkey (Siu nin Wong Fei Hung ji: Tit Ma Lau) (1993) Genre: Martial Arts Action/Adventure Grade: B+ Iron Monkey was originally made in 1977 and remade in 1993. I’m concentrating on the remake. There are two editions of this movie to be found (though with varying extras and treatments) and a quick scan of [...]
Feb 12 2010
Wo hu cang long [Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon] (2000) Genre: Wuxia/Historical Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Romance Grade: amazing Does the term “martial arts film” make you cringe and think of badly dubbed “Kung Fu” movies. If that’s kept you from trying this film, then rethink. This is a gorgeous film – on so many levels. There is so much [...]
Jul 13 2009
Dear Ms. Carey, I think it’s no secret that you’re one of my favorite authors. Even though the Sundering duology didn’t do much for me, I loved the original Kushiel trilogy featuring Phedre and Joscelin. I’ve also been in something of a reading funk, finding myself unable to finish any book at all. I don’t [...]
Jan 23 2009
Dear Ms. Lee, Like Jane, I’m biased towards books featuring Asian heroines. So imagine how excited I was to discover a book that not only featured an Asian heroine but an Asian hero too! And in historical China! Even better, the cover depicted them as both distinctly Asian. That last bit sounds like a strange [...]
Jun 25 2007
Dear Ms. Lee, I remember when “White Tigress” was released and all the hoopla about it being set in historical China and the tantric-esque sex. I bought it but actually started reading the series with the second book “Hungry Tigress” and followed with “Desperate Tigress.” It was at that point that I readily admit to [...]
Recent Comments