HK & Other Country

The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011)

The Sorcerer and the White Snake is a fantasy romance film directed by Ching Siu-tung, inspired by the classic Chinese legend Madame White Snake. The story centers on a love affair between a white snake spirit (Eva Huang) who transforms into a woman and a human herbalist (Raymond Lam), defying the natural order. Jet Li stars as Abbot Fahai, a powerful monk tasked with maintaining balance between the human and spirit worlds. Visually, the film is a CGI-heavy spectacle, filled with magical battles, flying demons, and fantastical creatures. While the special effects are ambitious, they sometimes overwhelm the narrative. The heart of the story—a forbidden love between spirit and human—is emotional and rooted in folklore, but the execution feels uneven. Jet Li brings gravitas to the role of Fahai, delivering intense action scenes and moral conflict. However, the film struggles to balance its romantic and supernatural elements. Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) – A visually rich fantasy with strong performances and mythological depth, but weighed down by inconsistent pacing and overused CGI.