Why the special effects in Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain, Tsui Hark’s 1983 martial arts fantasy, weren’t a game-changer for Hong Kong film
- Novel optical effects didn’t add to the movie and, rather than it starting a stream of effects-driven Hong Kong films, producers shied away from using them
- Still, Tsui Hark’s film is much loved for its fantasy elements, fast-paced narrative and a cast that included Adam Cheng, Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung and Brigitte Lin
Optical effects, which predate computer-generated effects, involve an optical printer and the addition of filters to the celluloid during post-production, as well as “in-camera” effects such as multiple exposures.
Faced with a knowledge gap in Hong Kong, Tsui hired a group of American special effects technicians from Hollywood to advise on those elements of the production, although this did not ultimately deliver the quality he was seeking. Even so, the supremely enjoyable Zu makes up for its lack of narrative structure and below-par visual effects with a surfeit of exuberance and enthusiasm.
Time and affection – it’s a much-loved movie – has led to a significance being attached to Zu which is not strictly warranted.
It’s often referred to as an influential film, but it was more of an anomaly. Far from starting a wave of optical-effects-driven Hong Kong films, the difficulties the effects process caused to the production team killed the idea stone dead.
No Hong Kong filmmakers attempted to use such effects after Zu.