Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
ChampDavSlim
The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
Leoni Haney
Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.
Janis
One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
win2888asia
I very like to see thisSome argue that Stephen uses a lots of old jokes and routines in this movie that makes it a little bit weak on the script. However, I think it's one of his best. He doesn't make as many dirty jokes as usual, but you can really learn his philosophy through this two-hours movie and have a very good laugh at the same time.
T Lim
I hardly write reviews and I was never a Stephan Chow fan even when I was growing up in Asia. But this film impressed me a lot, especially when I was very disappointed with the quality of many Chinese films in the last few years. The Chinese films now have more budget, but a lot of them have no soul. And sadly, some Chinese directors who I used to admire are now making rubbish.This film is very refreshing. It is rare to find a film that is funny, well made, but at the same time makes you reflect on the environmental problem. It does not do it in a way that lectures you, but rather you came to that awareness among the laughter. That is very valuable, which is why I gave it a 10!
bandi naga rakesh
Director Stephen Chow needs no introduction. He has captured our imagination with his style of comedy and action movies like Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer. Coming to this movie, the director tries to show us how we humans have fraught ourselves with the dogma that we own all the things created by the GOD. We have wrung the life out of everything only to hoard ourselves with riches and wealth and have obstinately vilified the rights of other beings to live on Earth.The titular character Mermaid seeks revenge to save her species from the cusps of extinction. She goes out on a mission to establish this by killing the owner of a reality tycoon who himself is lost in wretches of wealth and seeks to convert an island into a theme park.The movie is defined by the line " what is the use of all the wealth when there is not a drop to drink and fresh air to breathe". It shows how the tycoon changes his heart and saves the lives of Mermaids. Our heart goes out for the Mermaids when they are mercilessly hunted down and we then come to realize that is what we do in our daily lives- kill other species for our greed and meaningless satisfaction. But at the end of the day all we need is a soul which will love us with all our pitfalls and share with us this ugly world.A must watch for all those who love a cocktail of love, action, fantasy and morals.
Wei Jay Tan
The Mermaid, or Mei Ren Yu in Chinese, is not just any romance and fantasy film, it's a film that blends together it's elements into a mixture of smart writing, strange moments and brilliant performances from the cast. All to deliver its timely environmental messages as well as entertaining the audiences simultaneously. Although I have not seen many Chinese movies, this one is truly no ordinary Chinese film. I had a very good time with the film, not only did it cheer me up with its irresistible humor, but I learned so much from the film while I was enjoying myself and having a good laugh while watching the film.The film weaves together a funny, brilliant, sometimes violent, powerful, and timely story about protecting the environment. Rather than using just drama or seriousness to express its important themes, it also uses comedy to do so while entertaining us. I have to say that I am a person who never laughs at explicit and black humor, and therefore there were moments that I wouldn't laugh at when a piece of media or a line of words spoken by a person in reality (there is not much of pitch black rude humor in the film, but maybe just a little bit.). But, man, for a person who doesn't like comedy, this film's humor really let this boy have a great time while injecting an important lesson of environmental preservation and the significance of protecting marine life.Does anyone believe that there are Mermaids out there? I'm not sure of my answer to that question that I have just mentioned myself, but I was definitely a fan of the story of "The Little Mermaid" by Danish Author Hans Christian Anderson, as well as Disney's 1989 Musical Film Adaption of it. This 2016 film also features a story about mermaids, and it, like the original story by Hans Christian Anderson and Disney's 1989 film adaptation, has the key element of romance within. But this film used the romance element in its story as a catalyst to strengthen the timely messages that it wants to tell it's audiences.The story (which I shall not spoil at all and leave it to the new audiences to discover the film's "Treasures" themselves instead) is about a beautiful mermaid lady named Shan (brilliantly played by actress Lin Yun), who is sent by her kind to seduce a rich businessman, but falls in love with him instead. Love is a powerful thing, it can bypass many barricades. And I while I am aware of the dangers of it, I am even more aware of the even deeper dangers and consequences of violence, and this doesn't exclude violence against other animals besides us humans. As a vegetarian, I deeply appreciated and applauded the environmental messages that this strange but funny fantasy live action film wished to impart to me and the rest of its audiences.How much I laughed at the film's comedic moments, most of which was, pretty much, harmless. Except perhaps for the moments of animal bodies present I wouldn't appreciate it much. As I have told you, a vegetarian I am. Where did I tell you? In the paragraph above this one. Anyway, for Chinese audiences (I am one of them) I am certain that it would appeal very well to. No matter which kind of audience you are, you will definitely laugh at the film's irresistible humor and enjoy yourselves in the process. I had a lot of fun, and learned a lot of important lessons from the "Fun" that I had.I smiled a lot, and I think you would, too. Even if you're reading the subtitles written in English(The film's spoken language is Chinese). I watched it on DVD, and after completing my first viewing of the film I had the wish of visiting the film again in the future to view its important messages alongside of its entertainment qualities once again.