3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy
Encyclopedia
3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy is a 2011 Hong Kong
3-D
erotic costume drama
film released in Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand on 14 April 2011. It is a new installment of the Sex and Zen
series, but more dark and dramatic as well as occasionally paying homage to the humor of the original series.
, Wei Yangsheng (Jyutping
: Mei6 Joeng1 Sang1) believes that since life is short, one should pursue the ultimate sexual pleasure as time allows. Wei Yangsheng encounters Tie Fei the Taoist priest's daughter, Tie Yuxiang (Jyutping: Tit3 Juk6 Hoeng1), on an occasion. With the former's talent and the latter's beauty, they fall in love at first sight, and Wei Yangsheng is later married into the Tie family. Yuxiang is elegant and courteous under the influence of her father's faith, though her lack of passion cannot fully satisfy Wei Yangsheng's sexual needs. His disappointment is no less than his affection for her.
of the classical novel The Carnal Prayer Mat depicting the sexual exploits of a young Ming Dynasty scholar named Wei Yangsheng. It is produced by Stephen Shiu, the executive producer of its predecessor film Sex and Zen
. The film was falsely promoted as "Hong Kong's first IMAX
3-D erotic film". The film was actually rejected by IMAX due to the subject matter and content. Its cast includes Japanese AV idol
s. Laughing aloud, producer Stephen Shiu Yeuk-Yuen described the experience of watching this film onscreen: "It is just like [being a] voyeur near someone's bed."
and Stephen Shiu told that screening was likely to be blocked in Mainland China
, a key market for Hong Kong filmmakers. Nevertheless, producers further announced that 3D Sex and Zen will be released in various versions in order to bypass censorship laws in some jurisdictions and allow wider distribution.
In Australia and New Zealand, the film was screened by Hoyts
.
, T-shirts and 3-D mouse pads with portraits of the cast were sold at the Lunar New Year Fair
in Victoria Park, Hong Kong
.
reports that 22% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 23 reviews.
Simon Foster of SBS Australia
suggested the film loses steam along the way. He believes the thrill of the movie dissipates as the narrative turns nasty at the final 40 minutes, caused by those multi-dimensional rape and dismemberment scenes. Daniel Rutledge of TV3 (New Zealand)
sees that the movie "carries noble messages of love being more important than lust and true love not requiring sex at all, but those messages are muted by the shock of wanting a bit of naughty fun and instead getting something really quite nasty." Elizabeth Kerr of The Hollywood Reporter
wrote, "Given Extreme Ecstasy’s ultimate message that “All you need is love” and the vindication of the value of emotional connection in intercourse, the road the filmmakers take to get there is perplexing to say the least."
However, Zoe Li of CNNGo gave the film a positive review. "I walked out of the first private screening of the softcore 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy never wanting to have sex again, not because the sex scenes were gross... but because its message of 'true love doesn't need sex' was so convincing", she states. On Simon Miraudo's blog, Simon suggested that the movie herald a new age in cinema.
As of 15 June, 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy earned more than HK $40 million (over US $5M) in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong films of 2011
-2011:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 2011 at...
3-D
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
erotic costume drama
Costume drama
A costume drama or period drama is a period piece in which elaborate costumes, sets and properties are featured in order to capture the ambiance of a particular era.The term is usually used in the context of film and television...
film released in Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand on 14 April 2011. It is a new installment of the Sex and Zen
Sex and Zen
Sex and Zen is a 1991 Hong Kong erotic comedy film directed by Michael Mak and starring Lawrence Ng and Amy Yip....
series, but more dark and dramatic as well as occasionally paying homage to the humor of the original series.
Plot
As a conceited scholar of the Ming DynastyMing Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, Wei Yangsheng (Jyutping
Jyutping
Jyutping is a romanization system for Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong in 1993. Its formal name is The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong Cantonese Romanization Scheme...
: Mei6 Joeng1 Sang1) believes that since life is short, one should pursue the ultimate sexual pleasure as time allows. Wei Yangsheng encounters Tie Fei the Taoist priest's daughter, Tie Yuxiang (Jyutping: Tit3 Juk6 Hoeng1), on an occasion. With the former's talent and the latter's beauty, they fall in love at first sight, and Wei Yangsheng is later married into the Tie family. Yuxiang is elegant and courteous under the influence of her father's faith, though her lack of passion cannot fully satisfy Wei Yangsheng's sexual needs. His disappointment is no less than his affection for her.
Cast (character names in Mandarin)
- Hayama GoHayama Go, born , also known as Yip San Ho in Cantonese, is a Japanese actor and former model based in Hong Kong.-Filmography:* Mysterious Island * 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy * The Jade and the Pearl * Break Up Club...
as Hiro Hayama plays Wei Yangsheng - Lan Yan plays Tie Yuxiang
- Saori HaraSaori Harais a former Japanese AV idol, model and actress who has also used the name .-Life and career:Saori Hara was born in Hiroshima Prefecture to a Japanese mother and a father of mixed German-Japanese parentage.-Mai Nanami:...
plays Ruizhu - Vonnie Lui plays the Elder of Bliss
- Yukiko Suo plays Dongmei
- Chen Chiu-Ping as Irene Chen plays Pandan
- Tony Ho plays Prince of Ning
- Kirt Kishita plays Quan Laoshi
- Wong Shu-Tong plays the Abbott
- Tenky Tin plays Dique
- Justin Cheung (張建聲) plays Mr. Lam
- Calina Chan (陳嘉靈) as Carina Chen plays Xian Lan, Tie Yuxiang's maid
- Jason Yiu (姚洛銘) plays Shangguan Shen
- Lau Shek Yin (劉錫賢) plays the Mayor
- Mark Wu (胡耀辉) plays Tiancan
- Naami Hasegawa as Tomoko Kinoshita
- Vienna Lin (連綺嵐)
- Flora Cheung (張淨思)
- Cliff Chen
- Jeffrey Chow Chun-Fai
- Wah Chiu Ho
Background
3D Sex and Zen is essentially an adaptationFilm adaptation
Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
of the classical novel The Carnal Prayer Mat depicting the sexual exploits of a young Ming Dynasty scholar named Wei Yangsheng. It is produced by Stephen Shiu, the executive producer of its predecessor film Sex and Zen
Sex and Zen
Sex and Zen is a 1991 Hong Kong erotic comedy film directed by Michael Mak and starring Lawrence Ng and Amy Yip....
. The film was falsely promoted as "Hong Kong's first IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
3-D erotic film". The film was actually rejected by IMAX due to the subject matter and content. Its cast includes Japanese AV idol
AV Idol
An AV idol is a Japanese idol who works in the pornographic business, often both as an actress as well as a model as the video performances have a wide range, from just the idol strolling around their house doing chores in bikinis to hardcore porn...
s. Laughing aloud, producer Stephen Shiu Yeuk-Yuen described the experience of watching this film onscreen: "It is just like [being a] voyeur near someone's bed."
Distribution
The film is a Category III film as per Hong Kong ratingHong Kong motion picture rating system
The Hong Kong motion picture rating system is a legal system of movie screening and rating. An official government agency issues ratings for any movie that will be shown in Hong Kong movie theatres.-History:...
and Stephen Shiu told that screening was likely to be blocked in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, a key market for Hong Kong filmmakers. Nevertheless, producers further announced that 3D Sex and Zen will be released in various versions in order to bypass censorship laws in some jurisdictions and allow wider distribution.
In Australia and New Zealand, the film was screened by Hoyts
Hoyts
The Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
.
Marketing
In 2011 Chinese New YearChinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
, T-shirts and 3-D mouse pads with portraits of the cast were sold at the Lunar New Year Fair
Lunar New Year Fair
Lunar New Year Fair is a type of fair held annually a few days before Lunar New Year in markets, China.- Hong Kong :...
in Victoria Park, Hong Kong
Victoria Park, Hong Kong
Victoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island, between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations...
.
Reception
3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy mostly received negative reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reports that 22% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 23 reviews.
Simon Foster of SBS Australia
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
suggested the film loses steam along the way. He believes the thrill of the movie dissipates as the narrative turns nasty at the final 40 minutes, caused by those multi-dimensional rape and dismemberment scenes. Daniel Rutledge of TV3 (New Zealand)
TV3 (New Zealand)
TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...
sees that the movie "carries noble messages of love being more important than lust and true love not requiring sex at all, but those messages are muted by the shock of wanting a bit of naughty fun and instead getting something really quite nasty." Elizabeth Kerr of The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
wrote, "Given Extreme Ecstasy’s ultimate message that “All you need is love” and the vindication of the value of emotional connection in intercourse, the road the filmmakers take to get there is perplexing to say the least."
However, Zoe Li of CNNGo gave the film a positive review. "I walked out of the first private screening of the softcore 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy never wanting to have sex again, not because the sex scenes were gross... but because its message of 'true love doesn't need sex' was so convincing", she states. On Simon Miraudo's blog, Simon suggested that the movie herald a new age in cinema.
Box office
According to Russell Edwards of Variety, 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy took in US $351,000 (HK $2,790,000) on the first day alone in Hong Kong, beating Avatars HK $2.5 million opening gross in the country in 2009. It earned HK $13,104,982 in the first four days after opening.As of 15 June, 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy earned more than HK $40 million (over US $5M) in Hong Kong.
External links
- 3D Sex and Zen at Hong Kong Movie DatabaseHong Kong Movie DatabaseThe Hong Kong Movie DataBase is a bilingual website that was created in 1995 by Ryan Law to provide a repository for information about movies originating from Hong Kong and the people that created them....
- 3D Sex and Zen at Hong Kong CinemagicHong Kong CinemagicHong Kong Cinemagic, sometimes referred to as HKCinemagic, is a bilingual website providing a repository for information about Chinese language films from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, and the people that created them. The website contains news, interviews, film reviews and a database of people,...
- Movie image gallery