“Are you ready for the most successful mainstream soft-core porn in Asia?”
That was the one of the lines in the 4-Star Theater’s newsletter this week, referring to Friday’s opening of the film Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy. Described as a soft-core sex porno, the film is a bold sex comedy about a lustful scholar’s mis-adventures, based on the ancient erotic Chinese novel, The Prayer Mat of Flesh.
As a conceited scholar of the Ming Dynasty, Wei Yangsheng 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, 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’s 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.
Another giveaway that this is a porno? The lack of plot synopsis on IMDB. 😉
The film – originally released in 3D in Asia – was so popular that it beat the box office record in Hong Kong previously set by Avatar in 2009.
“Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy” opens at the 4-Star (2200 Clement) this Friday. Sorry, 2D only!
Sarah B.
Haha, I walked by the theater yesterday and saw the poster. Since they don’t have it in 3D, they had to tape “2D” over that part, leading the poster to proclaim that this is the “first 2D erotic film” ever. Not quite!
I don’t like to see a story promoting pron on here — even if it is helping the Balboa.
Aww, but @Bornhere I really like Prawn!
I’m fine with it; I don’t see it promoting this film any more than any of the other unique documentaries and indie films they bring to the 4-star of Balboa. While I may not like the ideas behind the porn industry, it’s still a news-worthy story that this goofy spoofy film broke records in Hong Kong.
That said, watching the preview, it really was made for 3D. I would consider seeing it as a fun romp with friends (and maybe a bit of pre-gaming, haha!), but not in 2D. Then it just looks like a bad movie.
Sorry 4-star.
When I saw the title of this post in the newsfeed, I passed over it assuming that it was some new-agey pseudodocumentary.
I am pleasantly surprised.