A cross between Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Tarantino’s Kill Bill, scheming royals and other officials attempt to consolidate power in a empire in chaos. Packed with deadly plots, sweeping camerawork, and elaborate fight choreography. (Amazon.com)
I watched this movie around 2007 or so. I really can't remember this movie well. I was only reminded of this film recently after seeing it re-titled as "Legend Of The Black Scorpion" for the USA market. When the film was released, Feng Xiaogang was just starting to make a name for himself. This film was a springboard to his next film and commercial hit, The Assembly (集結號). The four main stars were already established, while Huang Xiaoming's supporting role was short.
I remember the film being a bit of let down in terms of the story, as it was quite too complicated and over the top. The action however was quite awesome and balletic. If you're a wuxia fan and can get over the story, the action scenes are pretty spectacular.
Personal Tailor (私人訂制) is an 2013 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Ge You, Bai Baihe, Jacqueline Li, and Zheng Kai. Cameo appearances from Jackie Chan, Wang Baoqiang, and Miao Pu. The movie opened to big numbers a few weeks back and hit US shores the same weekend it opened on its home turf. Thanks to recent partnerships, it becoming a common occurrence that I welcome. The movie is a semi-sequel to the directors 1997 movie, The Dream Factory. However, its a new cast and current world problems are tackled.
The four main stars are part of a company that fulfills fantasies. Three separate stories intertwined with some other sub-elements. The first story is of a government officials "driver". The driver's last three officers are all in jail now and he says others thinks he's cursed. The driver believes that he would be a non-corrupt official if he were in their place. Thus his fantasy is that of a non-corrupt official. The second story is of a very commercially successful movie director. The director is so successful, he's gained every notable film award in the world. He want to create high art now. His fantasy is to be a artsy fartsy director. The third one is a return a favor fantasy. The woman is to live her life as the most wealthy woman on earth. The ending of the story is a PSA with a twist.
I saw this movie in a local AMC theatre. It's actually the most successful China Lion release from 2013. It's box office take is more than the other 6 movies combined, including My Lucky Star, Tiny Times, Tiny Times 2, Finding Mr. Right, and So Young. With that said, I am surprised by it's done so well in the US.
Ok, to the movie. I liked the movie a lot. It was a high quality film. Well made. I can't say that with a lot of the other crap coming out of Zhong Guo in 2013. The four stars seemed very cohesive and they seemed to enjoy each other on screen. I saw the chemistry. Jacqueline Li and Bai Baihe stole the show for me. Li is memorizing when she's on screen, stealing it. Bai was a surprise since I've seen her in so many things. Maybe it was being projected on a big screen that I finally saw the beauty that a TV can't. The two beauties kept my attention.
The other thing that kept my attention was the subject matter. The fantasies themselves turn current problems in Zhong Guo and take it head on. The first story is government corruption. The corruption is so everyday that its just the way things are. You get ahead with brides, favors, and "guanxi". The second story takes on "art" head on. Art is relative, but copy cat culture of the mainland is so prevalent that intellectual property is a joke. But its also that people in general don't even know what "art" is. The third story is that of "rich" dream so many people have that it turns people into monsters and thus you lose yourself. The movie ends with a PSA type montage of how the earth is being wasted away be selfish humans.
In all, as a film of 2013, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Subject matter was entertaining since it's satirical take seems spot on for the time we live in. Li and Bai carry the beauty in the film to a new level. I might have to catch all the films on the big screen from now on.
Sacrifice (趙氏孤兒) is an 2010 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Ge You, Wang Xueqi, and Huang Xiaoming. The supporting cast includes Fan Bingbing and Vincent Zhao. The movie is directed by Chen Kaige.
Two Generals have beef with each other. One general frames the other general by poisoning the Duke. The framed general's whole clan of ~300 is killed. The only survivor is baby Zhao. A local doctor is the one that saves the baby from the grips of the general that wins. When the manhunt for baby Zhao takes the life of the doctor's son, he vows revenge. But a long drawn out revenge plan is hard to pull off, especially if it take 15 years. The doctor decides to raise baby Zhao and use him to take revenge on the general for his son. In the process, he sacrifices his wife, son, and his honor.
This movie was pretty good. Good acting, engaging story, and rather suspenseful. The matter of how things plays out kept me at the edge of my seat. I really didn't know which way things would go. Fan Bingbing's part was rather small, but quite emotional. Huang Xiaoming also plays a bit part. The main acting is left to Ge You and Wang Xueqi. Even though them two aren't the prettiest things to look at, their acting was superb.
Let the Bullets Fly (讓子彈飛) is an 2010 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, and Ge You. The large supporting cast include Carina Lau, Feng Xiaogang, Zhou Yun, Jiang Wu, Chen Kun, Hu Jun, Liao Fan, Wei Xiao, Shao Bing, and Miao Pu. There were many more. I only listed the ones I know.
The movie starts with a train going through southern Zhong Guo in 1920. The train is hijacked by bandits. The bandits demand money. The man on the train suggest that they can get money from a nearby town if they pretend to be the governor. The bandits and the man goto Goose Town to get money. Once there, the bandits find that a business man functions as the town warlord. The bandits go into battle of wits with blood and lives.
The movie is a thriller about how a bandit group takes on a local warlord and wins. I don't know if this was to play on the current state of how the people in Zhong Guo feel about some of the government corruption. When the people feel hopeless, they go with the one with power for safety. When they feel that fairness is within reach, they will fight for it. At least, that's what I walked away from the film thinking.
The acting in this film was pretty awesome. From Chow to Wen to Ge. It was pretty amazing to see them at work. Through in there a who's who of the current Zhong Guo actors landscape, you have a pretty amazing film, in terms of acting. The story was also quite convoluted. You have to pay attention to follow. No bathroom breaks for this. But you have the pause button.
It took me two sittings to get through this. The first was over a year ago via a local video store. The second was via Netflix.
A World Without Thieves (天下無賊) is a 2004 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Andy Lau, Rene Liu, and Ge You. The supporting cast include Li Bingbing, Wang Baoqiang, You Yong, and Gordon Lam. The movie is also directed by
Andy Lau and Rene Liu play con artist that just made it off with a BMW and are heading to trade it in for cash. Along the way, Liu wants to stop the stealing and settle down. When Lau refuses, she says she wants to leave him. After the car trade in, Lau gives in and they head home. Along the way, Liu takes in a country bumpkin with no clue about thieves. However, on the same train is a team of skilled thieves that want to take the bumpkin's life savings. Let's the battle wits begin!
The movie was the first where I saw Andy and Rene being directed by a mainland director and based in the mainland. And this was during a time in life where I wasn't watching much from Asia. But an interview on a showbiz blurb had Andy Lau saying how he tried so hard to be "ugly". Seriously. I had to watch it. Andy is not ugly nor does he deserve that hair. I recently watched it again while washing dishes. The movie wasn't half bad and I liked the presentation of the world of grifters.
If You Are The One (非誠勿擾) is a 2008 film out of China. The movie stars Ge You and Shu Qi (Hsu Chi). Supporting cast members include MiuMiu, Vivian Hsu, Alex Fong, and Fan Wei.
Qing Fin, played by Ge You, sells a rock scissor paper invention to a rich guy. Fin is looking to get married now that he doesn't have to worry about finances. Fin post an online ad about marriage. Amoung one those that answer the ad is a stewardess, Liang Xiaoxiao, played by Shu Qi. The movie is a story of Fin looking for love in all the wrong places, but finds his way eventually. The story expands to Shu Qi's love life, including Alex Fong.
In the end, its straight forward look at trying to true love through all the static.
The movie was quite entertaining. Listening to all the different dialects was fun.
