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this was an enjoyable movie to watch, it kept me at the edge of my seat, and yelling at the bad guys to get caught...I feel that this was a for real scene from the past too :(.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Story line worked. Costumes and colorful scenes. Acting was good even though I’ve seen Chow and Gong Li do better acting.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
What a master storyteller Zhang Yimou is! This movie exceeds my expectatioons on so many different levels. First it tells a very thrilling story. You don't have to know any Chinese history to appreciate a universal story with ingredients such as power struggle, incest, and revenge. I feel like with this movie, the director has picked up where he left off in his earlier masterpieces such as Raise the Red Lantern and To Live which all told very human and emotional stories without being overshadowed by fancy techniques and special effects. Secondly, acting in this movie is top notch. There is something about the collaboration between Zhang Yimou and Gong Li that somehow just brings out the best in Gong Li. Gong Li's regal presence dominates the movie and she takes you on this emotional roller coaster ride with her character right from the beginning to the end. Chow Yun Fat is very impressive as well and there are some very intense moments between the two characters that pretty much set the tone for the entire movie. Thirdly fight sequences are visually stunning and yet more realistic than some of the sequences in House of Flying Daggers and they blend so well into the story that they never become distracting! I give this 5 stars because it is simply flawless.Read full review
Let get to it.... The good: 1. The Story - Okay, what this movie was really about Power and the exercise of power. And I have to give a nod to the director as he was pretty accurate in showing something so primal core to human and projected on to a screen. And it is a subject that trancent into any cultures. (This movie is more like a shakespeare's play by Chinese actor while in Rome) A nod to the director for a somewhat successful exercise. 2. The Visual - Wow, Very colourful, but in the background you can always feel there was something wrong. The setting acutally caputured the feeling of entrapment - really reminded me of a bird inside a beautiful gold-gilled cage -as well as some paranoia. 3. The Action - Come on, Asian movies pretty much define the modern days Mexican stand off. Without giving the plot away, it was well done. The Bad: 1. The story got very distracted by stunning visual - and it feels a bit empty at the end.. almost anticlimatic. 2. Characters development were a bit shallow in many cases and their motivations are no crystal clear. Other time the movie spend too long on a single character's action. - Which slow down the movie. Verdict? This movie maybe a bit too heavy on the drama side. If you looking for something for the weekend on a rainy day. Do yourself a favor and don't rent this puppy - wayy too heavy. However, if you see a movie like "300" for it historical reason (and mostly, for fighting scene) , this movie might be a good choice for you as it got what everything you needs.Read full review
This movie was directed by the same director, Zhang Yimou of HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS from 2004. That movie was great! This is Not! Too slow of a beginning, took forever to do the characterization, and dragged on and on.... However at the 2/3 mark the movie picked up, with the different sides of the family feud, and then the action started. That was moving, and not the same as other movies of this ilk. Gong Li was outstanding at the oppressed wife, (Empress) and Chow Yun Fat portrayed his usual great acting role. If the movie hadn't taken so looooong in getting to where it was interesting, this could have been rated higher. If the movie didn't have subtitles all the way through, I could have made popcorn, etc.... through the first half of the movie and not missed much!Read full review
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