5 comments about Anna and the King.

1. This is a great film with different cultures that manage to accept each other..... just love watching it



2. This was a good purchase. I wanted to see it to compare to the King and I. I like it. High quality it came in a reasonable time span.



3. I love this movie! It is beautifully filmed and generally well-acted. The story portrays the cultural and philosophical differences and subsequent personal growth of the characters without being "preachy". It is easily as good as any Jane Austen remake and has better storylines and incredible scenery. The role of king is brilliantly portrayed by Chow Yun Fat and shows the deep and thoughtful wisdom of this leader. Great movie.



4. The DVD Anna and the King was fine. I'm so glad I found it on Amazon



5. I purchased a new copy of the 'Special Edition' of "Anna and the King" which was listed as being widescreen in the product description of this web site--and it is actually full-screen! The back cover of the case lists the DVD as being anamorphic widescreen and there is no way of choosing full-screen vs widescreen in the menu--so buyer beware. Perhaps it was just my copy that was in error. Has anyone else had this problem?

5 comments about Bulletproof Monk.

1. if you like the fighting movies u will love this one. it was a great movie and i would also recommend any jet li or tony jaa movie as well.



2. It's a good movie, If your into the action and comedy type movie



3. If you like heavy action movies, this one may disappoint. If you like an engaging movie with believable characters, a good plot, believable action sequences and a little comedy thown in, get this movie!



4. Tibetan Buddhism is a pure betrayal of Buddhism, of Buddha himself. It dares go beyond Buddha's teaching and reinvent a divinity of some kind where Buddha had taught there could not be any God anywhere. The great force that leads the universe in the eternal cycle from birth to rebirth via decay and death is transmuted into some kind of prophecy about some kind of truth to keep against human greed in order to save the world, and that truth is entrusted to one person who remains beyond aging, will not decay in other words, for as long as he will carry this trust and responsibility. When the time has come he will have to transmit his responsibility to the newly elected person who fulfills the three prophecies and the guardian will finally age and take a vacation leaving the burden to the new warden. Buddha would be ashamed of such primitive beliefs if he could witness such naïve sagas. And the film goes slightly beyond by deciding that the new warden will be double and will be a man and a woman, a heterosexual couple in one word, Hollywood trying to save Tibetan Buddhism from the righteous accusation of being deeply and profoundly and exclusively sexist, that is to say anti-women, or at least closed to women. It also takes advantage of the film to move Tibet to New York, to add a little bit of Nazism in all that, and to entrust the serious mission to two Caucasian non-Tibetan "goyim" instead of one good old Asian, Tibetan if possible, Buddhist monk. But that is only a film. True. But what a laughable fable. Luckily there are the spectacular fights and contortions and acrobatics to save the whole fairy tale from too much shallowness.
   
   Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines



5. Okay... this is a bad movie. I'm fully aware of this. The story line is cheesy, its historical accuracy is grossly questionable, and a good portion of the acting is overdone. So why in the world did it get three stars from me? I have to come clean, this is a guilty pleasure. I'm fully aware it's not a good movie, in fact I'm probably out of my mind for enjoying it this much, but I thought it was fun!
   
   Basically the movie premise is about this ancient Tibetan scroll that supposedly gives its reader power over the entire world. The movie starts off in the past, around 1943, where a Nazi general comes to find it. Yes, like everyone else, I was wondering why the Nazis were in Tibet in 1943. Chow Yun-Fat is introduced and becomes the protector of the scroll, then the movie fast forwards into more modern times where he ends up running into Seann William Scott's character, Kar. This is where the film takes more of its comedic twist, sometimes Scott's character can get annoying, but I think the movie gets a lot better when Jaime King's character enters the picture. For some reason her character tempers Scott's over abrasive presence on the screen, because he's playing the guy that always has something to prove and she has nothing to prove. It just blended well. Anyway there are people after the scroll and it essentially falls to these three people to protect it. That's basically how the action is generated throughout the film.
   
   I'm not a connoisseur of martial arts films by any means, so I won't even pretend to be. The martial arts and action throughout the film, I found, to be pretty good and entertaining. Though I wish King's character had fought the German guy's granddaughter for a lot longer. There was definitely enough action to keep the film moving. For me I just found the movie fun to watch. Watching Chow Yun-Fat trying to deal with Scott's character definitely had its amusing moments.
   
   Anyway, there really isn't much else to be said for this film. Ultimately it's not a good movie, but I had fun with it, which I think is what was intended. It's clearly not meant to be a very serious movie so if you can get beyond that, you might be able to find some merit in it. Granted I don't see how this could ever become someone's favorite movie of all time, but I certainly wouldn't say this is the worst by any measure.

5 comments about The Replacement Killers (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray].

1. It is really worth the money if you want to know some of the background story lines.



2. Replacement Killers stars Chow Yun-Fat(John Lee) & Mira Sorvino(Meg Coburn) in an action packed blastfest. Those who are familiar with Chow Yun-Fat(Killer & Hard Boiled)knows what he brings to the table. Lots of gunplay and high body counts. Even though this pales in comparison to his other two movies it still delivers.
   
   John Lee works as a hitman until he decides not to pull off his last hit. This angers his employer and now he wants John dead. Meg Coburn finds herself caught in this feud and has to defend herself as well. The acting is ok but it's the action that counts. And you get a good dose of it. Cheesy at times but it never gets weak.
   
   If you're new to Chow Yun Fat, his earlier movies The Killer and Hard Boiled are Gun-Fu at it's finest. I recommend those first but this is still good.



3. Hi folks! This film is having a good stuffs of non stop action and presented in 1080P with beautiful transfer and blowing sound. You will enjoy the evening with a bag of popocorn disappearing just like that as the action scenes. Yun fat is known to us and become famous in USA with this film and recently we saw him hin at Pirates at Worlds end. Folks you can try this one for your collection and never fails.



4. There's not much I can say that hasn't been covered. I purchased the "extended edition" then this one. Why? This one has all the good special features.
   
   I know it's hard to justify buying a movie twice. But the extras on this one are worth as much as the extended cut on the other version.



5. I just love watching this movie, and I only have the VHS version. I doubt that there is a better "shootem up" movie around. I also enjoy the relationship develop between Chow Yun-Fat's and Mira Sorvino's characters. All the acting was good to me. As for Mira Sorvino, there is probably not a hotter actress with a gun in her hand as she. If you like seeing the bad guys get what they deserve, this is the movie for you!

5 comments about Martial Arts 50 Movie Pack Collection.

1. Many of the films are not viewable. But if you want to be transported back to the 1970's it's a quick trip. Now, with the power of the DVD remote you can turn it off when the bad dubbing gets bad and the sudden nudity pops up right after a fight scene.



2. For the price of this box set I figured you couldn't really go wrong.
   And I don't think I have. I bought it mainly for "The Impossible Kid" featuring Weng Weng, as I have the prequel to it, "For your height only".
   I've only watch a few more of the films so far but am happy with it.
   Basically if you like your early Kung Fu with crazy dubbing your in for a treat.



3. Even though many of these movies were filmed in the 80's, the film quality is terrible (like from the early 60's in the US). You have to really be a martial arts fanatic to make it through very many of these movies. However, if you are a martial arts fanatic then read on. Many of the stories are of quaint old China before industrialization and have interesting and old fashioned cultural mores and situations that martial artists find themselves in. One of them would have been X rated if it was produced in this country for US audiences because of the naked women. Can't remember the name of that one, you will have to watch them all to find it!!!! In any case, I thought the set was worth the price.



4. I bought this for a family member who loves martial arts.i dont know if i got right disks or not.but he says alot of them are not even martial arts movies and alot of porn like stuff on them.he didnt even open the other 20 one i got cause he was so unhappy with the other 50 one.they shouldnt call it a martial arts collectio if there isnt much of that on there and all the porn.i wouldnt buy it use money for something else.



5. since buying this product i've been immersed in nostalgia and thinking ...Why isn't there a Kung-Fu Channel some movies were better than others in addition to the quality and some were'nt strictly in the genre but i would recommend it to people who appreciate what Kung-FU movies of a bygone era represented!

5 comments about Anna and the King (Full-Screen Edition).

1. This is a great film with different cultures that manage to accept each other..... just love watching it



2. This was a good purchase. I wanted to see it to compare to the King and I. I like it. High quality it came in a reasonable time span.



3. I love this movie! It is beautifully filmed and generally well-acted. The story portrays the cultural and philosophical differences and subsequent personal growth of the characters without being "preachy". It is easily as good as any Jane Austen remake and has better storylines and incredible scenery. The role of king is brilliantly portrayed by Chow Yun Fat and shows the deep and thoughtful wisdom of this leader. Great movie.



4. The DVD Anna and the King was fine. I'm so glad I found it on Amazon



5. I purchased a new copy of the 'Special Edition' of "Anna and the King" which was listed as being widescreen in the product description of this web site--and it is actually full-screen! The back cover of the case lists the DVD as being anamorphic widescreen and there is no way of choosing full-screen vs widescreen in the menu--so buyer beware. Perhaps it was just my copy that was in error. Has anyone else had this problem?

5 comments about Hard Boiled (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition).

1. Item was shipped and arrived as expected and was in perfect condition -- everything worked out as was said



2. I heard so much about Hard Boiled, and felt let down. It sure puts a lot of empty casings on the floor and cars in the air, but it takes itself far too seriously considering how lame some of the dramatic scenes are.
   The heroic rescue of the baby at the end while our hero kills bad guys left and right says it all: Woo wants there to be justice and nobility, but it all seems corny in light of the incredibly over-the-top violence.
   The fight scenes are indeed staged very impressively, and the squib boys were working overtime, but after a while it's boring. There's just too damn much shooting! Violence works when it frightens, not when it numbs.
   But, if you need to see almost a million shots fired in two hours (30 minutes too long), here's your movie.



3. Some brief back-story: I first experienced "Hard Boiled" in 1997 and, like all of it's fans, my jaw hit the floor. I had never seen anything like it in my entire life. Soon after seeing it, I bought the Hard Boiled/Killer VHS pack. That followed with "A Better Tomorrow" on VHS and "A Better Tomorrow 2" on DVD. Every so often, I would see the Criterion Collection version of "Hard Boiled" and "The Killer" but not wanting to shell out the money and believing it would be around forever I never picked it up.
   
   Fast forward to 3 years ago when I make a concerted effort to own the best DVD versions of all the films I love. Believing that Criterion did it better then anyone, that's the one I wanted and that's when I discovered it was out of print. At that moment I made a vow to myself that I wouldn't watch either "Hard Boiled" or "The Killer" again until it was re-released on a special edition DVD.
   
   Fast forward again to this July when I look in the weekly Best Buy ad and see "Hard Boiled: The Ultimate Edition". As quickly as my balloon became inflated, it was popped upon going online to read these facts about it:
   
   
   1. It was not going to be presented in it's original aspect ratio.
   
   2. Instead of upgraded subtitles, it would be subtitled with the script
   from the dubbed version of the film.
   
   3. No John Woo commentary track.
   
   4. No interview or commentary track with Chow Yun-Fat about the film.
   
   
   It was also disconcerting to read that no DVD version(not even the Criterion) of this classic was without it's flaws but more on that in a bit. Weighing my options, and feeling like a sellout, I purchased the Dragon Dynasty edition of the film.
   
   This week, I finally got around to watching it. How do I feel about my four biggest reservations now?:
   
   
   1. While not visually presented in the way that it was meant to be seen,
   it is a MAJOR upgrade in quality over my VHS version.
   
   2. To not have decent subtitles is ridiculous but the "dubtitles" weren't
   so egregious that it ruined my enjoyment of the film.
   
   3. The 37 minute interview with John Woo on Disc 2 almost completely made
   up for not having a full length commentary.
   
   4. Chow Yun-Fat was shown doing voiceover work for the game
   "Stranglehold" but not having him speak about his experiences during
   shooting still bothered me.
   
   
   In addition, I had a whole new appreciation for Tony Leung's performance after this viewing. I was disappointed he was not included on any bonus features.
   
   A couple of more things before I give my summation...the Bey Logan commentary track gave me more information about Hong Kong cinema then I was ever going to find out otherwise. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the genre made me wonder why I haven't gotten more into Hong Kong cinema beyond a few John Woo films. This makes up for a few of his assertions about the film itself which are probably off the mark. The Terrance Chang, Philip Chan, and Kwok Choi interviews are insightful and entertaining. Overall, the location guide didn't give me a sense that I was seeing where "Hard Boiled" was filmed but that might just be because the landscape has changed so much.
   
   In conclusion, I can't understand why no distributor of this film has ever given it the proper DVD release it deserves. Like the back of this version says, "Hard Boiled" is a landmark in film history and deserves to be treated as such. Why Dragon Dynasty failed to achieve this on their crack at it is beyond me. This means that fans have to compare and contrast the 4 or 5 different editions of the film that are out there and decide which one suits their individual needs the most. Therefore, all I can say is that the Dragon Dynasty version of "Hard Boiled" suited my needs the best because:
   
   
   1. It was major upgrade in picture quality.
   
   2. It wasn't the dubbed version of the film, just the "dubtitles"
   (which still bother me but not enough to not enjoy it)
   
   3. It has some cool bonus features(if not everything that I wanted).
   
   4. I could walk into my local Best Buy and purchase it.
   
   
   Until a true "Ultimate Edition" comes out(if it ever does) 10, 15, 20 years from now, I will be happy with this edition. But that doesn't mean you are going to be.



4. It is debated whether or not John Woo's films lost a touch when he came to America. Well even if you don't like his newer films, this movie should not be missed. Amazing shootouts leaving you wonder where they get 50 round magazines for pistols...



5. A great action movie. John Woo delivers in this film. Also check out The Killer.

5 comments about Bulletproof Monk [Blu-ray].

1. if you like the fighting movies u will love this one. it was a great movie and i would also recommend any jet li or tony jaa movie as well.



2. It's a good movie, If your into the action and comedy type movie



3. If you like heavy action movies, this one may disappoint. If you like an engaging movie with believable characters, a good plot, believable action sequences and a little comedy thown in, get this movie!



4. Tibetan Buddhism is a pure betrayal of Buddhism, of Buddha himself. It dares go beyond Buddha's teaching and reinvent a divinity of some kind where Buddha had taught there could not be any God anywhere. The great force that leads the universe in the eternal cycle from birth to rebirth via decay and death is transmuted into some kind of prophecy about some kind of truth to keep against human greed in order to save the world, and that truth is entrusted to one person who remains beyond aging, will not decay in other words, for as long as he will carry this trust and responsibility. When the time has come he will have to transmit his responsibility to the newly elected person who fulfills the three prophecies and the guardian will finally age and take a vacation leaving the burden to the new warden. Buddha would be ashamed of such primitive beliefs if he could witness such naïve sagas. And the film goes slightly beyond by deciding that the new warden will be double and will be a man and a woman, a heterosexual couple in one word, Hollywood trying to save Tibetan Buddhism from the righteous accusation of being deeply and profoundly and exclusively sexist, that is to say anti-women, or at least closed to women. It also takes advantage of the film to move Tibet to New York, to add a little bit of Nazism in all that, and to entrust the serious mission to two Caucasian non-Tibetan "goyim" instead of one good old Asian, Tibetan if possible, Buddhist monk. But that is only a film. True. But what a laughable fable. Luckily there are the spectacular fights and contortions and acrobatics to save the whole fairy tale from too much shallowness.
   
   Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines



5. Okay... this is a bad movie. I'm fully aware of this. The story line is cheesy, its historical accuracy is grossly questionable, and a good portion of the acting is overdone. So why in the world did it get three stars from me? I have to come clean, this is a guilty pleasure. I'm fully aware it's not a good movie, in fact I'm probably out of my mind for enjoying it this much, but I thought it was fun!
   
   Basically the movie premise is about this ancient Tibetan scroll that supposedly gives its reader power over the entire world. The movie starts off in the past, around 1943, where a Nazi general comes to find it. Yes, like everyone else, I was wondering why the Nazis were in Tibet in 1943. Chow Yun-Fat is introduced and becomes the protector of the scroll, then the movie fast forwards into more modern times where he ends up running into Seann William Scott's character, Kar. This is where the film takes more of its comedic twist, sometimes Scott's character can get annoying, but I think the movie gets a lot better when Jaime King's character enters the picture. For some reason her character tempers Scott's over abrasive presence on the screen, because he's playing the guy that always has something to prove and she has nothing to prove. It just blended well. Anyway there are people after the scroll and it essentially falls to these three people to protect it. That's basically how the action is generated throughout the film.
   
   I'm not a connoisseur of martial arts films by any means, so I won't even pretend to be. The martial arts and action throughout the film, I found, to be pretty good and entertaining. Though I wish King's character had fought the German guy's granddaughter for a lot longer. There was definitely enough action to keep the film moving. For me I just found the movie fun to watch. Watching Chow Yun-Fat trying to deal with Scott's character definitely had its amusing moments.
   
   Anyway, there really isn't much else to be said for this film. Ultimately it's not a good movie, but I had fun with it, which I think is what was intended. It's clearly not meant to be a very serious movie so if you can get beyond that, you might be able to find some merit in it. Granted I don't see how this could ever become someone's favorite movie of all time, but I certainly wouldn't say this is the worst by any measure.

5 comments about Curse of the Golden Flower [Blu-ray].

1. The year is 928 and the evil Tang emperor is slowly but inexorably poisoning his beautiful, unfaithful wife, after learning that she has been having an affair with her stepson, his eldest son. He can't kill her outright, because bringing her adultery into the open would discredit both himself and his son, so he takes an insidious revenge. He's added a new ingredient to her daily potion, a black fungus from Persia that, taken in small doses over a few months, will turn her into a cretin. But the empress isn't about to go down without a fight; she's onto his schemes and has hatched a scheme of her own: on the night of the Chrysanthemum Festival, when all Chinese celebrate the unity of the family, she'll raise a palace rebellion, force the emperor to abdicate and make her own blood son, Prince Jai, the emperor in his place.
   
   So begins "Curse of the Golden Flower" a Chinese morality story directed by Zhang Yimou, and it's a visual knockout: our eyes are almost assaulted by the lush interiors and the exterior action scenes. The emperor's palace looks like an explosion in a Day-Glo factory; a non-stop riot of color everywhere you look. The imperial family is covered in so much gold from nose to toes that you wonder how they can stand up straight, let alone move about. Everything about the palace is regimented down to the last detail and we understand it's all to underline the power of the emperor. When he sneezes, the earth shakes.
   
   The actors put in creditable performances. Chow Yun Fat (I wish Amazon would respect the Chinese rule of putting the surname first and stop calling him Yun Fat Chow) gives a chilling portrayal of the emperor, venal and evil, cruel and insensitive; watching him calmly chowing down at the Chrysanthemum Festival after his world has fallen down around his ears is mind-blowing. The beautiful Gong Li wins our sympathy as the empress, determined to go out with a bang rather than a whimper, even if it means taking everyone else down with her. Of the three sons, Liu Ye gives the most impressive performance as the weak Crown Prince Wan, seduced by his stepmother, unable to extricate himself from her machinations, and terrified of his sire; he arouses in us a mixture of pity and contempt. Qin Junjie is somewhat perplexing as the third son, Yu, who turns out to have had his own agenda all along and totally upsets the apple cart. The minor characters are interesting and well played, notably Li Man as the imperial doctor's daughter Chan, exquisitely beautiful with a face like a cameo. But the most intriguing character in this film is the emperor's cast-off first wife, the crown prince's birth mother, who reappears in the lives of the imperial family in a singularly incovenient fashion; Chen Jin's performance in this difficult role is excellent.
   
   What keeps "Curse of the Golden Flower" from being a great movie, as opposed to a merely good movie, is there's so much of everything, it's all so overblown, that it's more melodrama than true drama. We watch it, we're blown away by it, but we don't really feel it. One gets the sense that Zhang Yimou was piling special effect on special effect and the result is a kind of sensory overload. We're watching an opulent movie and the effects are so over the top that they almost overwhelm the story.
   
   "Curse of the Golden Flower" is meant to be a morality play, but it seems that the person most in need of enlightenment, the emperor himself, has learned exactly nothing. He knows only one way to be emperor, and he's succeeded both because of his cruelty and in spite of it. After all the blood is shed, the bodies are carted off, the blood is washed away, new carpets and chrysanthemums laid down, and everything will continue as usual. It's as if everything that went before was an inconvenient glitch in the proceedings, and it leaves us feeling curiously empty after the final credits.
   
   (And to the producers: next time you film a historical movie, check your history book first. Although this movie is set in 928 and the emperor is identified as the "Tang emperor", the Tang dynasty actually ended in 907.)
   
   Judy Lind



2. Many have commented on the epic scale of this production. Some claim it is the most expensive movie ever made in China and that the set was the largest ever constructed for a movie there. Whatever the claims, the visuals in this movie are amazing. Frankly, I have never seen colors and opulence depicted in such luxurious tones before. The word dazzling seems somewhat understated.
   
   I don't know classical Chinese history or mythology, but this is supposedly based on a historical tale from about a thousand years ago. Emperor Ping was a mere soldier who used a marriage to a royal daughter to claim his throne. He is ruthless beyond measure in keeping it. His wife, Empress Phoenix feels she is being poisoned by the medicine he forces her to take each day. The Emperor's sons all struggle for position and there are secrets galore that contribute to their antagonism and ferocity. The children are used and manipulated as needed by each parent. I will let you work out the details as you watch the movie.
   
   Is the acting great? Well, the story doesn't demand terrible complexity in the characters. Also, remember that Western style emoting may not be what the Chinese acting ethos is all about. For me, the acting was sufficient. It was clear to me what was happening and the emotions rang true. The combat sequences are quite spectacular. Ninjas are all over the place doing all kinds of strange and almost magical things for the Emperor with a lot of it going on in the air (with ropes). The various ground armies are also amazing in scope.
   
   So, is this a great movie? No. Is it worth seeing? Yes. Is it a classic? I doubt it, but you will sure remember the brilliance of the colors and the army sequences.
   
   Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI



3. Cavil about historical accuracy, over-the-top bodice-infatuated costuming, this that and a thousand other things - this is just flat out one helluva movie! Without question the most visually ecstatic film since Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring.. Curse of the Golden Flower is more intoxicating than the empress' hourly medicine! What an actor Li Gong is, and gorgeous to look at. Yun Fat Chow is the first eminence of the whole piece, as he is in virtually every film he makes. I submit that in the end it isnt the camera's magnificence that triumphs, but a story of human destiny told with blood-burning intimacy. Far from being a "martial arts" film as it's often said, Curse of the Golden Flower flies from the curse of formula, bemoaning it in almost every scene, with exceeding interior beauty. It's a spiritual film perhaps BECAUSE of its operatic heart, who knows? The scenes are bewitching, riveting; the force of the actors' embodiments lifts the piece to wild heights, which is to say, toward the actual. From beginning to end, Li Gong carries the complete story in her face. Every minor part - the court doctor, his daughter - is spun with consummate finesse. Another treasure is this film's uncommonly beautiful score, subtly integrated as another and equal dimension of character. One of the finest movie scores in years. It's just one helluva movie! If we want 'historical' China and look for it everywhere, entertainment will rarely hand us the pivotal tool to crack the nut. But to congregate the shamelessly intense ethos of China, the koan, if you will, of China, and hand it jewel-like to us, is indeed what film can do, what it can be. In forms visible and invisible, Curse of the Golden Flower dreams and matches, near perfectly, far as I can tell, the spiritual truth of human experience. Watch it and live!



4. I found this movie to be one of the most visually stunning epics I have ever seen. The meticulous research that went into creating a lavish set and historically accurate costuming down to the last bead and stitch, including the multiple layers of dress, most of which is never even seen on camera, but authentically recreated to give the actors a true sense of the burden (both literally and figuratively) of the opulence of the Tang Dynasty. The veneer of utter decadence and affluence allowed the absolute ruler to maintain the appearance for the masses that the royal families were to be worshiped as living gods - a belief that some Asian cultures continue to this day.
   
   This movie effectively demonstrates that this facade veiled the fact that absolute power disintegrates rulers from within, resulting in malignance, inner corrosion and depravity.
   
   There are endless plot twists as the members of the royal family clandestinely maneuver and conspire against one another, each one shifting loyalties in desperate attempts to protect their own fluctuating sense of honor and motivation in an attempted coup against the Emperor, with the added onus of having deeper hidden agendas that do not emerge until the climax of the film.
   
   The antagonist is the only true survivor of the coup, having the greater tactical prowess than all the other players, but eventually having to suffer the painful losses and consequences, culminating in the destruction of his royal lineage.
   
   The retention of absolute power at any price is what drives the film. Yes, bad guys DO win in the end sometimes, just as in life, but at what cost? Clearly the victor has won the battle, but has actually lost the war.
   
   I believe that the only error in the reporting of this movie is that it is labeled as action/adventure, when in truth it should have been listed as a period drama.
   
   I have read several very poor reviews on this site, stating that the movie was over-long, plotless and shallow, with no redeeming qualities. Almost all stated that they were disappointed at the lack of real action; the reviewers were expecting to see a "martial arts" action film, naturally became detractors because they were apparently just watching their clocks until the "cool Asian action" began, unable to simply watch the movie and allow the beautiful nuance and subtlety to flow over them in the historically accurate representation of the era that was designed to show how difficult survival was in the 10th century, a misogynistic period of absolute loyalty and obedience to the crown.
   
   Since it is as much a period drama as "Anna and the King," I find it sad that it was promoted as action/adventure rather than a foreign-language drama. It would have undoubtedly altered the expectations of the viewers, allowing the movie to be better appreciated as a subtle commentary on absolute power, warning away the viewers who were looking for Jet Li or Jackie Chan Asian fight movies.
   
   To quote another reviewer who seems to share my opinion:
   "There is no doubt that this detractory perspective is derived from overly-saturated people of western education, without any consideration of eastern understanding and that the history originates from an ancient tradition from which European literature itself was derived."



5. We loved to watch the cinamatography was amazing, one of the best I have seen in some time, worth watching, just a bit soap opera-ish. I love Asian artistic movies and this is a touch more dramatic. A bit bloody, but over fun to watch.

5 comments about Curse of the Golden Flower.

1. The year is 928 and the evil Tang emperor is slowly but inexorably poisoning his beautiful, unfaithful wife, after learning that she has been having an affair with her stepson, his eldest son. He can't kill her outright, because bringing her adultery into the open would discredit both himself and his son, so he takes an insidious revenge. He's added a new ingredient to her daily potion, a black fungus from Persia that, taken in small doses over a few months, will turn her into a cretin. But the empress isn't about to go down without a fight; she's onto his schemes and has hatched a scheme of her own: on the night of the Chrysanthemum Festival, when all Chinese celebrate the unity of the family, she'll raise a palace rebellion, force the emperor to abdicate and make her own blood son, Prince Jai, the emperor in his place.
   
   So begins "Curse of the Golden Flower" a Chinese morality story directed by Zhang Yimou, and it's a visual knockout: our eyes are almost assaulted by the lush interiors and the exterior action scenes. The emperor's palace looks like an explosion in a Day-Glo factory; a non-stop riot of color everywhere you look. The imperial family is covered in so much gold from nose to toes that you wonder how they can stand up straight, let alone move about. Everything about the palace is regimented down to the last detail and we understand it's all to underline the power of the emperor. When he sneezes, the earth shakes.
   
   The actors put in creditable performances. Chow Yun Fat (I wish Amazon would respect the Chinese rule of putting the surname first and stop calling him Yun Fat Chow) gives a chilling portrayal of the emperor, venal and evil, cruel and insensitive; watching him calmly chowing down at the Chrysanthemum Festival after his world has fallen down around his ears is mind-blowing. The beautiful Gong Li wins our sympathy as the empress, determined to go out with a bang rather than a whimper, even if it means taking everyone else down with her. Of the three sons, Liu Ye gives the most impressive performance as the weak Crown Prince Wan, seduced by his stepmother, unable to extricate himself from her machinations, and terrified of his sire; he arouses in us a mixture of pity and contempt. Qin Junjie is somewhat perplexing as the third son, Yu, who turns out to have had his own agenda all along and totally upsets the apple cart. The minor characters are interesting and well played, notably Li Man as the imperial doctor's daughter Chan, exquisitely beautiful with a face like a cameo. But the most intriguing character in this film is the emperor's cast-off first wife, the crown prince's birth mother, who reappears in the lives of the imperial family in a singularly incovenient fashion; Chen Jin's performance in this difficult role is excellent.
   
   What keeps "Curse of the Golden Flower" from being a great movie, as opposed to a merely good movie, is there's so much of everything, it's all so overblown, that it's more melodrama than true drama. We watch it, we're blown away by it, but we don't really feel it. One gets the sense that Zhang Yimou was piling special effect on special effect and the result is a kind of sensory overload. We're watching an opulent movie and the effects are so over the top that they almost overwhelm the story.
   
   "Curse of the Golden Flower" is meant to be a morality play, but it seems that the person most in need of enlightenment, the emperor himself, has learned exactly nothing. He knows only one way to be emperor, and he's succeeded both because of his cruelty and in spite of it. After all the blood is shed, the bodies are carted off, the blood is washed away, new carpets and chrysanthemums laid down, and everything will continue as usual. It's as if everything that went before was an inconvenient glitch in the proceedings, and it leaves us feeling curiously empty after the final credits.
   
   (And to the producers: next time you film a historical movie, check your history book first. Although this movie is set in 928 and the emperor is identified as the "Tang emperor", the Tang dynasty actually ended in 907.)
   
   Judy Lind



2. Many have commented on the epic scale of this production. Some claim it is the most expensive movie ever made in China and that the set was the largest ever constructed for a movie there. Whatever the claims, the visuals in this movie are amazing. Frankly, I have never seen colors and opulence depicted in such luxurious tones before. The word dazzling seems somewhat understated.
   
   I don't know classical Chinese history or mythology, but this is supposedly based on a historical tale from about a thousand years ago. Emperor Ping was a mere soldier who used a marriage to a royal daughter to claim his throne. He is ruthless beyond measure in keeping it. His wife, Empress Phoenix feels she is being poisoned by the medicine he forces her to take each day. The Emperor's sons all struggle for position and there are secrets galore that contribute to their antagonism and ferocity. The children are used and manipulated as needed by each parent. I will let you work out the details as you watch the movie.
   
   Is the acting great? Well, the story doesn't demand terrible complexity in the characters. Also, remember that Western style emoting may not be what the Chinese acting ethos is all about. For me, the acting was sufficient. It was clear to me what was happening and the emotions rang true. The combat sequences are quite spectacular. Ninjas are all over the place doing all kinds of strange and almost magical things for the Emperor with a lot of it going on in the air (with ropes). The various ground armies are also amazing in scope.
   
   So, is this a great movie? No. Is it worth seeing? Yes. Is it a classic? I doubt it, but you will sure remember the brilliance of the colors and the army sequences.
   
   Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI



3. Cavil about historical accuracy, over-the-top bodice-infatuated costuming, this that and a thousand other things - this is just flat out one helluva movie! Without question the most visually ecstatic film since Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring.. Curse of the Golden Flower is more intoxicating than the empress' hourly medicine! What an actor Li Gong is, and gorgeous to look at. Yun Fat Chow is the first eminence of the whole piece, as he is in virtually every film he makes. I submit that in the end it isnt the camera's magnificence that triumphs, but a story of human destiny told with blood-burning intimacy. Far from being a "martial arts" film as it's often said, Curse of the Golden Flower flies from the curse of formula, bemoaning it in almost every scene, with exceeding interior beauty. It's a spiritual film perhaps BECAUSE of its operatic heart, who knows? The scenes are bewitching, riveting; the force of the actors' embodiments lifts the piece to wild heights, which is to say, toward the actual. From beginning to end, Li Gong carries the complete story in her face. Every minor part - the court doctor, his daughter - is spun with consummate finesse. Another treasure is this film's uncommonly beautiful score, subtly integrated as another and equal dimension of character. One of the finest movie scores in years. It's just one helluva movie! If we want 'historical' China and look for it everywhere, entertainment will rarely hand us the pivotal tool to crack the nut. But to congregate the shamelessly intense ethos of China, the koan, if you will, of China, and hand it jewel-like to us, is indeed what film can do, what it can be. In forms visible and invisible, Curse of the Golden Flower dreams and matches, near perfectly, far as I can tell, the spiritual truth of human experience. Watch it and live!



4. I found this movie to be one of the most visually stunning epics I have ever seen. The meticulous research that went into creating a lavish set and historically accurate costuming down to the last bead and stitch, including the multiple layers of dress, most of which is never even seen on camera, but authentically recreated to give the actors a true sense of the burden (both literally and figuratively) of the opulence of the Tang Dynasty. The veneer of utter decadence and affluence allowed the absolute ruler to maintain the appearance for the masses that the royal families were to be worshiped as living gods - a belief that some Asian cultures continue to this day.
   
   This movie effectively demonstrates that this facade veiled the fact that absolute power disintegrates rulers from within, resulting in malignance, inner corrosion and depravity.
   
   There are endless plot twists as the members of the royal family clandestinely maneuver and conspire against one another, each one shifting loyalties in desperate attempts to protect their own fluctuating sense of honor and motivation in an attempted coup against the Emperor, with the added onus of having deeper hidden agendas that do not emerge until the climax of the film.
   
   The antagonist is the only true survivor of the coup, having the greater tactical prowess than all the other players, but eventually having to suffer the painful losses and consequences, culminating in the destruction of his royal lineage.
   
   The retention of absolute power at any price is what drives the film. Yes, bad guys DO win in the end sometimes, just as in life, but at what cost? Clearly the victor has won the battle, but has actually lost the war.
   
   I believe that the only error in the reporting of this movie is that it is labeled as action/adventure, when in truth it should have been listed as a period drama.
   
   I have read several very poor reviews on this site, stating that the movie was over-long, plotless and shallow, with no redeeming qualities. Almost all stated that they were disappointed at the lack of real action; the reviewers were expecting to see a "martial arts" action film, naturally became detractors because they were apparently just watching their clocks until the "cool Asian action" began, unable to simply watch the movie and allow the beautiful nuance and subtlety to flow over them in the historically accurate representation of the era that was designed to show how difficult survival was in the 10th century, a misogynistic period of absolute loyalty and obedience to the crown.
   
   Since it is as much a period drama as "Anna and the King," I find it sad that it was promoted as action/adventure rather than a foreign-language drama. It would have undoubtedly altered the expectations of the viewers, allowing the movie to be better appreciated as a subtle commentary on absolute power, warning away the viewers who were looking for Jet Li or Jackie Chan Asian fight movies.
   
   To quote another reviewer who seems to share my opinion:
   "There is no doubt that this detractory perspective is derived from overly-saturated people of western education, without any consideration of eastern understanding and that the history originates from an ancient tradition from which European literature itself was derived."



5. We loved to watch the cinamatography was amazing, one of the best I have seen in some time, worth watching, just a bit soap opera-ish. I love Asian artistic movies and this is a touch more dramatic. A bit bloody, but over fun to watch.

5 comments about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

1. having it on the psp was nice, got to watch it on the plane. i love this movie, and i am not particularly into the whole kung fu thing in general, but this is great!



2. I'm very pleased with this product! Very high quality and well worth purchasing! Thanks, Amazon!



3. I had the opportunity to see this film when it first came out in the movie theater in 2000 and it immediately became my favorite movie since I love martial arts, philosophy and visual arts.. and this movie combines them all. It had the best choreography I had ever seen back then, reflected on eastern martial arts philosopy, nature, buddism wisdom as well as western metaphysical thoughts..



4. Crouching Tiger is not really a Kung Fu movie. The fight sequences are so stylized and interjected with such gravity defying feats such flying and fantastical jumping, and flips; the fight scenes become almost a 3D ballet. I liked it, but don't come into this movie expecting Bruce Lee action sequences. The fight scenes are more of a dance. The fights are mainly sword fights, although there are a few hand-to-hand battles as well. The acting is superb. The story line is more of a fairy tale than straight fiction, but the movie works superbly well. Michelle Yeoh's physical acting are displayed well as well as her emotional range. Chow is great as the swordsman and Zhang Ziyi is very good as well.
   
   The movie tells the story of several stories of love, of revenge, of loyalties, and of duty. It concerns duty to one's family, to society and to one's self. A fairy tale is used to tie the plot lines together. The movie has a great medieval setting. The scenery switches from deserts, to Peking, to bamboo forests and mountains. In every case, the views are breathtaking. The bamboo forest fight is very strange, but it works.
   
   My wife didn't like the movie because if its fantastical elements, but it is one of the best movies I have seen for a long time. Most kung fu movie have their fantastical elements.
   
   I don't know much about the superbit technology, but my DVD looks great and the sound is good too.



5. How do you sum up Crouching?
   Brilliant, touching, amazing!!!
   Incredible acrobatics, incredible scenery, an awesome script and great actors and martial artists.
   What's not to like about this movie?
   Not my favorite, I liked Hero and Curse of the Golden Flower better but for different reasons.
   Still, a must see if your new to the recent wave of martial arts flicks.
   A word of advice, watch it with the subtitles on and not the English voiceovers as they are terribly done.