Kilcoe Reviews

Red Cliff (2008)

I cannot believe how many people take this film seriously

[4/10 · 20 August 2009]

I do not normally comment on IMDb just like all other rational Chinese. But, I feel the urge to tell what this film is like from an ordinary Chinese's point of view. Just for a piece of information. People don't speak Chinese may still enjoy it because there is less distraction.

This film is outrageously funny in the most foolish way. It is the laughing out loud film of the year. We trash this film just like what people do to Transformer 2 in English speaking countries or even worse (By the way Transformer 2 is too considered a masterpiece in some non English speaking countries). This film is a complete joke.

The dialogues , OMG, People just chuckle all the way through the entire film(s), each line is more ridiculous than the previous one, not because it is funny but because it is idiotic. For example, helping horse give birth in the middle of a war ... then when the leading lady 'gently' cheers the newborn baby horse: "stand up", the cinema just burst into laughter. (Was it a joke? that can't be serious) To add to this they even give the horse a name: "Mengmeng". LOL, this is just too comical. There are so many lines, which will take so long to list. Some of the lines (including 'Mengmeng")became very popular and 'fashionable' in China simply because they are sooooo dumb and they represent stupidity now.

There are so many things distracting, e.g.:

• The tension, eye contact or closeness (between faces) between Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung, we audience constantly fear that these two gorgeous actors were going to KISS!!

• The fight scenes, again like Transformers 2, we cannot tell who is fighting, which one is which, who is winning, who is losing ... put in a simple way chaotic. My friend sitting next to me actually went to a nap and asked me to wake HIM up when the fight is over, because he did not want to miss the lines people were laughing at all over China.

• Two people in ancient China, making out on a modern Western looking "king" size bed (even comes with two matching bedside tables)! This is anything but China.

• A princess from ancient China strips off in front of a whole court to reveal a military map. NEVER! Forget about culture and class. Forget about her skills as an artist. She made it by writing on that fool's head, at least part of it. WOW ... they both can join the circus.

• Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung communicating by playing fancy ancient Chinese instruments ... we just do not buy this, forgive my language, bullshit.

(Kongfu Panda makes more sense!!)

Frankly, the visual are not original or outstanding. It looks worse than standard Hollywood epic movie, including some copy and paste from 300. The only major difference is that people are in Chinese warrior costumes. And, the music is cheesy and repetitive.

All these clichés and irony are so obvious to Chinese speaking audience while so unclear to Non Chinese speaking people. If you saw this film in a cinema, and some people were laughing or some eye balls were rolled, and you wonder why ... this explains some of it.

But, this is John Woo, when he makes a movie. If it is in English, people speak English laugh. If it is in Chinese, people speak Chinese LAUGH.

Hero (2002)

I have to say it's not as good as many users had commended.

[2/10 · 27 May 2004]

I have to say it's not as good as many users had commended. Most Chinese do not regard it as a masterpiece at all. The plot is so surreal and illogical, the theme is way too political!

I was very disappointed (even now， two years had passed). It's simply not worth to see, the film is pointless. Actually, for many of us, it's quite insulting. Initially, I couldn't believe it is directed by Yimou Zhang - one of the best directors in China, who directed To Live, He understands Chinese so well, yet he directed this - a film without HEART. The acting is awful as well, practically not much acting. The actors and actresses are the best ones from China and Hong Kong. Their performances in other films, except Jet Li's, are so much better and more convincing.

People (without much knowledge and background of China and its history and culture) may be misled by this film, they might think it reflects culture, history, martial art¡­, but not really. It is an ill illustration of our culture and values. Also, some people might think it is an independent film. It was the most expensive film ever made in China. Not saying this is not good. Just saying it's an extremely commercial film; presenting art is not the main purpose. And, to get a wide release in China, the theme is strictly censored and 'modified'. For Chinese, it's a lame and overly pretentious film just like the way Americans view Pearl Harbor.

One of my friends told me: "I think it is an advertisement rather than a film, because the plot doesn't make any sense to me! ". Not just an ad for martial art or scenery, it is an ad made by the government! The way it approves dictatorship disgusts me. We simply do not agree its concepts; ordinary Chinese don't want to be governed by an idiot who kills millions of people.

And, it's not a film; it's just a collection of 'beautiful' photos. Yimou Zhang is a big fan of Akria Kurosawa. From his first film till now, he reproduces the ideas, the techniques and even dogmas of Akria Kurosawa. The suspense and the 'fantastic' scenes appeared in Ying Xiong is just a combination of Kurosawa's Rashomon (In the Words) and Kagemusha (The Shadow Warrior).

I just can't believe. After two years, there are so many people on the other side of the ocean, like this film so much. How ironic!