First of all let me tell you why I paid attention to this film. Chen Kaige!!! Jang Dong Gun!!! Hiroyuki Sanada!!! Cecilia Cheung!!! I am definitely a big fan. There is some East Asian fusion going on here and I like it! This film was more than a worthy vehicle for these Mega Stars from China, Japan, and Korea. Too bad many people don't think so.
I grew up watching Hiroyuki Sanada in "Shogun's Ninja" and loved him as the swordsman in "Last Samurai". Jang Dong Gun is definitely it for Korean film stars. "TaeGukGi" is a masterpiece and I loved "Chingoo". Cecilia Cheung has a special place in my heart after "Failan" and "Running on Karma" among many others. As for Chen Kaige, my heroes are great film makers, and "Life on a String" and "Farewell My Concubine" are just burned into my memory. They all have achieved greatness in my book.
I was thrilled to see Jang Dong Gun and didn't recognize him until he spoke. That piqued my curiosity but I was hooked as soon as I saw the plot unfold when the Goddess made her predictions for the Child and the General. I loved the characters. Each had their issues to deal with in life and they all headed towards destiny and evolved in the process. I saw interesting messages of honor, sacrifice and personal evolution as well as second chances and retribution. I also saw vivid costumes, wire choreography and of course cg. The camera techniques were very nice and some scenes are definitely vivid and graceful. Mostly, I just felt the star power and they didn't disappoint. Props to Hiroyuki Sanada for his bravado and vulnerability. He stole the show. Jang Dong Gun is always cool somehow. His super powered, innocent, slave character was very likable. His expressions while running super speed would pump me up. They also played with his appearance often to make him seem haggard and then very regal and then back again to haggard. Cecilia Cheung did her turn as seductress and tormented lover very nice and I'm glad it wasn't Zhang Ziyi. Come on guys. Don't wear her out like that. Variety is the spice of life.
OK, check it out if you aren't nit picky and just want to kick back and enjoy a light fantasy with some serious international star power. If you are romantic of course you'll like it but if you are stuck in reality maybe not. Cheers.
I grew up watching Hiroyuki Sanada in "Shogun's Ninja" and loved him as the swordsman in "Last Samurai". Jang Dong Gun is definitely it for Korean film stars. "TaeGukGi" is a masterpiece and I loved "Chingoo". Cecilia Cheung has a special place in my heart after "Failan" and "Running on Karma" among many others. As for Chen Kaige, my heroes are great film makers, and "Life on a String" and "Farewell My Concubine" are just burned into my memory. They all have achieved greatness in my book.
I was thrilled to see Jang Dong Gun and didn't recognize him until he spoke. That piqued my curiosity but I was hooked as soon as I saw the plot unfold when the Goddess made her predictions for the Child and the General. I loved the characters. Each had their issues to deal with in life and they all headed towards destiny and evolved in the process. I saw interesting messages of honor, sacrifice and personal evolution as well as second chances and retribution. I also saw vivid costumes, wire choreography and of course cg. The camera techniques were very nice and some scenes are definitely vivid and graceful. Mostly, I just felt the star power and they didn't disappoint. Props to Hiroyuki Sanada for his bravado and vulnerability. He stole the show. Jang Dong Gun is always cool somehow. His super powered, innocent, slave character was very likable. His expressions while running super speed would pump me up. They also played with his appearance often to make him seem haggard and then very regal and then back again to haggard. Cecilia Cheung did her turn as seductress and tormented lover very nice and I'm glad it wasn't Zhang Ziyi. Come on guys. Don't wear her out like that. Variety is the spice of life.
OK, check it out if you aren't nit picky and just want to kick back and enjoy a light fantasy with some serious international star power. If you are romantic of course you'll like it but if you are stuck in reality maybe not. Cheers.