I've been a long time Zhang Yimo fan. In fact, it's been so long that I no longer remember why I still drag myself to the theater to watch his movies. I keep being disappointed yet I keep going, hoping that some day he would again deliver the magic of cinema like he did many many years ago in his creative prime.
Unfortunately, the guy is in a rut of which he can't seem to be able to get out. Every film he makes is basically of the same style - he strives to engage you with breath-taking photography in order to compensate the simply plot.
What makes an artist great is the ability to transform and become even greater. Not Zhang. His faith in his formula is so insurmountable that he keeps using it to cut all his "cookies" year after year. And to keep the gullible audience coming back time and time again, the budget for his movies is getting bigger and bigger.
This film was in extreme excess of all things - the acting, the richness of brilliant colors, the rampant out-of-control emotions, the ample jiggly breasts, extravagant costumes, the huge army of extras, and yes, the violence! yet it left me empty at the end wondering why I went to see it in the first place. It must have been my brand name loyalty and the masterfully edited commercial on TV.
Zhang Yimo, you really need to get over yourself before you can become truly a great director.
Unfortunately, the guy is in a rut of which he can't seem to be able to get out. Every film he makes is basically of the same style - he strives to engage you with breath-taking photography in order to compensate the simply plot.
What makes an artist great is the ability to transform and become even greater. Not Zhang. His faith in his formula is so insurmountable that he keeps using it to cut all his "cookies" year after year. And to keep the gullible audience coming back time and time again, the budget for his movies is getting bigger and bigger.
This film was in extreme excess of all things - the acting, the richness of brilliant colors, the rampant out-of-control emotions, the ample jiggly breasts, extravagant costumes, the huge army of extras, and yes, the violence! yet it left me empty at the end wondering why I went to see it in the first place. It must have been my brand name loyalty and the masterfully edited commercial on TV.
Zhang Yimo, you really need to get over yourself before you can become truly a great director.