etudiantemo Reviews

Twilight (I) (2008)

beautiful shot

[7/10 · 25 November 2009]

I've not read the book and nearly one year after its release date, I decided to go cinema to watch it. Almost everyone around me has seen this movie and given positive comments on it, so I am a little bit confused when seeing the score on IMDb is only 5.9. As far as I am concerned, the plot seems simple: A vampire and a human being fall in love with each other, and for the plot's sake, the heroine unconditionally offers full trust on his lover and even his family though it sounds dangerous. Anyway, all the shots were beautifully made and all the acts impeccably choreographed. The protagonists must have been with thick make-up, but it doesn't matter at all. The vampire shall be solitary due to immortal youth, but staying young forever is engrossing. From aesthetic perspective, love between a vampire and a human being can be more intriguing than fairy tale. Since the story happens to a group of teenagers, I am not young enough to enjoy it too much.

Star Trek (2009)

some doubts with this film

[8/10 · 8 June 2009]

I have never watched any Star Trek film and this is the first version I saw. I think it's great. What made me engrossed in is a lot, the visual effects, the twists and turns, the character development and the thought provoking exploration in human or other being's emotion and mentality. To me, navigating is a sublime and purified course as strolling amongst the clouds is romantic and inspiring though it's volatile at the same time. Recently, the plane of Air France disappeared on the Atlantic Ocean and over 200 people were killed in this accident. This tragedy reminds me of the novel, Vol de Nuit, written by a pilot who wrote the universally recognized Le Petit Prince and also mysteriously disappeared with the plane he piloted in an unknown accident. In this novel, the author describes the struggle and agony of the pilots and commander in storms and hurricane, implying that the sense of responsibility transcends liberty. It's admirable. This film impressed me with the same force. Be loyal to your cause, be firm to your own choice.

However, I still have some doubts with the plot. For example, when Jim was exiled to a planet covered with snow where he met Spark from the future, he was told that his father is proud of him because he is a captain. As Spark from the future world said, this future Spark is coming from the world 150 years later. So it follows that Jim and Jim's father are still alive in the world 150 years later, which means at least this two person can live as long as over 150 years????? Another question is that since two Spark can be existing in two different time zone, the wicked Nero shall also have another one in another world?????? Then, why we only see one Nero????? And why this Nero we saw in the film did not come to another Nero for assistance????? And ironically , this Nero was so lucky that he could go back to the past, why he failed to try to avoid the disaster to be occurred to his planet but take nonsense revenge??????

If the plot is reasonable and that's because I am not smart enough to understand, can anyone answer these questions for me?

There Will Be Blood (2007)

a tiring three-hour journey

[9/10 · 20 April 2009]

It's tiring and discouraging. What kind of message does this film try to convey? Greed always overcomes love? A man with so many flaws succeeded in business but never obtained the sense of happiness. He was despicable, but pathetic. He did not believe in God at all, completely realistic, and the desire to success deluges his mind. He deemed God to be superstition, and the priest sanctified God and pretended to be a sacred prophet; though they two look the opposite to each other from the viewpoint of religion or faith, actually they have the same belief in money, success. Jealousy, egoism, vanity, lubricity…… all these negative characteristics are controlled by self-discipline ; however, the protagonist- Daniel had no intention to manage them, instead, he surrendered himself to his aimless lust and gave in the prospect to love and contentment even though he had some affection to the orphaned boy. After almost 3 hours watching, the audience felt frustrated and brooded over the subject of this film- Is Greed more powerful?

Sagan (2008)

comme si, comme ça

[7/10 · 14 April 2009]

Sagan's charisma lies in two elements: her intelligence and sincerity. She is apt at using simple but touching words and phrases, for example, the monologue on the first page of Bonjour, Tristesse. Her legendary life, full of inspiration, enthusiasm, caprice, sometimes looks like an enigma, mysterious and compellent,even her unconventional behavior looks acceptable. Though the film seems to be a little bit insipid, or rather dull, lacking passion and elegancy;the final scene her unreal talk to his son is truly moving. Sylvie Testud's casting is admirable, and i think she wears a unique temperament, close to a temperament of a poet and aristocratic temperament.

Ashes of Time (1994)

Wong Kar-Wei's Best Oeuvre

[6 April 2009]

I watched the Ashes of Time when I was in high school nearly a decade ago. At that time, director Wong Kar-Wei's In the Mood for Love, a film featuring 28 sets of cheong-sam, got wide recognition in mainland China and Wong Kar-Wei was deemed to be a stylish director with distinguished talent and personality, whose oeuvres became an absolute must to those who consider themselves a tasteful film-fan. To be honest, I did not find out anything substantial in the well-recognized In the Mood for Love though I like his earlier impressionable tragedy-Days of Being Wild, which was permeated by many Hong Kong-made elements from cinematographic point of view. As to the director's "blockbuster"-2046, I deem it as the best interpretation of exhaustion of genius and power. But when I heard that Ashes of Time was redone, I was still interested because it's Wong Kar-Wei's best oeuvre in my opinion. It seems that loneliness is the director's favorite theme, and the imaginative story of three characters – Dong Xie (odd man in east) Xi Du (vicious man in west) and Bei Gai (beggar leader in north) was fantastic. I watched the redone version in cinema, the visual effect is much better,also it looks like that I was taking a nostalgia lesson.

Coco Chanel (2008 TV Movie)

inspiring and engaging

[8/10 · 30 March 2009]

A biographic film basically loyal to the true history of the pioneering French fashion designer who created the word " Haute Couture" and spread the spiritual Chanel Numero 5 to the whole world is bound to be arresting to movie lovers no matter they are fond of pursuing vogue in beau monde. And the truth is that it's inspiring and engaging. For one thing, Coco Chanel gave women a sense of freedom; gave them back their bodies that were drenched in sweat due to fashion's finery, lace, corsets, underclothes and padding. For another, she insists on woman's independence which may be achieved via true career. Also the two actresses gave the excellent rendition of this legendary woman.

Australia (2008)

a good story

[6/10 · 22 February 2009]

I went to see this movie with great expectation for cinematography in beautiful scenery in Australia. And the fact is that it seems to be the combination of Out of Africa and Gone with the Wind but carries more with it. For one thing, the grand sea, continuous mountains, fantastic bare land, prairie, even desert constitute the magnificent and terrific background of the narration of an epic-like story; for another, the story itself elaborates on fight for indignity and integrity, mothering ,amour, magic, natural force, aboriginal cult, root seeking…… and all these elements convey and are stemmed from the same point-dreaming. What's more, it carries on the inspiration that lands has spirits and people live with it can talk with the land, river,plain and even desert. It is an euphoric moment when the huge cattle herd stop darting in front of the aboriginal boy standing by the cliff as there seems to be magic force hovering around. The most touching scene is that the aboriginal boy returns to his root of life- aboriginal civilization from the quasi-modern civilization. I like it most.

Cape No. 7 (2008)

a film about hometown

[6/10 · 19 February 2009]

On the outset, I decided to watch this movie alone as I failed to find out a companion; however, a friend working in the same building with me happened to have interest, so we went to see it together. I did not have much expectation on this film and the story is indeed mundane. As a romance comedy, 130 minutes seems to be a little bit long, but actually, i was fully engaged in the movie as the countryside life was gently rolling out to us, appeasing the curiosity or expectation for any extraordinary plot. The picturesque field and the grand sea of profound blue, together with the townish alley or lanes, vividly constitute a tranquil and catching living scene. What impresses me more is the awesome music, the music as backdrop to the monologue the man writing on the letter to his girl on the deck over half-century ago mixed with the affecting words is magnifique mais sympathique ("magnificent but sympathetic). As I mentioned above, the story seems to be inevitably mediocre, even the narrative form is clichéd, however, the mixture of these elements succeed to outdo all its peers. I think the main theme is about " hometown". Young people leave their hometown for big cities to pursue career or fortune while developers from cities go to the countryside to make investment in buying sea resorts and building hotels blocking the beautiful sea from country people; the local elder people can do nothing but feel regrettable for that territorial sovereignty and cultural sovereignty are losing to the metropolitan fashion and the young are not willing to stay to develop the hometown. It's exhilarating that Aga finally succeeded with genuine music in his hometown.

Red Cliff II (2009)

funny

[4/10 · 11 January 2009]

The massive battle scene reminded me of the "magnum opus"- Hero directed by Zhang Yimou years ago, and the last "classic lines"( I lost the battle due to the whirl of wind and a cup a tea) by Cao Cao triggered my laughter nerve and Chen Daoming's classic line in Hero –"The ideal Realm of Sword is "Peace" immediately emerged in my mind. Unlike the first part, which was permeated by funny dialogues, the second part obviously aims to convey something substantial to the audience. This part barely give rise to laughter and ironically, a man behind me fell into sleep and grunted. But I have to believe the complete Red Cliff, as well as Wu Ji( The Promise), Shi Mian Mai Fu (House of Flying Daggers) etc have been running into the same mode Zhang Yimou created for the first blockbuster in China –Hero. And the audience have been more and more tolerant, even numbed with ridiculous plot and stupid dialogue. The military strategies in this film are even far more "romantic" than the Romance of Three Kingdoms and proceed smoothly as a miracle, even we forsake the true history, we still can not explain how it could. The battle scene, rendered by the multi-dimensional technique, seems more cruel and relentless. In a word, i really don't like this kind of "innovative" interpretation of classic works as innovation does not mean distorting common sense.

Cardcaptor Sakura (1998–2000)

top notch production

[9/10 · 8 January 2009]

Cardcaptor Sakura is greatly about magic and romance. I like the mild affection it shows to us such as Sakura and Tomoyo's friendship and Sakura's sweet relationship with her brother and Yukito. I am convinced that it has nothing to do with homosexual love, but has everything to do with tenderness and humane love. Certainly, Clamp made the characters distinguish themselves. Sakura is soft-hearted and brave; Tomoyo is an ideal girl; Touya is smart and sometimes shy to express affection especially to his cute sister...... Clamp is apt at creating mysterious world, in which goodness of human being become more palpable, maybe that's the reason why so many fans get fascinated and keep thinking of it all life long.

X (2001–2002)

a world full of love

[9/10 · 8 January 2009]

I came to love manga for the first time when I read Tokyo Babylon. Also this manga made me know Clamp and induced me to read RG Veda and the uncompleted X and further TV series of X. Heaven and Earth, Protection and Destruction; Felicity and Agony; Tenderness and Brutality…… all these seeming like antonyms penetrates into the fate of Kamui and Fuuma and "torture" the loyal fans of Clamp. It's really frustrating when Clamp announced the serialization of X stopped in 2002 and I believe many adherents of X and Tokyo Babylon had to face the reality after years of waiting. Anyway, the TV series give us an ending: Fuuma stabbed Kamui and declared that all living things would be destroyed together with Kamui's death, while Kamui told him that he had been living in Fuuma's heart all along and had brought the Wish into the latter's heart. I could not help being sobbing at the scene and this was the first and only time I almost cried my heart out for Kamui. I have to confess that my great love in X shall attribute to Subaru and Seishiro. Subaru is timid, solitary, shy, soft-hearted, angelic, pure…… so I have to love him so much. So I had to extremely desire to visit Tokyo to take a full view of this city going to end in prosperity from the top of that symbolic tower as well as pay a visit to Rainbow Bridge in memory of someone; So I kept the brand –Mild Seven in my mind even though I hate smoking and got jubilant when I happened to see a pack of cigarettes named Mild Seven in a street cigarette stand; So I got to be in love with Sakura and convinced that pink Sakura is unique and sentient; So I felt an impulse to learn Japanese language even Japanese culture……Most of all, I become easily agitated at hearing about Subaru, clamp, TB or X or anything related. Sometimes I feel lonely in the manga world Clamp created because there's few people around me knows Clamp, but when I saw the touching story Clamp fans created on BBS, I got an undescribable sense of contentment. Though Clamp does not give an answer to the destiny of seven angels and seven seals due to its ramdon decision, I really enjoyed the X very much because genial affection and tenderness prevail in depressing and dark backdrop.

The Son's Room (2001)

life mixed with tender agony and mild happiness

[8/10 · 7 January 2009]

Grievous, but thoughtful and tender. Permeated by agonizing sense of loss, this film tells a father's love for child, profound and penetrating into his life. Agony is inevitable, fatal and deadly even to a psychiatrist. Sometimes I "enjoyed" in sad films as indulging oneself in grief helps one to temporarily "forsake" the affliction of one's own. The musical is genial, By this River perfectly matches the stoic resolve and looming sorrow of the alive and incur audience's tears for genuine feeling. I like this kind of tender narration, telling of a sorrowful story in gentle manner. In the end, the parents drive to the border of France and Italy, and the scene ended in the blue sea, familiar sand and continuous hills around give rise to tranquility and peace, which, to some extent, soothe the pain and anguish. It looks like seeing the great blue sea is a kind of happiness. In a word, it's a good ending.

The Legend of 1900 (1998)

touching

[9/10 · 7 January 2009]

A long long film. In the end, the huge ship bursts into pieces , I felt a light , slight, mild or inconspicuous anguish in my heart, but sudden and short.

The first scene of adult 1900, he walked into the ballroom, followed by the trumpet player. Sitting at the piano, he played beautiful music while the piano dancing on the ground. Startling graceful, this maybe the most accurate adjective to describe the scene, music, piano, dancing, pianist, everyone in that ballroom, even the awkward trumpet player. I think most audience would have the same feeling with me at this scene: 1900 is a different protagonist . With great talent for music , he brought so many amazement to people on that passenger liner as well as the audience, especially he competes with that so-called greatest pianist from shore, completely stunning! However, I feel the theme of this film is of sadness though I totally lost in the main idea people who create it would like to express. 1990 is afraid of the ashore life, maybe just like I am afraid of Hitchcock, Agatha . But it should be different, my fear comes from the thrilling scene ( maybe not thrilling at all in others' opinion) , the suspenseful plot or deep shadowiness of human being……If I have not read a novel or watched a film like that, I would never know my scare at this, even it haunts me like nightmare when I am alone , I am still curious and willing to accept the "horrible" novel or film when it comes to me occasionally.

Unknown fear of ashore life confined 1990 to the ship , in which he was raised up and played tremendously "magic music" . To him, land is even more terrible than death. Sometimes people like a fragile rose on a thin golden stem, delicate, exquisite but weak and helpless. Feeling makes human powerful , at the same time, it can destroy human 's outlook, hope and life. More talented, more sensitive; more sensitive, more fragile; more fragile, more touching , it's a perfect description of literature, fine arts, music ,drama and life!

If You Are the One (2008)

a mild comedy

[7/10 · 28 December 2008]

It's a film about romance, sad but mild at the same time. Permeated by numerous advertisement for the sponsors for the produce of this film, the story struggled to manifest its substance via Ge You's humorous( or flirtatious) dialogue( or monologue). A man (acted by Ge You) over forty wanted to find the "Miss Right", only to encounter various kinds of " Miss Wrong". A woman ( acted by Shu Qi) felt desperate at the affair with a married man happened to meet Ge You at a blind date. They got to know each other gradually and decided to pay a tour to the famous retort in Japan together as companion to each other and finally Shu Qi smells the odor she wants from his companion and realizes he is the true Mr Right. In the picturesque field, another emotion arising from friendship tried to trigger audience's innate desire to sob. As a comedy, the film brings us a good ending, touching. BTW, the music rendered by the winner of Super Girl is manifique.

Butterfly Lovers (2008)

"modern" film

[5/10 · 11 December 2008]

Several days after leaving Hangzhou, I went to see Butterfly Lovers, according to legendary record, which occurred in Hangzhou thousand years ago. The Butterfly Lovers or Liang Zhu is a Chinese legend about the tragic romance between two lovers, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai,which is equivalent to Romeo and Juliet in western world. Though the content of the film is different, but the theme remains unchanged. A girl disguised as a boy to learn martial arts in Mount XiaoYao with a large group boys. Suddenly or gradually ( it looks contradictory), she felt in love with a boy honest and indignant, while the boy has the same feeling. I still not able to find out a word equivalent to "yuan fen" in English, but I find out an excuse to explain my incompetence that it seems "yuan fen "exclusively belongs to Chinese. And thanks to God, I am a Chinese and able to read Chinese. The ending is the same, two lovers stay together in the same tomb and a couple of butterflies arise as incarnation.But the elite, touching scene inspired or evoked by affection seemingly arising from friendship, was missed in this film. Three-year classmate fellowship, 18-miles send-off on Mount Phoenix are no longer being seen in "modern films" featured by pop stars. It seems soul of traditional Chinese culture greatly lies in ambiguity or subtlety (of course not misunderstanding) especially in expression of any affection, sensation, emotion, sensibility etc; certainly in history it used to lead to unbelievable disaster as many literary men were accused of defaming emperor or ruling class by literal allusion. But Complex is complex, it means a lot to a person who indulges himself or herself in ancient myth or poetry. Anyway, I still can't help weeping silently for two lovers' struggle against malicious power and the incarnation of butterflies, though the latter seems a little bit pompous but mediocre at the same time. But perhaps it's the romance hiding in the depth of mind, could be waken up at any time. After all, I heard a news that China has attempted to list this folklore story as intangible world heritage and already accepted by UNESCO. Certainly, the story is engaging and memorable, but it's not easy for all of the world especially those who do not have much knowledge in Chinese culture to appreciate this story ostensibly old-fashioned but permeated by delicate feeling and poetical melancholy.

Everyone Says I Love You (1996)

a great work

[8/10 · 8 December 2008]

It's a film of mild romance and funny sentiment. Though I don't like musicals very much and don't believe that actors and actress distinguish in grand ecran could outdo in playing musicals, Everyone says l love You is a great exception evidencing old fashioned musical is never out of fashion. A couple in love but handling love ineptly, a couple divorced but still having close connection, a son holding unpleasant dissidence with his father, a step-daughter caught in endless romantic encounter, a twins of same taste for man, a woman with eccentric whimsy and unfortunately watched in meeting with her psychiatrist…… Everyone seems to be distinctive or or even a little bit odd like a grotesque oeuvre. But everyone enjoy themselves when tomber amour. Woody Allen placed much humor by tricky means to produce charismatic force arising out of love, no matter where it comes from. The last scene that the divorced couple conversed from the depth of mind under the bridge is a great scenario, touching and enjoyable maybe because it tells the essence of love.

Mei Lanfang (2008)

mediocre

[6/10 · 8 December 2008]

Though I don't have much knowledge in Pekin Opera, this traditional Chinese art is enchanting to us. The first part of this film reminded us of Farewell to My Concubine (a film directed by Chen Kaige decades ago) as it's nearly an imitation of homosexual love. I had to agree with Tracy when she said the "great" director made "Broken Back Mount" again disguised in our traditional art form, a mundane story in a luxurious robe ( a bad metaphor or simile) . The background music is genial, triggering your memory for a film decades ago.Luckily, the appearance of Zhang Ziyi at the middle of the stage, in white robe halts the tune of love between two men. THe two lovers fall into love as planned, a mediocre plot again. But destine or fate or enthusiasm for art or unfair life get them close to each other but separate them later no matter how much gallantry artists show on stage or in life. Although it's featured by super stars, the protagonist fail to distinguish in continuous conflict of paradox, every role seems to have his or her own charm to trigger sympathy from the audience. I want to say Pekin Opera is a traditional art of long and glorious history with a galaxy of artists dedicated to it. Maybe it's true sometimes it is associated with hidden oppression on human emotion and thinking and manifest its extremism in aestheticism in seeming like abnormality of human being or sometimes the Pekin opera singers outdid themselves in rendition of blend of sentiments, however, the tremendous artistic beauty survives the deviation from authentic art.