Comments on: Curse of the Golden Flower or The Empresses’ New Groove

By: amrdog

amrdog — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 21:08:58 +0000

I will vote for “To Live” as his finest movie. The acting that the lead character pulls off, the father, is fanastic, I think.

The movie itself really conveys the difficulty and struggle of fifty years of Chinese experience–the struggle, the oppression, the demagoguery–effectively and without great burden on the audience. Great flick.

By: Mari

Mari — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:53:41 +0000

Caroline, thanks so much for your comment. I think the director took some liberties with how royalty is treated during that time period. It’s probably not completely accurate, but as my boyfriend had suggested, perhaps that’s his whole commentary of the film: the insufficiency of Chinese royalty. If my boyfriend’s right, I don’t think that was properly conveyed. Still, it’s a movie that foreign film lovers should see at some point.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:05:06 +0000

Hey! I’m poking my head around my regular reads, but I’m so glad that someone else has seen this movie (so I have someone to chit chat with about it.)

I usually try not to get caught up in the subtitles, but what I did catch of it was way too stylized and formal. Overall in Chinese movies, the translation is often stiff and conveys a different tone than what is actually said. My Korean friend even noticed that sometimes a character saying a few words will generate a long-winded translation. I wouldn’t say it’s a cultural thing, movies that make it to the theatres in the US tend to have mediocre reception in China.

I think my favorite part of that movie was watching a horde of servants appear out of no where. Then there was the scenery and the visuals. Gong Li and Jay Chou also made my day.

Anyways, here was my write up about it - http://ladyfatale.livejournal.com/28760.html

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 05:46:56 +0000

I’m not sure whether the mediocrity of the film is a result of poor translation since I haven’t watched the film yet, but your hypothesis might be right. They do often translate some parts of foreign films incorrectly, especially when it comes to slang in another language. It definitely makes me go “WTF” when I’m reading an incorrect English translation to a Chinese movie.

By: Mari

Mari — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 02:13:58 +0000

Jen, it’d probably be a better rental anyway…because at least you can pause it for a bathroom break!

Becca, I love going to the cinema or watching rentals. Sometimes I feel like I’ve seen everything

By: Becca

Becca — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:24:26 +0000

I was wondering what that movie was about. Now I want to go see it. Maybe next week. My bestfriend and I have kinda been going to the movies almost once a week.
I hadn’t heard of this movie till the other day, I still havn’t looked for the trailer. I should go do that.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:49:16 +0000

It’s a real pity that this film isn’t out in Australia yet, or else my friends would’ve dragged me to see it - instead, we’ve watched all the semi-promising films and have settled to wandering around the mall gawking at shops, which is quite diverting in itself.

By: Mari

Mari — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 02:43:58 +0000

Vanessa, I loved her in “In the Mood for Love” as well, great imagery in both films.

Anna, I keep trying to convince myself that I like Jack Black and then every time I see a film of his I remember that I don’t.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 20:21:33 +0000

I remember really liking Li Gong in “2046.” But then again, I really just liked 2046 altogether.

I’ve not actually heard of this movie yet, shame on me! *goes to look up a trailer*

By: Anna

Anna — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:35:44 +0000

I haven’t been to the movies in a while. I think the last movie I went to see was “Tenacious D & The Pick of Destiny” which is as terrible as its title suggests.

I would like to go and see this movie but none of my friends are interested in seeing it with me. Psh. Time to get some new friends, I think. ;D