theBlackman on 11/6/2008 at 03:04
If you like films with opulent scenery and magnificent padgeantry with some great martial combat, massed and individual, I highly recommend "The curse of the Golden flower".
A Chinese movie with sub-titles, but a real treat, both in storyline and visual effects in action and design.
Love, treachery, self-sacrifice, loyalty, and many of the other things that life throws at you presented in a epic padgeant.
(
http://www.imdb.com/find?s=tt&q=the+curse+of+the+golden+blossom&x=11&y=14)
doctorfrog on 11/6/2008 at 04:32
I'll second this recommendation. A gaudy, gorgeous movie, the ending was worthy of a Shakespeare play.
I did find the ninja skulking about pretty hilarious in this, though. A real ninja would have dipped his speed suit in tie dye to better fit in with castle surroundings!
Also, pushed-up Chinese boobs.
Mr.Duck on 11/6/2008 at 05:51
V.cool movie. Though I agree what some critics say: not really an artial marts movie with drama, more a drama movie with martial arts. Still, plenty of both and much fun to be had by all.
Which reminds me.....WHY have I not bought this for my Blu-ray?
ffs....
In good news: I got Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth for the Blu-ray about a week ago, lovely, just lovely :)
theBlackman on 11/6/2008 at 06:51
I agree with MrDuck. A good drama with all the twists and turns such needs. Another good drama in the Japanese films is Ran, lacking the splendiferous settings, but also very well done.
SubJeff on 11/6/2008 at 08:01
Quote Posted by theBlackman
A Chinese movie with sub-titles,
but a real treat,
Obligatory: wtf, but?
Chinks better be talking in English or just no? Come on.
David on 11/6/2008 at 08:12
Subtitles reduce enjoyment for some! Full story at 11.
How is that a WTF?
henke on 11/6/2008 at 08:14
SubEff isn't really shocked by tBm's comment. He's just jumping at the chance to show just how open-minded he is by pointing out whatever little detail could even be construed as being small-mindedness.
We're all very impressed that you don't mind reading subtitles, SubEff! You man of the world, you!
theBlackman on 11/6/2008 at 09:06
Like David said.
Most of the better films from non-English speaking countries are sub-titled as our critic SubEff knows. And frankly the sub-titles along with the original language work better for me than the transliterated dubbed in English versions.
Nothing makes me laugh more than an English or American mouthing the re-written scripts in English.
SubJeff on 11/6/2008 at 09:19
I don't think that tBm is "small-minded", really. I balk at statements like that because it seems to me that what follows from it is the automatic assumption that a Chinese movie with sub-titles has to go the extra mile to be a treat, and that part of the reason for that need is just the fact that it is a Chinese movie with sub-titles.
You wouldn't say "the guy was Mexican, but intelligent" or "she was black, but good looking" or any other combination of "object-but-praise" unless you were working from that type of assumption.
That's all.
Perhaps (likely) I'm supersensitive to this stuff. But I'm convinced that the pervasiveness of this type of comment, whether it is intended to be discriminating or not, is unhelpful. You'd never hear or see that kind of thing on any respectable news program or newspaper, for example.
Just because you guys are happy to let it slide doesn't mean other people are. In my job I see and hear all sorts of nonsense of a similar nature - I don't tolerate it there, and I'll call people out on it wherever I see it in other arenas if I think it's useful. On another forum I wouldn't give a crap, but TTLG has a higher class of clientèle. Just the fact that people have responded (frothingly but pleh, that's what I love here) with some sort of intelligent retort proves it. And tBm in the mix without a rant. So forgive me for highlighting something that I think people on this board will actually be able to consider with some rational thought.
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OT - I had this flim on my radar for an age, but I heard bad things about it. I like the resurgence of this type of opulent Eastern period drama plus martial arts, but the one I'm really after I don't know the name of. I thought it was an early Ang Lee (I read he was re-releasing something but now I can find no reference to it). It's about a house in the desert where people go to hire assassins. One of the characters is losing his sight. Sigh. I guess I'll never know.
Stitch on 11/6/2008 at 14:56
ready for the title joke but holding out for a better riff from shug
