Change Your Image
yanjcw
Reviews
Bacheha-Ye aseman (1997)
better leave some time for non-Hollywood
it's the first time i got to see an Arabic film. before watching, i talked to myself "just try and have an experience of new style. forget about the crazy Arabic. anyway at least a break from Hollywood"
however, when i started i found myself totally absorbed into this movie, which is so plain and pure about a little boy and his sister, who had to go through with only one pair of schooling shoes. it's just simply an episode of childhood life, but through Majidi's direction, it like happened yesterday
looked through other comments at this site, i quite agree that some feeling are common among all human beings, whatever their color, language or belief. it just lays there, so quietly that we could even ignored its existence. it can't be simply built by money. Hollywood can make some visually fantastic movies, but for heart-touching ones i'd rather say goodbye to Hollywood temporarily
two leads share a pair of shoes, while it's a bicycle that in another Chinese movie called Beijing Bicycle. after seeing this, i think it's better than Beijing Bicycle. for one thing, it sounds more fictional for two boys sharing a bicycle for totally different purpose; for the other i don't think the latter copes well the love inside, which appears somehow abrupt for me. while in Majidi's film, Ali and Zahra make the story just like happen around yourself. you're part of Ali run through the race and come back with disappointment. i can see no artificial in their performance, just so naturally
by the way, who's the guy composed the sound track? i find it very beautify and goes pretty well with the movie. someday i'm gonna find it for myself
PS:sometimes just feel it necessary to write something, maybe just help me to remember a good movie when i'm old?
Guizi lai le (2000)
one Chinese masterpiece
up to now, this is my second favourest Chinese movie and only next to To Live
generally, i don't call it a Chinse fighting-against-japan movie, which is always about a hero. it's about ordinary civilians struggle for survival under Japanese invasion.
first of all, it's an idea to make this movie simply about a village and two war prisoners. when they came across a dilemma of take care of the prisoners, the village folks have to be very careful from being killed by either mysterious "me" or the japan invaders. but no matter how they tried, even to please the Japanese by singing, then got inevitably slaughtered.
then instead of mandarin, we see local dialect is used in this movie. some words from the dialect really makes the movie interesting and the character alive. when i see this movie, i just feel they are not characters in a movie, but were ignorant/plain peasants living in northeast China. another wonderful element of language is the translation between japan and Chinese. it's really laughing when Hanaya tried to revile and annoy Ma Dashan & Yu'er
finally, it's a great success to shoot this film in black and white, by which the audience can be put in a real situation where the story happens. it's in color until the end when the Japanese surrender, perhaps it is to imply bright life is coming...
one must-see for every average Chinese who won't want to forget the history of being invaded, especially when we see what the Japanese government does in the year of 60th Annivesary WWII
Fanfan (1993)
imaginatively constructed yet to be improved loving story
Fanfan, which i thought is another version of Fanfan la Tulipe, proved me wrong yesterday. actually it's much better than the 2003 version(there's another old version is pretty good, though).
as an eastern, i would describe this movie very imaginative. it reminds of Amilie, which wins a much high rate over here or probably around the world. it's all just for a dinner to break in an apartment, even dramatically coinciding is that the host has affection outside. i never see or even imagine people around me have this crazy idea, no matter how romantic they would like to be.
another big shot is the applying of single-side mirror, which i believe not only makes this movie sort of funny but more important also to carry on naturally and attractively. it's rather interesting when Fanfan called Alexandre next door and they danced following the same rhythm. wholly speaking, it's the mirror helped the couple finally get together, i think. never see this original idea before, so i call it imaginative again.
however, it would be perfect if it only could be improved about a few details. as i see, Fanfan should be kind of wild or hot while Sophie Masseau appears much elegant. so i don't think she fits the role well or gives a wonderful performance in this movie, though we surely all know she is definitely beautiful and truly a dream-lover among men on the earth
La vita è bella (1997)
comic romance and touching love
i guess you would never think about one film combining two totally different style stories into one film so perfectly: comic loving story and tragic but optimistic concentration camp life.
the loving story starts from Dora falling from the sky and finishes by taking Guido's "green" ride. all this first half is delightful and Guido's humor makes you laugh loudly. then it turns to the other half by Giosue's grandmother show-up. the three-member family was put in concentration camp due to Jewish. Guido demonstrates pretty well his love for Giosue, making up the concentration as a game. he doesn't forget to encourage Dora by playing the music. tragic concentration just can't keep up away Guido's love for his son and wife. the love will be Giosue's treasure all though his life, and i think even touch every child.
i would say this film not only tells a moving story about a man but also about a brave woman, who would leave her engaged for true love, even against family wishes. that's why Giosue doesn't know his grandmother until the bookstore scene. she would rather be with her family in concentration camp than living alone safely outside it would be totally perfect if only the comic elements could be involved with more realistic events.
after all, i give it 9/10 and strongly recommend this movie to you, man and woman
The Bodyguard (1992)
I HAVE NOTHING, so she chooses you
4 out of 5, for music's sake and in the name of entertainment!
sorry, i do not know Whitney Houston before this movie though seem familiar with "i have nothing". just watch it because of Kevin Costner, whose Open Range worked as starter for my western career. surely i never silly expect this movie to be a western, do I?
it's unnecessary to talk about the plot, which just goes the usual way and you can always expect. i just don't understand well who's Farmer's biggest threat. Rachell's sister, Portman, the crazy fan or they actually made the plot together? this caused confusion to me.
forget this point, this movie would be a big entertaining one that makes your Sunday, lonely evening pass by quickly... if you are the type of depth-movie goer, then better get rid of it unless you like Houston's attractive look or song
i do love Houston's voice, pure and wild! the passion in her music could naturally ignite you and it indeed reminded me that I HAVE NOTHING. my door was broken by her love strength and i was left bare to the open...
Cutthroat Island (1995)
classic pirate movie
IMDb 5.1 is absolutely under-rated, especially when you see Pirates of the Caribbean among top250. for me, it's better than PoTC.
you would have been attracted to this movie even from the right beginning: Mongan's father kidnapped, Morgan's wisdom of taking away bullet. OH, the scene of riding towards the sea was magnificent...
from thief to treasure-seeker, and finally fight alongside with Morgan, Matthew makes a great part of it. you could know Morgan will finally make it when she repressed the betrayal.
last point, we would not be able to see the evil was defeated by the power of ghost, which makes PoTC less perfect.
if you like pirate movie, then NEVER miss this one.
Out of Africa (1985)
a plain story-telling well-worth-seeing movie.
IMDb 6.8 isn't fair for this movie!
i watched this movie by pirate DVD, which makes the natural Africa appear less fantastic. though you could still feel the beauty, especially when your imagination fly with the helicopter. i believe this flying is most memorable for Karen, be with nature and lover
i would say this movie goes on pretty slowly, telling you a story in a rather simple way without any technic applied. a fighting woman with two men. there's no movie could tell an average woman living abroad in such a masterful way.
its thrift style could really freshen up you, who are put barely in Hollywood films. 9 out of 10!
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
movie to see at your leisure, but not much worthwhile
oh, well, the movie is well photographed. mysterious ancient style, magnificent scene, well-suited costume... the actress is beautiful enough, behaving decently. i think, the nurse seems to be a kind attender, whose image is pretty good and still clear in my mind.
i don't like the actor really, whose acting appears artificial to me enough. or maybe its the director's fault? the plot is just average, same as we always know. i guess the audience could somehow tell what's and will be going on without seeing the movie itself.
overall, i don't think it really worth Oscar Best Film.
8 out of 10, i would say