“Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves. Even when they enter deep into our world or sink below us, they still think they are better than we are. They are different.”

from “The Rich Boy” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I love watching foreign films. Most of my favourite movies are in languages I neither speak nor understand. This past weekend, J and I took in not one, but two foreign language films (got to love the diversity in Toronto). On Saturday, we caught the screening of Anne Fontaine’s “Coco Avant Chanel”. And on Sunday, we watched “Haeundae” by Yoon Je-Kyun.

I know a lot of people are discouraged from watching these kinds of film because they think it’s too tedious to read subtitles, that the translations aren’t always accurate, and that they’re distracting. And I completely agree. But having held dear in my heart all this while the concept my old film professors introduced to me, I’ve been able to enjoy films from various lands with relative ease. It’s simple, really.

Dialogue is the least important sound in film.

Film is essentially a moving picture. Technological advances have enhanced the viewing experience tremendously over the years, but at its very core, it has remained just that:  a viewing experience. In my opinion, a good film is told through the moving picture. Moving, as in the collection of the juxtaposed images on the screen moving in a certain flow, in a certain pace, toward a certain direction. And moving, as in evoking an emotion in you.

There are movies that I enjoy and there are movies that I love. The former something I will watch once or twice and not think about when the credits fade to black; the latter, a film I will buy on DVD, watch it over and again, and reflect upon until the day fades to black and brings me to sleep. I can tell you a hundred movies that I enjoyed watching, but I’m leaving you a list of movies that I loved. Check them out!

“Nuovo Cinema Paradiso” (1988)
Directed by: Guiseppe Tornatore (Italy)
Language: Italian

* * *

“Bayaning Third World” (1999)
Directed by Mike de Leon (Philippines)
Language: Filipino
NOTE: Not a foreign language to me, but it might be to you. I did a paper on this many years ago, and have watched it in its entirety over ten times. It is mind-blowing. And, yes, I am biased.

* * *

“Janghwa, Hongryeon” (2003)
Directed by: Kim Ji-woon (South Korea)
Language: Korean
NOTE: Do not watch alone if you’re easily scared.

* * *

“2046″ (2004)
Directed by: Wong Kar Wai (Hongkong)
Language: Cantonese
NOTE: Check out also Wong Kar Wai’s “Chungking Express” and “In the Mood For Love” which are the other two parts of this trilogy.

* * *

“Curse of the Golden Flower” (2006)
Directed by: Zhang Yimou (China)
Language: Mandarin

* * *

“El Laberinto del Fauno” (2006)
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro (Mexico)
Language: Spanish

* * *

“Let The Right One In” (2008)
Directed by: Tomas Alfredson (Sweden)
Language: Swedish
NOTE: Again, do not watch alone if you’re easily scared. Also, the little girl reminds me of Audrey Tautou.

Even corridors are filled with color and light.

(Sony Classics) Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li, Jay Chou, Liu Ye, Ni Dahong, Qin Junjie, Li Man, Chen Jin. Directed by Zhang Yimou

It is a well-known Western aphorism that it is lonely at the top. It is also true, universally, that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

During the Tang Dynasty in the 10^th century, the Emperor (Fat) returns home with his son, Prince Jai (Chou) from war against the Mongols to celebrate the Chrysanthemum festival. However, all is not well at home. The Empress (Li) is very ill, despite regular doses of medicine. And, shockingly, she is having an affair with Crown Prince Wan (Ye), her husband’s son by his first marriage.

This is not just a dysfunctional family, it’s a homicidal one. The Empress isn’t just ill; she’s being poisoned with a rare Persian fungus which will eventually drive her insane. This is being done by the court doctor (Dahong) on the orders of the Emperor. It seems he is a mite ticked off at his wife.

In a move of self-preservation, she enlists the help of Jai to overthrow his father. He is at first reluctant, but when he sees the condition of his mother he is moved to vow that she will never drink the poison again. This sets the stage for an epic battle in the very hallways of the Imperial Palace, one of the most lavish and ostentatious ever known.

This is one of the most visually arresting movies ever, with bright colors dominating the sets and costumes. The palace is aglitter with Chinese art glass, crystal columns lit from inside in shades of red, gold, green and blue. Armies in gold armor clash with armies in obsidian. Assassins fly like wraiths through the air, throwing wicked curved swords to filet their victims. Pots of chrysanthemums fill a huge courtyard to the very steps of the palace. It is certainly a feast for the eyes.

It is also a soap opera on steroids. The story, taken from Thunderstorms, a 1933 play written by Chinese playwright Cao Yu, is full of juicy palace intrigue, forbidden love and terrible secrets. Chow Yun Fat, one of the most honored actors in Asia, plays the Emperor as a brutal man – not necessarily an evil one. His loyalty is to his throne, even ahead of his family. It’s a difficult role, but Fat handles it with grace.

Director Yimou is reunited with his longtime leading lady Li, who collaborated with him on such classic movies as Raise the Red Lantern and Ju Dou.  She is beautiful and regal here, but is most often called upon to express revulsion and shake like a leaf at the effects of her poisoning. Pop star Chou is solid as the heroic Prince Jai, put into an impossible situation.

There is a good deal more CGI here than is usual with wuxu films but it adds to the epic scope and awesome majesty of the movie. The detail is extraordinary and one must pay tribute to the artisans who worked on the set and costumes, most of which are authentic. Sure, there is some quibbling with historical accuracy (for example, the armor worn by the competing armies in the final battle were not the sort that Chinese soldiers of the time would have worn for anything other than ceremonial purposes; also, the architecture of the palace was more suitable to the 15^th century although the interior is more or less accurate) but that’s all right; you won’t want to see this as a history lesson. Indeed, this is one of the most stunning movies I’ve seen from a visual aspect ever; Cecil B. DeMille would have certainly approved.

WHY RENT THIS: Out of this world visuals make this a stunning feast for the eyes. Chow Yun Fat and Gong Li are two of the premiere actors in Asian cinema today and they show why that reputation has been earned here.

WHY RENT SOMETHING ELSE: The soap opera aspect is a bit over-the-top in places.

FAMILY VALUES: The battle scene is extremely violent, and there is some implied incest.

TRIVIAL PURSUIT: The Imperial Palace exterior is the largest set ever built in China. The battle scene set there took over twenty days to shoot.

NOTABLE DVD EXTRAS: The making-of documentary is particularly interesting in how the sets were constructed, the costumes made and the overall theme to the movie.

FINAL RATING: 9/10

TOMORROW: Lymelife

”Acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s daughter Zhang Mo said in an interview that her father’s former lover, Chinese movie star Gong Li, had ruined her childhood.

Director Zhang Yimou who was known for films such as House of Flying Daggers and Curse of the Golden Flower, first met Chinese actress Gong Li on the set of Red Sorghum in 1986.

A year later, Zhang divorced his wife. His daughter Zhang Mo was just 7 years old then.

Zhang Mo, who is now studying in the United States, said in an interview conducted there that it was this relationship that deprived her of the many things children enjoy during childhood.

“Back then, my father had nothing. It was due to my mother’s support in everything he did that he can achieve what he did today,” Zhang Mo said.

“Until today, I still cannot understand why Gong Li, being the famous movie star that she is, had to treat my father’s only daughter the way she did. Why did she have to try to smother the relationship between my father and me?”

Zhang Yimou’s relationship with Gong Li lasted until 1994. According to the Chinese media, it was the director who called it quits, as he could not tolerate the way Gong Li treated his daughter.

It was reported that on one occasion during their relationship, Gong Li tried calling Zhang, but was unable to get through to him for almost two hours. When she finally did, she concluded that Zhang must have been talking to his daughter, and berated him for it.

After the incident, Zhang Yimou concluded that Gong Li was unsuited to be his wife and his daughter’s mother, and subsequently initiated the breakup.

It has been more than a decade since Zhang Yimou and Gong Li called it quits, and the Chinese media speculated that the reason for Zhang Mo’s speaking up now might hint at her intention to join the entertainment industry.”

*source:AsianOne

It’s strange that Zhang’s daughter would just speak up now after a long period of silence. It’s possible to say she is talking to reporters about the past as a way to start a profile for herself, which is quite low, then again many beginner ’stars’ do that. Or she could actually be just as hurt today to that degree. Honestly i think it did make a big difference to her when she was younger but she has probably accepted the past but just doing this to create some buzz.

I never liked Gong Li, her facial expressions always remind me of those bitchy girls in play grounds who throw things at you or say your clothes look ugly today. I hope this story doesn’t hold too much truth otherwise that’s quite sad. Only positive thing to say is at least Zhang had the rationality to put an end to his affair as his daughter is more important, just a shame it took a decade.

Gong Li (simplified Chinese: 巩俐; traditional Chinese: 鞏俐; pinyin: Gǒng Lì; born December 31, 1965) is a Chinese-born film actress. Gong first came into international prominence through close collaboration with Chinese director Zhang Yimou and is credited with helping bring Chinese cinema to Europe and the United States.^[1] She has twice been awarded the Golden Rooster and the Hundred Flowers Awards twice as well as the Berlinale Camera, Cannes Festival Trophy, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Circle Award, and Volpi Cup. She married Singaporean businessman Ooi Hoe Soeng in 1996, and became a Singaporean citizen in 2008.^[2]-wiki

I am so going to watch this movie tomorrow:

How powerful her acting skills are even in once upon a time films:

Farewell my concubine with Leslie:

Oh, didn’t get to watch this too, damn it:

Her 2006 stint in Hollywood (Hollywood is now in China, by the way):

Facts:

1. Gong Li was voted the most beautiful woman in China in 2006 -wiki

2. Michael Mann and Rob Marshall refer to her as the “Meryl Streep of China”.-wiki

Filmography( from wiki)

i am adding patrick dempsey to the awkward list of “men i love.”  ”love” is loosely but sincerely used to mean “admire,” and you should note that i am not a regular run-of-the-mill fangirl.  the only way to explain is to divulge who these other “men i love” may be.  there are several, but i’ll stick to top-billing actors for right now, and i want to work in threes.  the two others?  david hyde pierce and tom hanks.  my dedication to them and innate stirrings of the heart don’t fit obsession, because i’m a quiet kind of fan, but they do fit meek star-struck respect and wide-eyed astonishment: i watched hellboy on television last summer; i was flipping through channels when suddenly abe sapien spoke, and he had david hyde pierce’s voice.

but yes, the title is misleading.  i have fallen in: in a tale of three viewing experiences, how patrick galen dempsey wormed his way into my heart.

grey’s anatomy
i didn’t get the whole mcdreamy shtick.  then it expanded, to include mcsteamy, and i don’t watch enough grey’s to know if there are more now.  the problem may be that i am no longer a romantic, so what caused the characters of izzie, christina, and meredith (good looks, charm, the “package deal” dr. shepherd supposedly is) was lost on me.  i also find meredith grey rather irritating and the mcdreamy aspect was further negated by his like for her…even though this is all in a television microcosm, and has little bearing on patrick dempsey himself.

made of honor
a netflix subscription gives you access to a decent stock on films to stream, and it doesn’t cost you extra.  upon finding this, i was browsing through and came across made of honor. think extreme romantic comedy.  i repeat, i am no longer a romantic, but i didn’t stop watching because any disdain i had for the ridiculousness of the situation was sometimes shared by dempsey’s character, but more than that – dempsey and michelle monaghan put on worthwhile performances, which was enough to overshadow the “unappreciated girl goes on vacation, boy misses her and realizes he loves her, girl comes back engaged to royalty who surpasses her friend in every which way but still her heart belongs to him” storyline just barely.  it still peeked out, inducing sighs of disbelief.

i’m going to compile a summer film list later on, and i had intended to include made of honor for the sole reason of beginning to make me appreciate patrick dempsey, but its mention is done here, and can now be left off that list.

enchanted
this made me so, so happy!  in 2006, following a screening of curse of the golden flower, i made it a point to find whichever films of gong li’s i could, as i had become enamored by her.  i think enchanted has a similar effect in regards to “mcdreamy.”  this summer may just end up with a handful of dempsey films, particularly from the 80’s.  oh, how i enjoy going back in time.

notably, he is dyslexic, and he juggles.  for some reason, both those items only intensify my newfound feelings toward him.

The hosts are joined by a new traveller whose expertise in all things Hardy aids a note on the most violent of Britain’s inmates. The three then sail away into a land of three dimensions, lament the public service broadcasting blighty offers and wonder when gay is too gay for distributors the other side of the pond. Further discourse follows on hell houses and ordinary people, on paranoid klutes and naked kisses before, at last, the three come to rest and make sure the one they let in is the right one.

Download Episode 11

‘Whiney’ in My Cousin Vinny is Mitchell Whitfield.

Trailers for: Year One, Away We Go, Drag Me To Hell, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Observe and Report.

Trailer for Let The Right One In.

Christopher Tookey’s reactionary review to Bronson.

Remember to follow us on Twitter and email at movieoverdose@googlemail.com.

This is the second movie I will have reviewed on this website by acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou [the first being here].  The definte latter of the two, Curse of the Golden Flower is set in 10th century China, the Emperor’s first born son, Wan, is sleeping with his step mother, the Empress, and his half sister. Seeking revenge on his wife, the Emperor begins poisoning the Empress’ daily medicine in small doses. When the Empress receives word of this betrayal, she enlists the help of her royal guard-leading son to put an end to the Emperor. When all is revealed at the Chrysanthemum Festival, all hell breaks loose and the audience is treated to some much needed spectacle.

To be honest, the story is quite complicated — there’s so much treachery, incest, and deceit that it can be hard to keep track of it all. However, if you stick with the characters, a commanding tale emerges, making the third act particularly riveting. The “rot and decay” of the royal house is already in full swing as the story begins but, as we learn about the motives, agendas and secrets that dominate the lives of its characters, drama gives way to melodrama as truths rise to the surface and the family implodes in tragedy. It may sound as if I’m criticising this film but, believe me, I’m not. Despite the occasionally outlandish qualities of every aspect of the film, as I’ve already said, it works.

Watching Curse of the Golden Flower, you know right of the bat exactly where the films budget has gone; from the palace’s exterior, the biggest set ever built, to the lush interiors and simply astounding costumes, no expense has been spared.

If you go in expecting a blood bath filled martial arts epic, you will be dissappointed. Eventually, there are some exciting martial arts scenes to keep these people mildly happy, but the story remains the first priority. The sheer amount of plotting and characterization is likely to turn off a few folks while engaging an entirely different audience. This review is for the Blu-ray edition of the movie and the film’s transfer is packed with vibrant colors and sharp fine object detail, while leaving the Skintones natural.  However the black areas are a bit deep and the soundtrack leaves a lot left to be desired.  All in all, I can’t do any better or worse then to suggest this film to you. Recommended.

baru2 ini Curse of the Golden Flower ditayangkan di stasiun tv RCTI, jd inget lg ma tuh film, “katanya” sih film ini merupakan film produksi cina yang paling penuh dengan warna-warni, dan memang terbukti dengan dipakainya beragam warna yang ada, perhatikan dekorasi warna Istana Kerajaan, Pakaian Perang dan Pakaian Resmi Kerajaan.
Ceritanya juga lumayan menarik tentang intrik perebutan kekuasaan atas dasar kecemburuan dan sakit hati, yang menarik diakhir cerita adalah, Seorang Kaisar yang harus “rela” kehilangan segalanya demi Tahta dan Kekuasaannya, bahkan bila harus membunuh anaknya sendiri.
Sayangnya di film ini tidak digambarkan kondisi Kerajaan yang dipimpinnya sehingga kita kurang dapat menilai “Raja” seperti apakah dia…?????

Curse of the Golden Flower
Directed by Zhang Yimou
Grade: C+

Zhang Yimou’s grand costumer is the type of gorgeous, martial arts-laden tour de force that we have grown accustomed to seeing coming out of the world of Chinese cinema as of late. While it’s hard to deny that Curse of the Golden Flower is thoroughly pristine eye candy, there is something surprisingly lacking in Yimou’s story of a royal power struggle, a story that has been tackled many times before with far more cunning. The acting is crisp and elegant, but, unfortunately, the story moves along with Scooby-Doo precision, with Zhang ultimately sacrificing character for style. Curse of the Golden Flower has much more story longing to be told – and one can only wonder how much of Cao Yu’s original stage play was left behind to make room for its grand battle sequences. There are dramatic opportunities lost as the film’s twists and turns come quickly, weakening plot points and skimming along the surface of the pond rather than putting on proper gear and diving to greater depths. Curse of the Golden Flower is cinema by numbers, Zhang’s most jaw-dropping visuals coming via lots and lots of extras. It’s a film that’s difficult to dislike (and, I really don’t), but leaves you with that unmistakable “aww, crumbs” punch of disappointment, knowing full well that a film like this could have been much, much more.

The Chrysanthemum is the destructive vegetation of choice in Zhang’s Curse of the Golden Flower, and since cabbage is always a curse on the digestive system here in the Goulash household, this unlikely ingredient pairing is sure to be more than appropriate to live up to the film’s title. So, with that, we’re offering up a recipe for Emperor Ping’s Red Cabbage and Apples with Chrysanthemum:

1 red cabbage; cored & thinly sliced
4 tbsp. red wine vinegar
5 tbsp. cold water
2 tbsp. Brown sugar; very dark
2 tbsp. yellow Chrysanthemum petals; thinly sliced
2 large apple; peeled & cored
1 large onion; sliced into rings
1/4 cup butter
Sliced Chrysanthemum petals

Blanch the red cabbage in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and set aside. Heat the butter in a frying pan, put in the onion rings and sweat for 3-4 minutes, until soft. Stir in the apple slices and cook for 1 minute. Put the cabbage in a deep flame proof casserole dish with a tight-fitting lid. Mix in the onion, apples and Chrysanthemum petals and turn all the ingredients so that they become well coated with the butter. Sprinkle sugar and pour in water and vinegar. Season lightly. Cook in the oven at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 – 2 hours, until the cabbage is soft. Just before serving, add a good pat of butter and some fresh Chrysanthemum petals. Excellent with pork and game. Serves 4-6.

With thanks to YumYum.com for the recipe!

Ce film ne s’arrête sur aucune pathologie particulière ni aucune prise en charge (Nous sommes au VIIIème siècle chinois), mais en le découvrant récemment, j’ai eu envie de le partager tant sa facture est splendide et les thèmes abordés – des classiques des “sciences humaines” – nous ramènent aux questions et fantasmes éternels : la confiance, la trahison, le pouvoir et la délégation du pouvoir, l’inceste, le parricide, la soumission et la révolte, thèmes chéris depuis toujours par Homère ou Shakespeare.

J’ai été estomaquée par ce film… parce qu’il allie le contenu (très simple) et la représentation exacerbée de ce contenu.  Les sentiments extrèmes, Yimou les transposent en feux d’artifice de couleurs, de mouvements chorégraphiés, sacrés.

Nous voyageons en plein drame humain… à peu près ordinaire, dans un paysage flamboyant et suffocant, empreint de règles contraignantes et iniques, tout en concédant à ce contexte asphyxiant l’excuse de notre ignorance occidentale en matière de rites chinois millénaires. Mais le drame, nous pouvons tous le percevoir très vite tant il est universel.

Une famille se déchire, le pouvoir despotique d’un empereur s’effrite, les derniers-nés veulent prendre la place du père, la seconde épouse mourante trahi, le désir et l’acte d’inceste s’accomplissent, la manipulation règne … et Zigmund Freud aurait adoré, j’imagine, ce qui fait la trame de ce film.

Plus sérieusement, pour ceux abonné à Be.tv, ou les loueurs de DVD, qui ne sont pas uniquement aficionados de scènes de bataille, voici un film à voir en ce moment.

C’est SOMPTUEUX et FASCINANT ! Magnifiquement filmé et joué, une précision accordée à chaque détail (de costumes, d’accessoires), la lumière, le son, les mouvements, le rythme, la progression narrative qui amène inéluctablement à découvrir l’issue du drame…

J’appréhendais – comme dans certaines productions asiatiques – que l’accent soit trop porté sur des scènes de combat, qui m’ennuient très souvent, mais ce n’est pas le cas ici, à part la scène finale, une bataille patricide, au coeur du coeur, de la Cité Interdite, FABULEUSEMENT mise en scène, et qui, vu le contexte, trouve toute sa raison d’être.

Aussi, pour vous faire une idée, vous mettrais-je deux liens…

Le premier, la bande-annonce, qui met malheureusement plûtot l’argument de vente sur le film d’action…

BANDE-ANNONCE SUR Allo Ciné

le second, une scène plus “familiale” de révélation de secret, plus fidèle au déroulement de l’histoire et à sa ligne dramatique.

2 :

BREF, un bon moment de cinéma… Comme disent les critiques !

NB : A voir aussi de Zhang Yimou, avec Gong LI en 1991, bien avant “Hero” ou “Le secret des poignards volants”: Epouses et Concubines (Raise of Red Lantern). Un magnifique film…

Jay Chou in Curse of the Golden Flower: strained high notes

After nearly two years of engagement with the world of Mandopop through a burgeoning addiction to Taiwanese television drama series and their catchy soundtracks, I have come to the reluctant conclusion that Mandopop artists with decent vocal technique are few and far between. I know I risk the ire of millions of fangirls if I suggest that no one in ultra-popular boyband Fahrenheit can sing at all. Likewise, I know Jay Chou has legions of fans in Taiwan and the PRC and is reputedly a billionaire, but sorry, I think he sounds strained in the upper register. There’s that moment in the theme song of Curse of the Golden Flower when the song modulates into a higher key and I know he isn’t quite going to get up there without sounding strangled. Painful.

Not long before V and I departed for our respective trips to China last year, however, I heard a song that surprised me. We had fallen into the habit of buying the occasional Chinese language karaoke DVD from outlets in the CBD, and one night while singing along (V could read almost every character while I would chip in with the handful I knew like ‘wu‘ and ‘ni’), up came an MV of a stocky, plain looking, thirty-something man standing in a corridor of a ruined school building. He began to sing the verse in a strong, somewhat reedy voice made intense by vibrato. Without resorting to pop idol gyrations, he just stood his ground and sang. Suddenly he reached the chorus and delivered some really high phrases with full volume and brilliant quality. The song changed key upwards and I thought he would now come undone, but he never faltered, triumphantly declaiming the climactic passage in a vertiginous tessitura. I didn’t know the vocalist’s name so I called him ‘Mr Declamatory’.

Yang Pei An's third album cover

Yang Pei An

V had a look at the track listing and told me that the song was called ‘Ai bu neng cong tou‘, which roughly translates as ‘Love Can’t Be Renewed.’ The singer’s name was Yang Pei An. His given names, V explained, meant ‘cultivator of peace’. In January when we were in Taipei, we discovered some interesting music shops in the general vicinity of Taipei Main Station. Once while on the hunt for Sodagreen DVDs, V asked at the counter of a shop if they had any albums by Yang Pei An– and they did: his adventurously titled ‘Yang Pei An’s Second Album’. So we bought it. It included a CD and a DVD with MVs and karaoke MVs. Back at the Riviera (a friendly hotel near the Yuanshan metro station much used for wedding receptions) we soon discovered to our disappointment that some of the karaoke tracks did not include the lead vocal–and who can sing those heldentenor-like passages without the help of YPA? This shortcoming, however, was well compensated for by a highly eccentric MV featuring YPA singing an upbeat sports anthem to the background of a tour of the island by a peleton of unicycles.

Taipei Main Station, January 2008

Recently I trawled through YouTube to find some of YPA’s other MVs. It turns out he has done all kinds of interesting things, including the soundtrack of a Japanese video game. I also uncovered an intriguing MV with a voice over in Spanish spoken by an (apparently) Eurasian actress: vos perdiste y no volviste, she says in the Spanish of Spain (or of Guatemala?) You got lost and you did not return… Another track featured a very moving duet with a somewhat studious looking man in a white suit and tinted glasses. This singer had a powerful and very warm lower register so his voice was a good foil for YPA’s thin reediness. In the MV they are standing on an empty coastal highway near the beach. In a poignant ballad, YPA and this friend swap the lead vocals back and forth a few times and then sing in exqusite harmony. Praising this partnership on YouTube, I asked who YPA’s friend was. I soon received this reply from hollandclose:

“hi there, this friend of his is Xiao Huang Qi. He is the Taiwan version of Stevie wonder. Yup he is blind but he uses his heart and soul when singinng. He has this really nice song “你是我的眼 You are my eye. You are able to find it in youtube. Its pretty popular. Enjoy!!!!”

Xiao Huang Qi (left) and Jackie Chan

I did indeed search for ‘You Are My Eyes,’ and as promised it is a very pleasant country-influenced ballad sung with great sincerity. These guys may not be top of the charts, but both have steady followings, their sentimental, technically accomplished songs perhaps giving fans a welcome break from the over-hyped, badly executed world of Mando-pop idol ’singing’.

Image credits here, here, here and here and  here.

Based loosely on a 1934 chinese play “Thunderstorm”, this is a visual feast that left me undecided on whether I liked the dragon and phoenix emblazoned costumes more, or the endless bouncing breasts, or the rainbow-hued crystal curtains, or the thousands of bodies plied on top of another, or the “smashing my son down with my golden belt till he is flat against the floor” scene more. If anything, watch it for the moment when Gong-Li spits in brilliant venomous whispers “I just want you dead”. More pictures after the jump.

Official site here.

Good news everyone, a new contributor has just joined The Movie Planet. Call him…The Broadcaster! The Broadcaster will mostly be reviewing randomly chosen movies on a regular basis in his column Broadcasted! Reviews but may also pop in to tell you about new DVDs being released.

The Broadcaster, who describes himself as half-Chinese half-French and totally not handsome, likes all kinds of movies (except horror), but he’s generally kinder to comedies and harsher to serious-minded dramas. His favorite movies include Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy (as well as other heist flicks) and recent East Asian fare from the likes of Zhang Yimou (Curse Of The Golden Flower), Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) and Wong Kar-Wai (My Blueberry Nights).

He wants you to know he is usually very critical in his reviews, and his first one will be for the 2006 teen comedy John Tucker Must Die, starring the awesomely hot Sophia Bush, with many more to follow. Thus, please give a warm welcome to The Broadcaster, the alternate voice of The Movie Planet.

This just has to be the prettiest jewellery I have ever seen!

This is the new Miss Universe 2008 Crown and the 57th pageant will be crowned with this masterpiece which was designed by CAO Fine Jewelry, Vietnam. Vietnam is also this years host for the event.

“The curved design creates a natural rhythm and a stable structure for the crown, symbolizing the spirit of unity. The crown combines the beauty and the character of each nation, accomplishing the goal of the pageant, which is international unity”, explained designers Ms. Kim Lien and Rosalina Lydster.

Valued at $120 thousand dollars, it is made of 18K white and yellow gold. It is comprised of over 1,000 precious stones; including 555 white diamonds (30 carats), 375 cognac diamonds (14 carats), 10 smoky quartz crystals (20 carats) and 19 morganite gemstones (60 carats). The colors of the jewels chosen for the crown have great significance. The yellow luster of the gold represents the prosperous thriving economy in Vietnam. White, light pink and cognac are the main hues in the crown which represent inspiration and feeling.Each piece of the crown was designed to represent an important attribute of the Miss Universe Pageant. The curves of inlaid precious stones represent the strong development and potential of each country. The image of the crane (Lac Bird) symbolizes Vietnamese spirit and culture. The image of the heart represents unified breath, rhythm and vision, which are powerful internal forces that stress faith, hope and unity.

It reminds me of the movie Man cheng jin dai huang jin jia(Curse of the Golden flower)? The design of the crown is distinctly eastern and seems like one of the organic(?) ones worn by Gong Li in the movie. I highly recommend the movie, its amazingly beautiful!

And here comes the real motive behind this blog post. Its a grouse. Why doesn’t the Mr World guy get a crown ?? :/

I think guys should get crowns too … or something. A nice watch? or Koenigsegg CCXR? How about that years Miss World ?

The winners would be declared at a gala event on 13th July, 2008. Bets put Miss Venezuela as favourite by FAR yet again. Miss India also has strong chances. Checkout betting rates!(lower the better)

Evolution of the Crown over the years 1952-2008

Med Curse of the Golden Flower är det ungefär som att sätta i sig en stor påse godis: du blir ganska mätt men har egentligen inte fått i dig något av värde.

Precis som Zhang Yimous tidigare utflykter i wuxia-genren – Hero och House of Flying Daggers – är även den här överdådigt praktfull rent visuellt. Det är färgsprakande och fantastiskt tjusigt och av det skälet svårt att slita ögonen ifrån.

Däremot känns handlingen, som kretsar kring intriger på liv och död inom den kejserliga familjen någon gång på 900-talet, tämligen statisk och måttligt spännande. Gong Li är utmärkt som den kejsarinnan och även de övriga huvudrollerna sköter sig bra, men jag kan inte skaka av mig känslan att Yimou ägnat mer omsorg åt att komponera anslående tablåer än åt att ge liv åt dramat.

Andra bloggar om film, filmrecension, curse of the golden flower, gong li

Zapeando ontem a tv eu vi o final de uma reportagem sobre um filme chamado “Curse of the Golden Flower” ou “A maldição da flor dourada” que é como foi traduzido para cá.

A princípio achei que era uma estréia, mas depois descobri que já está em Dvd.

Parece ser um filmão  épico, com muita luta, com uma fotografia incrível, pelo que deu pra ver no trailer e na reportagem é claro, já que eu ainda não assisti.

Conta no elenco com Chow Yun Fat , nosso futuro mestre kame.

Bom fica a dica para o FDS para quem não vai sair de casa.

Olha o Trailer:

Nu har jag varit med i det åh så omtalade Facebook ett tag…men jag fattar fortfarande inte grejen riktigt. Kanske beror det på att jag vägrar lägga ut foton m.m? Med tanke på deras policy när det gäller personuppgifter och foton så känns det helt enkelt inte lockande. De jag har “addat” på Facebook är -än så länge – i stort sett sådana jag redan har kontakt med irl. Så vad är charmen? Får väl ge det en chans till kanske. Polly tipsar om ett alternativ – Arsebook!! Så vad är det då? Jo – “Arsebook is an anti-social utility that connects you with the people you hate”! Osympatiskt kanske men rätt kul!

Idag känner jag mig som Frankenstein…stel och öm i axlar, nacke, rygg, lår osv. Jag fick nämligen för mig att jag skulle tuffa till gympasset igår med tyngre tyngder och fler maskiner. Kanske nyttigt - inte fan vet jag – men ont gör det.

Besökte Bergakungen (Göteborg) i lördags! Älsklingen och jag såg Curse Of the Golden Flower i regi av Zhang Yimou och med skådespelare som Gong Li och Chow Yun Fat. Filmen ska tydligen vara sammanlänkad med Hero och Flying Daggers men är inte i samma stil. Färre “fightscener” och mer klassiskt drama. Så vad tyckte jag då? Tja, den är storslagen och vacker (som väntat), dramatisk och blodig. Jag blev nog inte riktigt så förtjust som jag väntat mig men den är absolut sevärd.

Hi again everyone ^_^ *peace*

So this entry is slightly out of sync because I took these photos last week but I’m slow at uploading things so you’re only getting them now! I would like to quickly point out at what a pretty word ‘fallal’ is! Regardless, I’m sure a lot of you know about Zhang Yimou’s most recent martial arts epic movie, ‘Curse of the Golden Flower’ (满城尽带黄金甲). It’s my favourite of Zhang’s most popular martial arts movies (’Hero’ and ‘House of Flying Daggers’ being the other two); it’s amazingly lush, extravagant, fantastical and psychadelic. It also features my favourite Chinese actress, Gong Li, who I think performs her role of a scandalous and abandoned yet determined empress, hell bent on revenge; yet, she plays this somewhat… anti-hero with a poetic beauty and sombreity you can’t help but empathise with her. Kudos go to Chow Yun Fat too, who is revered as always and, of course, to Jay Chou who is cute =^^=

Anyway! To celebrate the DVD release of ‘Curse of the Golden Flower’, somehow… the flagship store of HMV in London (Oxford Street branch) has some costumes from the film on display! My friend told me so I waddled off to see; they’re amazingly beautiful and intricate. I’m not really sure where they appear in the film or who wears them… *checks*

No, I can’t tell who wore them, if it was anyone important, or if they were ever seen in the film really; but they’re very beautiful so I thought I’d show you all. Also, if you’ve not seen the film yet, you really should! It’s great ^_^

Here’s a small extra bit! If you know anything about Chinese culture then hopefully you will know about the Mid-Autumn Festival! This year it was on September 25th. I don’t really know what you do for it, but I do know that you eat yummy Mooncakes and it’s about erm, a goddess on the Moon (basically!). Sadly I didn’t go to Chinatown for it nor did I have any Mooncakes *sniffles* but here is a picture of Chinatown, a few days after the festival. You can see the pretty lanterns! I hope everyone is safe!

*peace*