"Curse of the Golden Flower" - December 23rd

[eelfliw]

lol well endowed asians?

Of course. The girl in your avatar, for example. Here are some before & after shots ...



And some other famous ones ...

[tinlunlau]

Why are all the ladies so well endowed? I know it is pushed up but did they actually have that back in the day ?

just wanted to answer this question here.
the movie takes place in the Tang Dynasty. apparently, starting from the Tang Dynasty, women started to show some skin. at first, i thought it was overdone but then i realized that they really did dress like that back in those days. Yang Gwei-Fei is one of those well-known emporial concubines who dressed like this as shown in various portraits of her. it's a historical fact.

[pm_john]

just watched the trailers, looks decent. maybe I'll check this movie out after all.

[tinlunlau]

found some youtube videos that may be of interest to y'all! including the making of (in english with subtitles). note that the making of, is a 2 parter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjS8G_utjew

this one is priceless....Zhang Yimou tries to do rap with Jay Chou's song "Nunchucks"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9GoZD0XqYM

[Talamasca]

I saw it last night. Pretty good. Like The Banquet, it's more about intrigue within the imperial court than fighting. There aren't a lot of action scenes but they are spectacular, nonetheless. The art/production design is overblown. Gold, gold, and more gold everywhere. And top that off with neon-coloured columns and walls! I realize the director was going for this over-the-top look to illustrate the decadence and decay of life at court but it resulted in a less beautiful movie than Hero or House of Flying Daggers (I still think Hero is one of the most beautifully-shot movies in film history).

Performances were solid all around with Gong Li as the standout. Chow Yun-Fat doesn't have as much screentime as you might think but he brings an undeniable coolness to his role as the Emperor. I don't understand Mandarin but my dad does and he said that Chow's Mandarin has improved a lot since Crouching Tiger.

[ji2o0k]

just wanted to answer this question here.
the movie takes place in the Tang Dynasty. apparently, starting from the Tang Dynasty, women started to show some skin. at first, i thought it was overdone but then i realized that they really did dress like that back in those days. Yang Gwei-Fei is one of those well-known emporial concubines who dressed like this as shown in various portraits of her. it's a historical fact.

cool thx for the info.....I guess the use of well endowed was incorrect using it with the women...

[eelfliw]

Saw the movie last night.

It's definitely ZYM art-house film. Sets are over-done for visual effect (ie. no historical accuracy) but look fantastic.

Gong Li's acting is very good. Chow Yun-Fat's isn't so good in comparison but still commendable. Jay's Chou acting sucked when compared to Gong Li & Chow Yun-Fat. He looks really out of place. Even the relatively no-name actor who played his older brother was better than him.

The story line is pretty typical Chinese Palace drama. Everyone wants to be emperor and nothing will stop them. Including killing the existing emperor. The complex web of deceit and betrayal is well played out and follows classic story lines. However, ZYM did not spend enough time doing character development. As such, characters are rather emotionless and I didn't feel sorry for anyone's fate. This is bad news for a movie that is supposed to be a tragedy. People aren't supposed to go watch a tragedy and come away feeling awed by the special effects.

Also, the plot line was pretty good up until the 2nd prince was captured. Then, the eunichs started mopping up and resume the festival. That's very contrived. The movie ending simply can't keep up with the start. Not a consistent film.

Overall, if you're expecting to see some serious drama, this film will disappoint. If you're after sword fights and lots of special effects, this is it!

[gman]

The story line is pretty typical Chinese Palace drama. Everyone wants to be emperor and nothing will stop them. Including killing the existing emperor.

Actually, the first and second son did not really push themselves to be the emperor. Chow is the emperor and a control freak. The first son just wants to get out and live a new live. Chow planned to replace crown prince anyway. The second son is just a loyal son and supposed to do the 'right' thing. He would be the emperor if he did not choose to commit. The 3rd is a wild one and has a bird brain. Gong Li wants to get rid of Chow because he is killing her.

So, technically, only the 3rd son really wants to be the emperor and his chance was next to nothing even if he could kill Chow.

[mingming]

Is anyone else here getting tired of what China/TW pushes to western audiences every year?

I mean, every year now we've had a western release of the same type of movie. A period China piece with elegant fighting and themed scenery. Ever since Crouching Tiger, chinese movies have been trying too hard to satisfy audiences here.

Hero wasnt that bad, but it really ticked me off with Daggers, you can get a sense that the movie was "trying too hard" with all the cinematography, and making the fights look like dances.

I would like to see China push more modern movies to audiences here. Infernal Affairs would have been a great choice, but it had to be remade here.

I mean in a few years, all western ppl will think is that this is what all Chinese movies are like.

[tinlunlau]

Also, the plot line was pretty good up until the 2nd prince was captured. Then, the eunichs started mopping up and resume the festival. That's very contrived. The movie ending simply can't keep up with the start. Not a consistent film.

actually, i believe that was more of a nod to the Tiananmen Square massacre. when they simply cleaned up after a huge massacre where people get killed and treat it like nothing happened.

[sportmiester]

Is anyone else here getting tired of what China/TW pushes to western audiences every year?

I mean, every year now we've had a western release of the same type of movie. A period China piece with elegant fighting and themed scenery. Ever since Crouching Tiger, chinese movies have been trying too hard to satisfy audiences here.

Hero wasnt that bad, but it really ticked me off with Daggers, you can get a sense that the movie was "trying too hard" with all the cinematography, and making the fights look like dances.

I would like to see China push more modern movies to audiences here. Infernal Affairs would have been a great choice, but it had to be remade here.

I mean in a few years, all western ppl will think is that this is what all Chinese movies are like.

Yeah - a balance would be good. I'm glad to see that some modern China/HK movies are at least making it into video stores - was pleasantly surprised to see SPL on Rogers Video shelves (altho' they renamed it - can't remember to what). Too bad there isn't much of a market to release in the theaters.

[eelfliw]

Found a site with some "backstage" shots while Curse of the Golden Flower was being shot --> http://blog.mop.com/jilan1124/2007/01/11/3016264.html

Sample picture :

[shutterbug]

Is that a Timmie's cup???

[BeaverLiquor]

Is anyone else here getting tired of what China/TW pushes to western audiences every year?

I mean, every year now we've had a western release of the same type of movie. A period China piece with elegant fighting and themed scenery. Ever since Crouching Tiger, chinese movies have been trying too hard to satisfy audiences here.

Hero wasnt that bad, but it really ticked me off with Daggers, you can get a sense that the movie was "trying too hard" with all the cinematography, and making the fights look like dances.

I would like to see China push more modern movies to audiences here. Infernal Affairs would have been a great choice, but it had to be remade here.

I mean in a few years, all western ppl will think is that this is what all Chinese movies are like.

yeah i thought crouching tire, hero, fearless and were ok at best/over done.

but i want to see some wong fei hung but not that drunken tiger iron monkey nuts stuff.

ps i know a few "well endowed" female asians and they all natural