if it was so 'perfect' as you say, then why do only people who really know a lot about chinese cinema can appreciate it (as you say)?
OUTIC is faithful to the Chinese history that is unknown to the west, also is faithful to the typical filmmaking of the Hong Kong cinema which is mostly underappreciated because people used to think that these types of films were just about martial arts, but Tsui Hark was one of the first who showed also different sides of this genre, the aspect of the "xia" that make his movies romantic and poetic. Simply as of today it's surprisingly still not so much known film outside of Asia, give it some time. A lot of Asian films didn't/don't get a release in Europe/America. It's a different issue.
You wrote this:
besides, i could make the same point about 'china'. all those fight scenes could have been brought down to a few moves, because it is completely predictable whats going to happen / whos going to win.
Now it's obvious, You didn't get this film, it's not about fights at all, the fights are just a part of the story, and it's not at all about who's gonna win - it's about the meaning behind that - almost every image has either some profound meaning or a profound emotional impact, it's simply out of question much more accomplished film than the "West" - which i understand makes you want to say it's the best because it's THAT style that is irresistible and powerful, i see that too, but you obviously missing the points that make the great film out of OUTIC. These two films certainly shouldn't be compared because they're absolutely different in their own film style. I don't wonder that it's a bit hard for a gweilo to follow the complexities of Once Upon a Time in China.
then you wrote this:
i dont call that perfect.
Simple, you didn't get it!
I got it and million others too!
Though, i write what i already wrote above:
Only people who don't have an understanding, knowledge, appreciation of the sensibility of the Chinese/Hong Kong filmmaking can say it's not perfect. So that's ok, call it what you want but i have to tell you that i grew up with the "West" i love that film and think it's one of the greatest too, but I'm not so blind to see that it's also a flawed film in some areas, that's what i can't say about the "China" at all!
Think about that, it's only about the preference and opinions, they're both great films and nothing will change that. They had their own impact on the filmmaking.
reply
share
BigBabou
19 years ago
you're reasoning in circles now. for the same reason why you say you can take out scenes from west, you cannot take em out of china. right.
my point about it being perfect still stands; if it were really perfect anyone would see this, not just a select group of people.
and the use of the old 'you just dont get it' and insulting non-english terms just shows you are a sad sad person. i hope you have fun discussing things with yourself, since you obviously cant cope with people who disagree with you. :(
reply
share
Manny-54
19 years ago
I tell you this simply as i can: There's a challenging art (Kubrick,Goddard) and easily accessible art (Spielberg,Ang Lee)
AND maybe you don't know but OUTIWest was also seen by a select group, it was not at all at its time a successful film.
Anyway how can you say that the "China" is been watched by a select group of people - in Asia it's considered as one of the best films ever made, it's a classic.
"and the use of the old 'you just dont get it' and insulting non-english terms just shows you are a sad sad person. i hope you have fun discussing things with yourself, since you obviously cant cope with people who disagree with you."
Why always on imdb has to be such hostile users like you. I was in fact just reviewing this film here, so, if you're calling every reviewer on imdb a sad sad person then i presume that you have a real problem with your social life.
You still didn't tell me why you think it is not a perfect film in your "mind", i told you intentionally my opinions on both these films.
reply
share