Awful - Wu ji (2006) Discussion

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] apbai 18 years ago

Because it's Golden Globe.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] apbai 18 years ago

It really takes an idiot to just say XXX sucks. Jia Zhangke is the most brilliant contemporary film maker in this generation. The humanity and careness in his films was something Yimou & Kaige had tried hard (but never reached as deep) to deliver in their peak times. And you're right, a great Chinese movie doesn't need to have Chinese story. But this one can't even compare to a holllywood eye-candy. As big a Chen Kaige's supporter as I was, it's sad to say he has totally lost it. Look at his latest works, "killing me softly", "together" and this "the promise", it's frastrating just to list them.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] apbai 18 years ago

Man, even from film academic point of view, Jia Zhangke's film making is nothing short of brilliance. Jia's film was heavily influnced by master Yasujiro Ozu and Hou Xiaoxian (I bet you don't like them, either). Too bad you can't appreciate those "tedious" shots. To me those shots are tear-jerkingly beautiful. And I don't understand your logic. Whether Yimou and Kaige are the best chinese directors has nothing to do whether their latest works are good or not (they're awful). You keep saying they're stilling making good movies, please point out one. "Hero"? "House of flying daggers"? oh please... if that's your choice, it's meaningless to go on with this discussion.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] apbai 18 years ago

It's funny to often hear people say "I don't like Hou's movies except City of Sadness", "I don't like Zhang Yimou's movies except To Live" (well, maybe because everybody says it's the best!). It's as ridiculous as saying "I don't like LOTR 1 & 2 but I love 3". If you don't like it or are not interested, don't pretend to be. And yes, Jia Zhangke's talent is as unique as Hou's and Ozu's. And you're comparing Hero with The Red Sorghum? The rawness and passion in Red Sorghum can never be found in the hollow colors of Hero. Yimou has always been a great photographer and cinematographer, sadly that's the only thing left in him.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] ladyvampirebat 18 years ago

YEAH YEAH THIS MOVIE IS AWFUL ENOUGH TO GET A GOLDEN GLOBE NOD

"Leave the gun, take the connolies."

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[–] apbai 18 years ago

YEAH YEAH THIS MOVIE IS AWFUL ENOUGH TO GET A GOLDEN GLOBE NOD

Yeah, yeah, for years hollywood were pretending they knew world film and they still are.

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[–] apbai 18 years ago

God, do you have any logic. Since when did I say I hate any film by Yimou and Kaige? Didn't I make it very clear? They have LOST it NOW. There was no bigger fan than me of Yimou and Kaige in the PAST. But they are not even close to what they were. (I believe lots of true fans think the same.) And If a couple of golden globe or oscar nominations made you feel better, fine, be a cheerleader.

I'll still be watching every one of their future films, in search of hope, but I know chances are slim. As the real first generation film-makers of modern China, they have done more than a great job and I deeply appreciate that. But it's time to move on.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] apbai 18 years ago

That's right. Hou hasn't changed his style much and the bunch of films he made in his peak time can even be viewed as a series. While "Hero" and "Flying Daggers" has nothing even close to Red Sorghum and Raise the Red Lattern. And only yourself truly know if you're pretending. Heck, like this is the first time I see a pretender. Look at those "best Chinese movie I've ever seen" dudes. I'm out of here.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] shhyin 18 years ago

I agree that Zhang and Chen are still the best directors in China. However, both of them always made a good movie, then a bad, and then another good one.Jia is pretentious to hell. I watched all his major movies and wanted to kick his asses and punch his faces. How can a so called movie director waste films like that??? It's not about whether the shot is long or short, it's about what you would like to present. "Peacock" has very long shots, yet so powerful. It's sad that a movie as of the quality of "three times" won the gold horse in Taiwan. On the other hand, "20, 30, and 40" is a relly good film.

I did not see too many real good sixth generation director yet. Maybe Gu Changwei should be counted as one. By the way, "Mang Jing" is a movie that Jia has always been dreaming of but did not accomplished yet. I hope the director keep on the good work.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] ithacaqiu 18 years ago

I can't agree with you more when it comes to Jia and Hou's movie style. They are Boring. And I know someone would say that style is more natural or calm, but if audiences prefer to these features, why not choose a documentary film or just be a onlooker of their own everyday life? At least the latter won't cost a ticket.

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[–] apbai 18 years ago

LOL. Wang Shuo said "those who are ignorant are fearless". Bloody truth!

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] metalkin 18 years ago

TO Shangxinditie ：

We love Jia Zhangke is because of his thumbsup films,not refer to whom his movie shooting.

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[–] qqfreewalker-1 18 years ago

The pictures is not bad after all,the story line is crap.

The director was trying to make a wise movie,but he failed.
He just made a awful comedy,everybody in the cinema were laughing.me too

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[–] cliffr2k 18 years ago

This movie is deep. People who laugh in the theater are shallow !!
Go to
http://forum.ent.sina.com.cn/cgi-bin/tree.cgi?gid=24&fid=6374

To see why ...It is in chinese.

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[–] baresheen65 18 years ago

I could not agree more. This movie is awful, awful, awful. Forget about contending at the Oscars. It is such an embarassing piece of movie work!! I have no idea what the story is about. Still don't. Please, this movie is not deep at all. In fact, apart from visual magnificence, it has zero depth. The acting is so bad. Cecilia Cheung seems a very confused, sex deprived concubine. The movie has the tagline of a love between a concubine and a slave. Bah! What humbug. There is zero chemistry between the two. I will be damned if they are ever in love. Nicholas Tze's role is so unconvincing and laughable. There is one part where he cried. I am lost. For awfulness sakes, what was he crying about?

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[–] ithacaqiu 18 years ago

upstair # bareheen65, your criticism are very sharp. BTW, as for Tze's crying, he have had a very convincing reason: 'You deprived my opportunity to be a good person'! Hah Hah. This sentence is rapidly going around and we all have fun of it.

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[–] garycheah 18 years ago

<quote>
This movie is deep. People who laugh in the theater are shallow !!
Go to
http://forum.ent.sina.com.cn/cgi-bin/tree.cgi?gid=24&fid=6374

To see why ...It is in chinese.
<end quote>

i totally agree with you....

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[–] lukechong 18 years ago

I really can't believe anyone really likes this film. I think CG fans will love this sort of stuffs with CGI effects and all, but a true film lover will have to think long and hard to understand it. As for Chen, I'm not suprised he made this. Have anyone seen "Life on a String" and REALLY understood it.

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[–] LTdaz 18 years ago

People who laugh in the theater are shallow !!

more like people who weren't laugh need to get a sense of humor. how did you not find that scene where the guy was running with that woman tied like a kite funny? or that scene where the guy was running away from the herd? all the running scene reminded me of the chase scene in gong fu. i admit the movie did have its good parts but i was often too busy laughing my ass off.

Folks don't call me 'the Torturer' because I don't like to torture people.

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[–] Mons666 18 years ago

Sure~, you can feel a lot deep stuffs from movies that rated bad in history.

And yet they are still rated badly. Why?
It's because writing a story is different from presenting it on film.
This is also why usually the one who wrote the book and the one who presented it in audio are two different people.

Personally, I don't find it funny, so no laugh. I just don't wanna watch it the second time.

By the way, some actors/actresses in it is/are like performing an opera or a boardway musical.

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[–] lukechong 18 years ago

Don't you find the exaggerated campy way they speak a hoot. Nicholas Tse and the thumbs-up sign...LOL

Chen Kaige may be making a comedy, it's just that no one realizes it. The King speaks in such effeminate manner that it's amazing how he can be interested in a woman (if he's gay that explains it all).

Then Nicholas Tse and all his very funny queer mannerisms.

Will make a cult movie in US.

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[–] janecaper 18 years ago

You gotta be kidding me... I was in complete disbelief watching Chen's commetary on the "rich, deep nuisanced humanity and emotions" that he was "sure to have conveyed through the movie". I mean, gimme a break, pls. Oh yeah, unless he meant by converying through Tse's gold thumbs-up, which was an instant classic, emotionally complex right there, right? LOL... Well, Chen's new "masterpiece" makes me realize Yimou was not so pathetic in comparison... This is really sad. I understand the need to appeal to the mass audience, but don't fool the audience with these utterly crazy colorful mess while shamelessly talking about embracing "a meaningful universal message" -- about what? seriously? I wonder whether they really believe these crap coming out of themselves.
I still do have fond memories of chinese movies but so disappointed to see one pretentious piece of crap following another complete joke... All these so called 4th 5th generation filmmakers, are you all trying too hard or hardly trying?

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[–] kkccoo 18 years ago

The movie is totally a mess. It is so bad in the acting, dialogue and even CGI. The story is ridiculous with lots of loopholes. The director/screenwriter didn't even try to fix them. The dialogues are laughable and totally out of charactor. The acting is so cheesy that finally you lost interest in all the charactors. Anyway, if you want a good Chinese movie, choose another.

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[–] asakura-oversoul 18 years ago

this movie actually did better than i expected..after seeing The Myth(jackie chan film)i had a bad impression on movies with generals rescuing princesses and falling in love with them so anyway... the movie wasnt bad at all...fight scenes were not exaggerated and the moral is kept simple : Be careful of what u wish for..man i cant see whats so bad bout this movie at all..

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[–] polarcola 18 years ago

Was I the only one who thought it was alright? I mean sure, not the greatest film ever but I didn't hate it that much. I thought it was pretty interesting though confusing at times.

*shrug*

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[–] asakura-oversoul 18 years ago

You're not the only one!! i liked this movie!! man the colors...the action..wootz!!

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[–] reiyi 18 years ago

I like this movie too!! I think this movie is very entertaining and enjoyable.

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[–] alvin-56 18 years ago

direction of the movie is good... good show but forgettable... shows that use that much money to produce must be given awards for something, at least thats the trend..

perhaps love would be a better movie, although in a different genre.. different ppl have different opinions, so dont be a fanboy and critize critisms...

wake up and smell the cow dung... stop flaming..

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[–] mike_990077 18 years ago

Jia Zhangke ("Platform", "Unknown Pleasures", Jiang Wen("In the heat of the sun", "Devils on the doorstep"), Zhang Yang("Shower", "Sunflower") and co
these are all average movies, can fall asleep watching some

can't compare to zhang yimou Hero or even House of flying daggers.

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