MovieChat Forums > San guo zhi jian long xie jia (2008) Discussion > Is Maggie Q really that suitable for thi...

Is Maggie Q really that suitable for this movie?

posted 17 years ago by Garion67
22 replies | jump to latest

She plays Cao Ying, Cao Cao's granddaughter.

Why I think she might look out of place:
- Not only is she a non Chinese, she's not full Asian and clearly looks Eurasian. Seeing her in ancient Chinese gear looks a bit hilarious. This is not about racism (because there's nothing wrong with her background) but I don't see how she can be portrayed in a realistic manner.
- She can't speak Mandarin although she will speak it in the movie (phonetically obviously).
- Not a very good actress. Her display of emotions are really lacking. But if most of her scenes are action based (I hope it is), then that may be able to mask her bad acting. I mean she hasn't had much to do but look sexy and kick ass in all her films so far anyway.

But there's one advantage. She's now a Hollywood actress and that in itself can help promote this movie more in the West.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] beautiqueen247 17 years ago

It's not about authentic dialogue or her appearance as chinese, she's a big shot model in Hong Kong and has made it in the public's eye, weather you like her or not, she sells and $$$ is the bottom line. NONE of the roles she's had called for any serious acting, it's all been action. I've got some bad news, a helleva lotta people are standing her.

[–] StanleyLWalker 16 years ago

I thought Maggie's character saved the film. Too bad she was only in it for such a short time. She was great!

[–] chianti 17 years ago

I agree; you've got real actors in this film (who can actually, y'know, act) and then you've got Maggie Q. She seems to be an anomaly on the list of fairly decent (dare I say good? I haven't really seen any of Vanness Wu's films though) actors.

On the other hand, this may not necessarily be a film that will be all that great anyway. Just another one of those frilly Asian period-costume films with a half-assed plot and so-so acting you can sleep through. I hope not though, I am a big fan of the Romance of Three Kingdoms story :(

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] chianti 14 years ago

2 Years later - I was right. A movie to be forgotten, amidst heaps of mediocre films. Let us forget it and move along.

[–] Muvefan 17 years ago

The woman is from Hawaii, why is she in a Chinese film?

"Gong Li is breathtaking on every level"
-Rob Marshall....

[–] heretoyou 16 years ago

Because she's made it into Hollywood so now can present an opportunity for this movie to be further recognized in the West.
The marketting reasons behind it all is simple really.

[–] Deckard990 16 years ago

Ti Lung, Andy Lau, Sammo Hung.......yeahhhhhhhh!!!

Maggie Q, Vaness Wu..........ehhhhhhh! LOL

Why Vaness???

[–] ivyc88 16 years ago

Many guys in HK like her look in the movie, many are also surprised by her acting (with really no expectation from her before the viewing). At least she doens't ruin the movie.

[–] bluebearies 16 years ago

maggie indeed is from hawaii, but she's got a vietnamese mother, which makes her half asian. as to why she's in a chinese movie, you've got to ask the producers and all the chinese fans who love her. i read that the producers re-wrote the character Cao Ying, so that they could invite maggie to participate in the film. the Cao member who fought against zhao yun (zilong) was originally a man. that goes to show maggie's status as a much sought after actress. as far as i'm concerned, she didn't ruin the movie, in fact, i thought she looked great as Cao Cao's granddaughter.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] ingenue82 16 years ago

I agree with you Liesel88. Although it's not really bad, her acting is kinda annoying at places, not really convincing. During the movie, I couldn't stop thinking if only Lin Ching Hsia or Sharla Cheung took her place, it would be very very awesome or at least a lot better. Of course, Lin Ching Hsia and Sharla Cheung is a way too old to take that part God, I miss watching them on screen.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=25080181

[–] Mox_Factor 16 years ago

the short form is, she was only able to portray a brat, not the cunning strategist they claim she was.

however, on her looks. it's hard to say because although the character may be ethnic Han, there's always been some interracial marriages with the Uighur, Persians, Mongolians, etc...

from http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/e2001/e200111/women.htm

"During the Tang Dynasty, it was common for the Han to intermarry with other ethnic groups or foreigners, and there was a law protecting Sino-foreign intermarriage. According to historical records: "Many huren (people of non-Han origin) who had lived in Chang'an for a long time married Han women and produced children." "Huren intermarry with the Han people, and now many youngsters in Chang'an are of mixed blood." Female members of the royal family were also married to other nationalities. Seven of Emperor Gaozu's 19 daughters were married to men of other nationalities, and eight of Emperor Taizong's 21 daughters took foreign husbands. In the 15th year (641) of the Zhenguan era, Princess Wencheng was married to the king of Tubo. She brought many advanced production techniques to Tubo, making a great contribution to the friendship and cultural exchanges between the Han and Tibetan people."

--anti-dubber.

[–] sigu828 16 years ago

she got the appeal outside asia. demographics.

[–] moonspirits 16 years ago

I'm pretty sure her lines were dubbed ! Even if her script was written out phonetically, I think it'd be hard to get the tones right.

She doesn't really look Eurasian. You have to remember in asian cultures, women want to look pale.

I don't see anything wrong with her emotions. Perhaps it's the way she's supposed to be. She's a military strategist. Heavy emotions and guilt aren't exactly associated with strategists.

[–] Stanley_L_Walker 16 years ago

That was what I understood as well, moonspirits. I thought she was great as a cool, cunning commander of forces. She balanced it with some moments of vulnerability as well. There was not much difference in the range she showed for Ying than there was in Lau's Zilong. I thought the use of the stringed instrument summoned to mind the coolness of such characters as Yan Soo and Snow while Ying's design and the carriage reminded me of No Mercy.

[–] Stanley_L_Walker 16 years ago

I think of that the same way that I think of all the caucasian actors who portrayed Cleopatra, Moses, and biblical characters or African American actors who portray characters that had other ethnicities. Will Smith was GREAT in I AM LEGEND, Halle Berry was fun and sexy in CATWOMAN (too bad the script failed her), and here Maggie Q is great Ying Cao. Her character's introduction and inclusion SAVE the film IMHO. She was great!

[–] zumzumzig 16 years ago

I wouldnt have seen this movie in a million years if Maggie Q hadnt been in it..

[–] argaen-1 16 years ago

Maggie was a huge bee-otch in high school (Mililani High School in Hawaii btw). As lame as she was in high school, she is even worse as an actor. I love HK, Chinese and asian movies and they really gotta stop hiring her when there are other fine actresses out there that not only look chinese but can actually show more than one emotion.

[–] Maniac-9 15 years ago

Maggie Q actually made a name for herself in HK movies before she had any success stateside. Mission: Impossible III was her first big role in a U.S. movie production.