THE BEST CHINESE MOVIE or THE BEST MOVIE?

I disagree. IMHO, I think “Raise the Red Lantern” is a much better film – in a total different level. I also disagree that it is made to target western viewers. It may have used more western technique stylistically but the story is purely Chinese. In fact, I think a non-native viewer may not be able to pick up some of the more intricate details.

On the other hand, I think Aftershock is very disappointing. As a disastrous movie, it is fairly unremarkable. The title of the movie seems to indicate this is not the intention. As a drama, it may have been limited by the source material. Nevertheless, Feng made it ends up as a melodrama is a real shame. There are bits and pieces of post trauma symptoms like survivor guilt. I simply do not feel much for the protagonist family. In fact, they are doing fine without much struggling. The end result is an uninteresting story. In contrast, the PLA couple seems much more human and real. I guess the two characters being played by good actor/actress also helps.

While I understand mainland Chinese director often needs to tread carefully around political subject, Aftershock’s over filtering made the film very dry. So dry that one can substitute Tangshan Earthquake with any natural disaster without seeing any difference. Still, I do appreciate Feng throwing Mao’s funeral in. The scene is a nice touch and a highlight of the movie.

Hahahaha that Canadian guy was hilarious.

I disagree that the protagonist family was doing ok. I mean, I like the fact that this movie had so many opportunities for melodrama, and did not take them.

1)One-armed kid becoming a loser?
2)Mom regretting her decision?
3)PLA couple getting in a fight over hot adopted daughter?
4)New romance for Mom?

I mean...there were a zillion things going on. They didn't put the Mom's guilt in our face, they made it a bit more subtle until the end. I was blindsided at the end. I was expecting some kind of forgiveness, but the other stuff crept up on me. The bit with the tomatoes was beautiful I thought.

Some other things were just....cute.

"Mom I left and started my own company?" What? What the hell can this kid do properly? Holy crap it's a tour bus company. I love that.

Also, the film gave a nice snapshot of China thru the decades.

Let me just say again, the English acting was fricking awful.

Oh! Was anyone else psyched when it turned out that Deng's kid was the cute girl, and not the Fugly kid who said he didn't break the plate?

I don't think the point of the movie was to dump us into conventional images of 'hardship.' I am glad it didn't do this.

"I want to eat a tomato."




Everybody likes the Shen.