Caution: This Might Contain Spoilers!
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Based on Cao Yu's play Thunderstorm, the film is set during the Tang Dynasty. The royal family is facing their darkest hour to come. Emperor Ping is slowly murdering his wife, and is trying to ensure that the Chrysanthemum Festival takes place to show the country family harmony. Empress Phoenix is forced to fight for her life and begins to try and use her sons against Emperor Ping. As the festival quickly approaches the family chaos is beginning to be revealed.
This film as directed by Yimou Zhang, who is well acclaimed for his Chinese films. This was China's most expensive to date in 2006. This film takes the plot from Cao Yu's play, and changes it to better fit modern cinema. There are some historical errors in the film. The film tried to play more like a stageplay than a film. The story is great and full of irony. The Chrysanthemum Festival as a backdrop was great because the festival is meant to show family harmony, but this family is full of disharmony. The story plays to the troubles that can hurt a royal family, while having the family disharmony as its focus. There is a some over done fighting, that really only takes away from the great story, added to the film. The acting is over dramatized, and the camera angle's used were made to add to the over dramatization of the film. The film carries a very artistic styling to it. Every scene is a work of very bright art. The music gives the artistic style a deeper feel. As I said the acting was over dramatic, but the cast together had great chemistry. Yun-Fat Chow (Chow Yun-Fat) played the role of Emperor Ping. He was great at being the villain in this film. He was so sadistic and sinister that you couldn't wait for him to die. Li Gong played the role of Empress Phoenix. This film really shows her power and presence as an actress. She was great being the opposing character to Yun-Fat Chow. Jay Chou played the role of Prince Jai. He was good in his role. He took the basic role of the obedient son and altered it. Ye Liu played the role of the Crown Prince Wan. He was good in his role of being the obedient son. It is unfortunate that neither of sons had a chance to do much with their roles other than being sons to the Emperor and Empress.
I give this film a 3 out of 5 stars! It's got a great story plot, but the over dramatic acting and camera angle's, and the fighting, hurt the film. The artistic visual style makes it worth the watch.
Answer to last blog: The other film, in addition to The Secret World of Arrietty, Studio Ghibli also released the film Kiki's Delivery Service.
Que: What other film is actress Li Gong known for?
House of Daggers
Memoirs of a Geisha
Crouching Tigger, Hidden Dragon
The Last Emperor
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