Shanghai Triad
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Movie Reviews of Shanghai Triad
Movie Review: Great
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not much for the style of Chinese movies. Many of them are just overly dramatized to the point where it's somewhat funny. Nevertheless, I do check on IMDB for the highest rated ones and watch them in hopes of finding a gem. This one one of those gems.Movie Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I've watched this movie twice and I still want to watch it again. I think this movie is awesome and Gong Li acted her character very well in this movie.Movie Review: I LIKE THIS MOVIE
Summary: 5 Stars
OH THE MOVIE IS VERY GOOD,YOU NEVER SEEN,IT IS BETTER THEN HAPPY TOGETHER.YOU HAVE TO SEE.Movie Review: Good setting and atmosphere of 1930s Shanghai violence
Summary: 4 Stars
This 1995 Chinese film is set in the flamboyant gangster era of the 1930s in Shanghai. We see it through the eyes of a 14 year old boy who is a distant relative of the gang leader and comes from the country to work as a servant to the gangster's mistress played by the beautiful Gong Li. She's arrogant, harsh and demanding and it's easy to dislike her.
There's a gang war going on and suddenly the boss, his mistress and the boy have to go into hiding on a small island where they can't be found. The only inhabitants are a widow and her young 9-year old daughter who is endearing to everyone. But there is no escaping the violence around them. Soon, everyone is caught up in it. The inevitable ending is sad and disturbing.
Acting is universally good, especially the roles played by the boy, Wang Xiaoxiao. He's wide eyed with wonder and very believable. The director is Yimou Zhang. I've seen several of his films and they are all good, but this somehow misses the mark. It was well done well but I was uneasy throughout and found it dragged a bit. Shanghai Triad is successful inasmuch as it depicted a time and place and atmosphere. I recommend it for its style and introduction to Chinese film. However, I save my higher recommendations for some his other films such as Raise the Red Lantern, House of Flying Daggers and Hero.
Movie Review: Chilling
Summary: 4 Stars
Critics have tended to give this film the thumbs down finding it a bit to commercial. The director Zhang Yimou is better known for dramatic social realist type films, such as raise the Red Lantern. However Shaghai tried gets you in from the moment it starts. The opening scene shows Gong Li the star belting out a number in a way that exudes sex and style. The film is seen through the eyes of a young boy who is sent by his family to work with a criminal gang. His first job is to serve the Gong Li character.
An attempt is made on the life of the mob boss and the characters have to move to a small island to set a trap for those who pursue them. A trap which works all too well.
The film is an extremely effective gangster film. Probably it is effective because such films set in a western context have explored every known configuration of cliches so that it is necessary to move to another culture to make the genre work. However work it does, the film is chilling and the final resolution is unexpected.
Part of the attraction of the film apart from the ability of the director to create atmosphere is the performance of Gong Li who is as ever astounding.