So these are two of the recent Chinese films I watched. Heard them through the grapevine, due to their incredible ensembles, and budget. I have to say I was deeply disappointed in both films. Actually, no I take that back, I was actually furious about wasting 4 hours on these horrible films, with Blood brothers, would Chinese directors please stop shooting at the same freaking studio set that 20 other films have already done at? As a Chinese film viewer for the past 4 years I've already seen at least five movies that had the lame "1920's movie theater in Shanghai" intersection, just stop ok?
With Sophie's revenge, I don't even know where to begin. First of all, I detest people who thinks getting an English name for them selves is trendy, especially when they can't even pronounce it right, second of all, Michel Gondry's extremely popular and copying him is very easy to spot. Thirdly, physical comedy in this movie is really really badly carried out, I was surprised how bad an actor can be under bad direction, I'm sorry Zhang Zi Yi, my favorite Chinese actress, you really really sucked in this one, shouldn't work with that director again... Like... ever.
Now Another reason why I brought these two films up is that the directors from these films are recent up and coming directors in Asia, both of whom had an American education background. When I worked in Asia, and created communication works there, I never tried to install an aesthetic or a story unless its universally accepted, I was extremely careful and nervous about translating my stories to the mass audience to both worlds, I wish Alexi Tan and Jin Yimeng and other asian directors with American roots could invest a bit of love and care in their story telling. China is a different place now and just like American audience, catches on fast, lets not ruin the good names of the Chinese talents from overseas shall we?.
