Memoirs of a ....Diva?
Actress Gong Li has been one of China's best actresses, appearing in multiple movies that have won international awards. The majority of these movies have very disturbing imagery and undertones. Among her works include: Raise the Red Lantern, Ju Dou, Farewell My Concubine, Shanghai Triads and countless others. Those who have seen her would agree that she's a fabulous actress. She's gorgeous, she has poise, and most of all she can act!
I've always wanted to see her on the big screen, and my chance finally finally finally came when Shanghai Triads finally came out in this small independent artsy theatre in San Francisco. I think the theater sat about 30 people. Not that there were 30 people in there; I think there were 5 of us. The movie itself was okay, the story was mediocre, the scenery was great, and Gong Li was her usual spectacular self.
My next opportunity to see Gong Li on the big screen was when I was forced to go watch...I mean when I went to watch Memoirs of a Geisha. Gong Li had aged a little (it had been about 10 years since Shanghai Triad), but still gave a great performance.
Now that Gong Li has finally been discovered by Hollywood, she's involved in all these other films, now. Currenlty, she's working on Miami Vice (sounds like quality), Young Hannibal (more quality), and Autumn Remembrance (this actually does look like quality). But I'm so glad that Gong Li had a chance to work with people like Ang Lee and Zhang Yimou and had a chance to make some fantastic movies BEFORE she got started in Hollywood. Because for some reason, once world-famous Asian stars get to Hollywood, they start making mediocre or even crap films. For example, Jet Li's Once Upon a Time in China 1 and 2 were fantastic films. Hero was phenominal film. But in the west, the only decent movie he's made so far is Unleashed. The others, Kiss of the Dragon, and the other 2 were horrible. Jacky Chan made numerous movies that were great: Drunken Master 2, SuperCop, and on, and on. But the only movies he made here that were okay were Rush Hour 1 and 2. Zhang Ziyi made great movies like the Long Road Home, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers (that was just okay). But she came to Hollywood and starred in films hardly worthy of her talents like Rush Hour 2, Crouching Tiger (this was not an HK or China production), and Memoirs of a Geisha.
So, again. I'm glad Gong Li was able to put out some quality films before coming to Hollywood and selling-out to make crap films.
I've always wanted to see her on the big screen, and my chance finally finally finally came when Shanghai Triads finally came out in this small independent artsy theatre in San Francisco. I think the theater sat about 30 people. Not that there were 30 people in there; I think there were 5 of us. The movie itself was okay, the story was mediocre, the scenery was great, and Gong Li was her usual spectacular self.
My next opportunity to see Gong Li on the big screen was when I was forced to go watch...I mean when I went to watch Memoirs of a Geisha. Gong Li had aged a little (it had been about 10 years since Shanghai Triad), but still gave a great performance.
Now that Gong Li has finally been discovered by Hollywood, she's involved in all these other films, now. Currenlty, she's working on Miami Vice (sounds like quality), Young Hannibal (more quality), and Autumn Remembrance (this actually does look like quality). But I'm so glad that Gong Li had a chance to work with people like Ang Lee and Zhang Yimou and had a chance to make some fantastic movies BEFORE she got started in Hollywood. Because for some reason, once world-famous Asian stars get to Hollywood, they start making mediocre or even crap films. For example, Jet Li's Once Upon a Time in China 1 and 2 were fantastic films. Hero was phenominal film. But in the west, the only decent movie he's made so far is Unleashed. The others, Kiss of the Dragon, and the other 2 were horrible. Jacky Chan made numerous movies that were great: Drunken Master 2, SuperCop, and on, and on. But the only movies he made here that were okay were Rush Hour 1 and 2. Zhang Ziyi made great movies like the Long Road Home, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers (that was just okay). But she came to Hollywood and starred in films hardly worthy of her talents like Rush Hour 2, Crouching Tiger (this was not an HK or China production), and Memoirs of a Geisha.
So, again. I'm glad Gong Li was able to put out some quality films before coming to Hollywood and selling-out to make crap films.
posted by V-Hume at 6:20 PM
3 Comments:
One of my friends thought Memoirs of a Geisha was about Chinese people.
I was so disappointed in that movie. I guess I expected too much because I really liked the novel. Oh well. At least we got to see it free.
Pretty funny, eh Wei? Although you could hardly blame your friend because all the main characters were Chinese. And how come nobody in Japan spoke Japanese back then? They all spoke English with an accent.
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