The Curse of the Golden Flower

[hawkwing_lb]

This is a pretty film. Great acting, great scenery, fairly juicy plot, flashy martial arts.

But the ending? I sat through the most pointless climactic battle in the universe for that?

I feel so cheated.

...You know, there's probably a PhD or three in analysing the way Chinese films follow different narrative conventions from American and/or British ones. Because I don't know if that ending purely sucked, or if Chinese directors have entirely different ideas of narrative catharsis than I do.

Also, great use of film in support of ideology. Challenging authority can only end in tragedy, yay!

Comments

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

I found it satisfying, but I would have a great deal of difficulty in specifying how and why.

On the 'different narrative conventions" front, remind me whether you have read Cherryh's atevi books.

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

I've bounced off Cherryh twice now, so that's a no, alas. (Once from Downbelow Station, and once from Foreigner, I think it was.)