A Soul Haunted by Painting Review

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(More customer reviews)"A Soul Haunted by Painting" starring the incomparable Gong Li is one of her lesser publicized efforts, but no less commendable performances as the chinese painter, Pan Yuliang, whose work was largely rejected in China due to its nude content, but adored in Paris, where she ultimately studies and resides. The film follows the arc of her tortured existence, from being sold into prostitution as a teen, to her life as a minor wife of a Chinese Diplomat, to ultimately being posthumously regarded as one of the greatest painters of Chinese descent.
The detractions however, are not with this film, but with the quality of this DVD's release, which almost seems to be a copy, of a copy, of a print. Perhaps in some ways not even Gong Li's wonderful career and performance can save Pan Yuliang from what appears to be a continuos disregard, and minimalizing of her abilities and significance. The puzzling quality of this release in this day and age, is most assuredly no mistake.

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Red Sorghum (1989) Review

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(More customer reviews)A debut of Zhang Yimou and Gong Li but among the last that I had the chance to watch and all the waiting was absolutely worth it. It was surreal, great cinematography, powerful drama but very sensual and sexy, eventhough you don't directly see the steamy stuff. The cast were great. Not to mention grandpapa (Jiang Wen)was extremely HILARIOUS and FUNNY and what a foreboding, muscular hunk too. I can understand why grandmama (Gong Li ) melting and quivering all over ! Yes, Jiang Wen is famous in Asia...perhaps not so in the western world unless you are a world/Chinese cinema fan.
I can imagine him "drooling" when he first laid eye on Grandmama (gorgeous Gong Li). And the song that he sings to Gong Li in the Sorghum field was in fact teasing her and very very funny. In a drunk scene, he was soooooo pathetic, that Gong Li didnt know what to do but to punish him with a broom , had me reeling on the floor laughing myself silly.
Eventhough mandarin is not my first language, I understand most part of the language and the nuance and usage of the word is incredible and made the characters seems really really comical and silly. Excellent !!!
The movie are shot in a hue of reddish orangy glow and the effect was stunning. The first half of the movie basically concentrate on the two lovers and the sorghum field that they work on and their relationship to the staff workers.
The second half of the movie is a totally different subject and rather brutal depicting the arrival of the Japanese invasion including bondage,interrogation and torture.
Lets just say its quite sad and tragic. The period of the Japanese invasion, in which my own grandma and granpa had gone through, often fascinates me and yet it gave me goosebumps.
No doubt, Zhang Yimou is among the best directors in the world. The video presentation is very good...but I am definitely wanting a DVD version for this classic, along with "A Mongolian Tale" and the new movie "Devils at my Doorstep" acted and directed by my favourite Jiang Wen.
Now I am having all this imaginations of how my own grandpapa woos my grandmama :))...

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