An excellent choice of a movie to watch at the cinema. Personally, I loved it, however I would suggest someone watch some other chinese movies before that, because I have the impression that they would not quite get the importance of the numerous symbolisms.
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Gorgeous art direction (surprising and fitting use of ONLY black, white and grey), beautiful camera work, excellent action sequences, terrific performances and morale ambiguity....all trademarks of his films. He’s an expert film maker and an expert movie maker. It’s exciting, suspenseful, surprising, heartbreaking and all the emotions.
It’s a smart and sophisticated popcorn movie for cinema buffs and for those looking for a fun movie, too.
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This review may contain spoilers
"Never have I witnessed the beauty of the world"
Zhang Yi Mou is renowned for his use of brilliant colors and vibrant scenery. In Shadow he showed he could strip it all away and lay bare the story in a gray and white world. The story that seems simplistic at first peels away layer after layer revealing desire, betrayal, and greed.Two kingdoms have signed a peace treaty but only the Yans have control of the great walled city of Jing. The Pei clan yearns to reclaim Jing City against the wishes of their king who wants to keep the peace at all costs even if it means wedding his sister to the Yan heir. The Pei Commander has challenged General Yang to a duel, one he doesn't believe he can win with the winner claiming the city for his clan. The Pei king strips the Commander of his rank for putting the peace at risk, reducing him to a commoner. Early on it is revealed that the Commander is only a shadow named Jing. The real Commander stays tucked away in an underground cave slowly dying from a wound rendered by the Yang general. Soon the characters set up the play they wanted, never knowing if they were the puppet master or puppet.
Shadow's dark underlying mood reminded me of an emotional mash-up of Kurosawa's Kagemusha and Throne of Blood. Jing had grown up in the darkness and even in the light was someone else's shadow. Aside from the Commander's wife, was there something else he desired? The Commander (like a good Kurosawa character) had gone nearly mad trapped below ground scheming and planning. Deng Chao played both characters so well I could scarcely tell they were the same person. Madam was torn between her loyalty to her husband and her feelings for Jing. Other than his longing for Pei to reclaim Jing City, Capt. Tian's loyalty was murky at best. Was Pei's king short-sighted or playing the long game? Characters with the greatest conceit would pay the greatest price. Zhang Yi Mou took his time revealing the hidden truths beneath the characters' facades.
Zhang may have stripped his palette of bright colors but the film was no less stylistic. Though the film at first glance appeared monochromatic, he judiciously used color---patches of green on the hills, the luminous glow of skin, the golden heat from candles, warm brown tones in the Yin and Yang and of course the crimson flow of blood pooling in the rain. His use of color and architecture were, as always, a wonder.
Umbrellas are no stranger to kung fu movies. Zhang, however, took them to new heights. One scene with the army sliding down the cobblestone street doubly armed may have defied gravity but not wuxia magic. The fights were brutal and deadly. Ku Huen Chiu has an impressive track record as a martial arts director and his work here was exemplary. One fight managed to combine dangerous combat into an erotic dance. Feminine moves were created to combat masculine ones to great effect. A surprise knife or sword to the neck always works, too. The great battle accompanied by a zither duet was reminiscent of Hero and just as effective.
The climax dragged on as the endgames became apparent and who would ultimately come out on top was left up to the viewer to decide. Shadow was at its heart a martial arts film complete with betrayals, schemes, lust, and revenge served on a blood-soaked platter. Few directors could create a more aesthetically pleasing film or take an old genre and make it feel new. Zhang Yi Mou is one of my favorite directors for being able to do all that and more. Shadow's breathtaking use of color and creative cinematography was the perfect setting for the ancient story of man's pyrrhic need for power.
9/26/23
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Something totally elegant, beautiful and mesmerising about the Martial Arts with the umbrella. It’s like a perfectly. choreographied set of dance moves, enthralling the mind and senses. I just love it and worth watching the movie for these delicate and classical parts. Simply the best. It is taught as a feminine movement. All of these gestures and positions seem to be taught in secret to only the very talented students. Their trainer seems to be a crippled old man but what outstanding skills that he has honed his body to such a high level of competencies. His student have such a high respect and admiration for this man. He has trained one of his student to be his shadow and fight in his replacement. He is in the background guide those he has trained. Love is the motivator of many of these warriors.Such an interesting maneuver as even the Princess goes to take part diving into the water to go into the enemy territory. She’s a wilful girl betrothed to the enemy Prince. While the “shadow” fights on the platform above the troops swimming to secure their positions against their enemy. Its quite an eerie battle as the hero fight one on one with the champion on the wet and slick Zin Yan platform. It’s pouring down with rain and their warriors find their places. There is only about one hundred of them with their tiny arm held cross bows sneaking about in the rain in their dark coloured clothes. There is a mixture of men and women. They move with silent swiftness. Each cross bow has only 12 arrows so they make them count but they have their deadly umbrellas. They are like slingshots in the rain and go spinning towards their target. Impressive. It’s like a dance down the wet streets, primitive and cool.
Such a sad ending for the Prince and the Princess. The General and his wife played a sad but stirring duet together on their zithers as the shadow fighter for his life. They take the city and cut down the flag. The wounded hero returns to his home to find his mother killed and assassins await. The kings man saves him. The King finds his sister dead.
The black and white filming adds another level of mystic to an already magical scene. An electrifying, emotional , gripping and provoking movie. Watch it folks there is nothing like it to keep you galvanize for the whole two hours. Well acted by some well known Chinese actors.
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It was hard for me to watch it since I didn't care for much for characterization and the plot seemed like it was trying it's hardest to be purposefully mysterious and symbolic. I suggest fast forwarding thru the first half.
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