Aftershock (2010)

I came across this movie through reviews on Netflix expressing how heartbreaking and overwhelming the movie was, which, of course, grabbed my attention. I'm a sucker for tragedies based around historical events. Now, I haven't watched many Chinese movies. Actually, this is probably the first one I've watched since Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.. which shouldn't even count, since I was probably 5 when that movie was in theaters lol So with that said, my opinion of this movie will not be biased.

The story-line alone can capture the attention of any audience. If you were in the mother's shoes, who would you save? Your son, or your daughter? Is it even worth it to save one of them, if the other will die? Those questions naturally repeat over and over again in your mind as you watch the movie.

The child actress who played the abandoned daughter was the highlight of the entire movie. I think this was one of her first acting gigs, which is absolutely incredible, because I think that she nailed the role of that character... The kid was so captivating, I couldn't help but feel disappointed when the older actress (of the same role) appeared on screen. This is a good example of a drama where the child actress pwns their adult counterpart (like in Moon Embracing the Sun).

Also worth mentioning, is the actress who played the mother in the movie. The heartbreak and repentance you saw from this character is what kept the movie consistent after the time jump.

Overall, the movie kept my attention most of the way through. It got kind of mediocre as it went into the older years of the daughter's life. It might have just been my lack of interest in that actress (who I recognized from Rush Hour 3), but of course it gradually got better towards the ending. I definitely think that it is worth watching all the way through. The final scenes of the movie are very touching.

Oh, I should also touch on the movie's special effects.. which could be considered the same level as 2012 or any other recent Hollywood apocalyptic film. It was very nice! And I think that this movie was one of China's first large-scale 3D movies as well.. A well-deserved masterpiece!

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Watch this years ago in the school as part of class if I'm not mistaken. But this movie imprint in my mind so strong, that's why I still remember until now.

The natural disaster is really scary for who experienced it first hand. And this movie can quite capture it. There're 2-3 things that really imprint in my mind about this movie.

1. How in chinese culture, son, always be priorities. Like in the summary already stated, the mother prefer to save her son over her daughter. But even before that, we can see in the movie how their mother prefer son over daughter.
2. The word comes from the son, Fang Da, years later when there's another earthquake. More and less... You can't outrun disaster (earthquake), the small one not gonna effect you & the big one even you want to ovoid sometimes it's nust avoidable.
3. The meeting between Fang Deng and her mom & how the forgiveness work is just imprint deep into the heart....

Overall this is a really good movies. Just prepare ur heart to watch this...

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