Hero: ***
After a year in Hong Kong, I've seen a lot more
Chinese movies than ever before.
As a
rule, they seem to be long on style and short on story. The Eastern style of
narrative is just plain different from that we're accustomed to in the West. We
like stories to have things like a beginning, middle, and end. Characters with
strengths and flaws, who grow within the story. Conflict and resolution. The
Chinese have different goals for their stories that feel alien and irrational to
us.
I recently saw House of Flying
Daggers, by the same director as Hero. It's even prettier, and the story is
somewhat better -- but they blow the ending badly.
Filed Tue - September 28, 2004, 09:56 AM in
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