The Pirates and The Two Lovers
It was a fun way to end the year 2006. I could still remember it was the first time I'd watched Pirates of the Caribbean - The Dead Man's Chest. Non-stop action sequences, loads of surprises and what amazed me the most is the character of Davy Jones in this Hollywood blockbuster - such details in the CGI make-up of the character: the movements, the fluid yet "octopus-like" texture to his face, his gestures. Gosh, you could almost believe that it is for real! It is just a film that sets out to be none other than entertaining, which is good. Never takes itself seriously than merely to lighten up your life. I enjoyed the film a lot. On the contrary, my 2007 opened with a film that is uniquely different but equally engaging, The Chinese Botanist's Daughters, directed by Dai Sijie. Beautifully shot and told, in such great delicate details, it follows the story of two women who fell "innocently" in love with each other in a place that could only exist in picture perfect postcard-like remote area of China called Kuilin. The location itself speaks a thousand words without even trying to utter a single syllabus, the silence of breathtaking beauty lulls the audience into a hypnotic state of mind, it compounded the feeling that the love between the two 
lovers are so surreal yet so real at the same time. A mixture of feelings is evoked. You are happy for them (why not when you so believe that you have found the love of your life?) yet you know that it will not last (tragic Chinese approach to a film). To me, it was not the stigma of the society that kills the lovers, it is partly how the story has to end...tragically to make a lasting impression, most of the time. That's why you have the typical story structure to a film. Well, doesn't that somehow mirrors life itself? Li Xiao-Ran is a very subtle actress, reminded me almost like Koyuki in The Last Samurai. She plays her role perfectly - the reservation of a Chinese woman but the boldness of a modern lady who dares to defy social constraints to pursue her own happiness. A pleasant surprise this film brings. It is pretty sensual too. Looking forward to more thought provoking films to come this year.
It was a fun way to end the year 2006. I could still remember it was the first time I'd watched Pirates of the Caribbean - The Dead Man's Chest. Non-stop action sequences, loads of surprises and what amazed me the most is the character of Davy Jones in this Hollywood blockbuster - such details in the CGI make-up of the character: the movements, the fluid yet "octopus-like" texture to his face, his gestures. Gosh, you could almost believe that it is for real! It is just a film that sets out to be none other than entertaining, which is good. Never takes itself seriously than merely to lighten up your life. I enjoyed the film a lot. On the contrary, my 2007 opened with a film that is uniquely different but equally engaging, The Chinese Botanist's Daughters, directed by Dai Sijie. Beautifully shot and told, in such great delicate details, it follows the story of two women who fell "innocently" in love with each other in a place that could only exist in picture perfect postcard-like remote area of China called Kuilin. The location itself speaks a thousand words without even trying to utter a single syllabus, the silence of breathtaking beauty lulls the audience into a hypnotic state of mind, it compounded the feeling that the love between the two 
lovers are so surreal yet so real at the same time. A mixture of feelings is evoked. You are happy for them (why not when you so believe that you have found the love of your life?) yet you know that it will not last (tragic Chinese approach to a film). To me, it was not the stigma of the society that kills the lovers, it is partly how the story has to end...tragically to make a lasting impression, most of the time. That's why you have the typical story structure to a film. Well, doesn't that somehow mirrors life itself? Li Xiao-Ran is a very subtle actress, reminded me almost like Koyuki in The Last Samurai. She plays her role perfectly - the reservation of a Chinese woman but the boldness of a modern lady who dares to defy social constraints to pursue her own happiness. A pleasant surprise this film brings. It is pretty sensual too. Looking forward to more thought provoking films to come this year. 
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