I'm always amazed at how people are easily impressed with "arty" asian movies. Even when they're obviously hollow, arrogant and awkward, like in this one.
Come on. Everything is artificial and contrived in this movie. Even the cinematography is a mess, desperately trying to look arty but it only turns out to be trendy and over-aesthetic. But the worse is the acting... it's on par with the cheapest kung-fu movies from the 70's...!
It's funny indeed: it's about a painter, there are "arty" outdoor scenes and it's asian, so it MUST be good. Simple equation for the shallow cinephile.
How gullible are western people when it comes to asian cinema!
Want REAL great asian cinema? Go for "Yao a yao yao dao waipo qiao" ("Shangai Triad"), "Yin shi nan nu" ("Eat, drink, man, woman"), and if you're on the "arty" side, go for "Hai shang hua" ("The Flowers of Shangai") or some Kurosawa movie. These are only some ideas, asian cinema has countless great movies. "Chihwaseon" is NOT one of them. Even some ambitious kung-fu flicks like "Hsia nu" ("Touch of Zen") easily surpasses this sophomoric artsy-fartsy work.
Come on. Everything is artificial and contrived in this movie. Even the cinematography is a mess, desperately trying to look arty but it only turns out to be trendy and over-aesthetic. But the worse is the acting... it's on par with the cheapest kung-fu movies from the 70's...!
It's funny indeed: it's about a painter, there are "arty" outdoor scenes and it's asian, so it MUST be good. Simple equation for the shallow cinephile.
How gullible are western people when it comes to asian cinema!
Want REAL great asian cinema? Go for "Yao a yao yao dao waipo qiao" ("Shangai Triad"), "Yin shi nan nu" ("Eat, drink, man, woman"), and if you're on the "arty" side, go for "Hai shang hua" ("The Flowers of Shangai") or some Kurosawa movie. These are only some ideas, asian cinema has countless great movies. "Chihwaseon" is NOT one of them. Even some ambitious kung-fu flicks like "Hsia nu" ("Touch of Zen") easily surpasses this sophomoric artsy-fartsy work.