66
Metascore
22 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 88Miami HeraldCurtis MorganMiami HeraldCurtis MorganRising above simple sentiment to explore class differences and the enduring clash between East and West with wit and wisdom.
- 83Portland OregonianPortland OregonianThe re-creation of early 20th-century Beijing is dense and loving, and Hu shows just as much affection for the people who start to trickle into the shabby little cinema.
- 75Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam ArnoldSeattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam ArnoldNever quite builds the compulsive emotional power it needs to be an unforgettable personal drama.
- 75Boston GlobeJay CarrBoston GlobeJay CarrShadow Magic isn't interested in psychology or character study. It's a series of tableaux and on that level succeeds admirably.
- 75Philadelphia InquirerDesmond RyanPhiladelphia InquirerDesmond RyanTransports us to a world that still had a capacity for awe, and that's the core of its charm.
- 70Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasEvokes the dawn of cinema in China with much charm, humor and subtlety.
- 70Film.comRobert HortonFilm.comRobert HortonHas a real sense of the wonder of the early years.
- 50TV Guide MagazineKen FoxTV Guide MagazineKen FoxUnfortunately, Hu and her army of co-writers saddle the story with a tired romantic subplot and fail to develop meaningful characters.
- 50Village VoiceAmy TaubinVillage VoiceAmy TaubinProperly picturesque but lacks subtlety and substance in blending Chinese and Western history, ideas, and cinematic conventions.
- 50San Francisco ChronicleEdward GuthmannSan Francisco ChronicleEdward GuthmannA pleasant but conventional film.