CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (Hong Kong, 2006) Wonderfully lavish and beautifully ostentatious action-drama from Zhang Yimou, whose HERO impressed me so much, as well as his succeeding visual delight, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS. This one tends to be more political drama than action, but when the action scenes do come they do so in a rush and they are incredible spectacular, especially the climactic attack on the Forbidden City, with the wide screen filled with thousands of charging soldiers in ornate battle dress. Yimou's vivid color pallet is as stunningly provocative as anything in the previous two films, and Chow-Yun Fat and Gong Li are amazing in the lead roles of the Tang Dynasty emperor and empress in a story that boils down to a simple case of a dysfunctional family taken to Shakesperean proportions. Watching this shortly after seeing MARIE ANTOINETTE was very interesting, as both films examined the overindulgent ostentation of royalty, both examined male-dominant societies (moreso in Yimou's take on the exceedingly male-dominant Tang period), and both were filled with wonder as we got glimpses of the lavishness of palace life and the intriguing lives and etiquette of the massive supporting staff. The detail with which Yimou inhabits every camera shot is amazing, and his sound pallet is as interesting as his color texture; the sounds of the Palace household are continually astounding and the massive sonic atmosphere of the battle scenes are amazing. Another massively impressive and character-/story-based spectacle with a compelling and satisfying storyline.
Review of Curse of the Golden Flower
