Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

kandylova19 In this film, Zhang Yimou portrays the stark difference between Japanese and Chinese culture without succumbing to biased tendencies. Among the numerous cultural differences, perhaps the greatest visual distinction would be the colorful masses of China against the gray, solitude of Japan. The audience becomes aware of these contrasts as Takata, a Japanese father sets out on a journey to China in hopes of improving his estranged relationship with his son who is dying from liver cancer. Through his travels Takata comes to a greater understanding about life, himself, and his son's interest with the Chinese culture, especially the folk operas.

matin_pop this was one movie that really got my attention. the title speaks for itself and it had me interested in watching it. the movie made me want to stick around and find out what happens next. its a bit of a sad story but it does have its funny moments. in a way i could relate to the story and the characters, because i have seen things like this occur in my life and in others. many of the scenes were perfectly shot, i wouldn't know how else portray those moments. i would definitely recommend this movie for many to watch. like i said, its a movie many could relate to, as did i. the movie portrays the difference between the two cultures, and the way they are portrayed is fascinating. the actors do a very well job in acting. i really enjoyed the ending. it starts of slow but then it gets interesting as the movie goes on and the viewer finds out information about the characters. emotions are expressed deeply in the movie, another reason the viewer is captured in it. it a great adventure movie with a journey of understanding. the audience is put on a ride that has no stops until the end of the movie. two words i would use to describe this movie are understanding and love.

marky2882 I found this film simply beautiful and was enthralled by the subtly complex, quiet, and emotional performance of Ken Takakura as Takata. I had never heard of this actor before and was pleasantly surprised by him. I can understand why he is compared to Clint Eastwood, because both actors have a tough guy exterior, which contains hidden depths. His plight to film a Chinese folk opera for his dying, and eventually deceased son, was unwavering as was the way he went about it. He dove, wholeheartedly into this task, and it wasn't until about mid-way through the film, when he discovers that his son has died that his goal takes on a whole new dimension. Along the way, through a sheer stoke of fate, he meets and befriends the young boy (who was also great) and he becomes the son who he can actually help, unlike his real son who he can no longer do anything for. His semi simple task of traveling from his native Japan to China, with the help of two well meaning translators, takes on a much more elaborate dimension, as he feels a new sense of responsibility to the new people who have come into his life. Also, the seaside fishing village where Takata had made a home for himself, ostrasizing himself from his son in the first place was representative of Japanese culture itself. There were two scenes in the film where Takata is standing at the foot of a grey, violent, harshly beautiful sea lost in his own thoughts, and it isn't until he ventures to China where he is awashed in vibrant oranges and reds, signifying the end of his emotional isolation and his return to being connected to his fellow man.

Kathy Trinh Yimou Zhang marks the beauty of cultural traditions and differences. I found it very interesting how Yang Yang and Mr. Takata communication with different languages. There was a beautiful connection between them and how they came understand one another. Mr. Takata, an elderly man who is quite stubborn and reserved, traveled to China from Japan to videotape a Chinese folk opera singer, Li Jiamin for his son, Kenichi, whom he had neglected after his wife's death. I found it very fascinating how he had to go to China to get to know his son, Kenichi. He had a few decades to talk to his son but everything changed once he had learned that Kenichi was very ill and hospitalized. The power of a man and his son reconnecting again brings this story to a whole different level. This situation made you realize how you can know someone for years and realize you never really knew them at all.At first, I thought this was going to be a simple movie about a man's quest to reunite with his son and ultimately end up doing so, but you will not find the typical Hollywood movie ending here. Throughout the film, Mr. Takata is determined to meet a Chinese folk opera star, Li Jiamin in order to record him performing for his opera loving son. As the man's trip progresses, he crosses paths with villages who help him along his journey to find Li Jiamin and complete his objective. Mr. Takata and the audience both do not expect to get more out of the trip than originally plan. I could not imagine what was going to happen as the story unfolded. When Mr. Takata finally gains access to meet a now prisoner, Li Jiamin, the guards try to force Li Jiamin to perform but he is not stable and breaks down crying because he misses his son, Yang Yang, whom he has never met.Mr. Takata makes a big decision and decides he wants to bring these two together, perhaps because he knows this is the only way Li Jiamin was agree to perform. On the day Mr. Takata and Yang Yang were suppose to meet with Li Jiamin, Yang Yang runs away and hides somewhere within the mountains. Mr. Takata finds him but they are stuck together for the night until they can find help in the morning. During their time alone, Yang Yang becomes hostile towards Mr. Takata but the two eventually befriend one another. Mr. Takata expresses how he feels holding Yang Yang as if he were his son. The next day the police and villagers spread out into the mountains and find the two. When Mr. Takata learns that Kenichi is passed away, he still continues on his journey and returns to the prison to meet with Li Jiamin again. He asks Yang Yang if he wants to meet his father even after the villagers spoke for him and were forcing him to go with Mr. Takata but Mr. Takaka realizes that even as a child, he is allowed to make his own decisions just as Kenichi made his decision to not see his father, which is similar to how Li Jiamin did not want to perform but the guards tried to force the request. Yang Yang does not want go with Mr. Takata to the prison.I think one of the themes of the film was to ''Redeem yourself'' as heard in the prison. In the end, out of selflessness, respect, thankfulness, Mr. Takata did not ask Li Jiamin to perform and instead showed him pictures of his adorable son, which was an even bigger gift than anyone had expected because it brought another father and son together. Many of the prisoners were also touched by this gift. Li Jiamin felt very thankful he vowed to give Mr. Takata his best performance.