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Grown-up movies

Tonight Kate watched Myles as I escaped out to a movie. I went to see Curse of the Golden Flower, or in Chinese Mǎnchéng Jìndài Huángjīnjiǎ, which does not mean Curse of the Golden Flower, but rather City of Golden Armor. This might be one of the reasons when I tell people in China Chinese movies I have seen, they can't place them because the English-language titles have little resemblance to the actual Chinese title.
Anyway, Kate was trying to get Myles to bed, and he wondered where I was. She told him that I went to a movie because I like to watch movies just as much as he does, but sometimes I like to watch grown-up movies which he might not like.
"A grown-up movie?" he asked. "Is it about make-up?"
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Anonymous said…
Have you seen The Painted Veil yet? It's visually stunning (even with all the cholera) and well-acted. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it, especially given that it was made in conjunction with the Chinese government and that seemed to add another layer of directorial control.
Jan 25, 2007, 11:29:00 PM
Jen Ambrose said…
I do want to see that, too, and not just because it is Chinese-themed. I really like Somerset Maugham, and I would like to see soemtiem in my life a good screen adaptation of one of his novels or stories.
Jan 25, 2007, 11:31:00 PM
Anonymous said…
What would you suggest as a good Maugham? I confess that the movie's mawkish plot line (you KNOW that one of them is going to succumb to cholera) made me wonder about the source material.

That said, Watts and Norton do a great job in injecting over-obvious plot devices with real emotion. The beauty of the two leaving rancor and childishness behind and to live out their vows in a real way is what I treasure about the film. I hope that is in Maugham's work.
Jan 26, 2007, 11:45:00 PM
Jen Ambrose said…
I loved Of Human Bondage and the Razor's Edge. Last summer I picked up a relatively new collection of some of his articles he wrote in his travels in Asia. It was okay, with good writing, but story-wise, much of the same predictable-ness. Of course, he never intended for all these stories to be published together, so I can't fault him.
Jan 27, 2007, 2:15:00 PM
Anonymous said…
how was the movie, did you enjoy it?
I havnt seen it and been wanting to but have heard mixed reviews on it.
Jan 28, 2007, 3:37:00 PM
Jen Ambrose said…
I did enjoy the movie. The colors are amazing. It wasn't my favorite Gong Li performance (that would be Farewell my Concubine), but she was a perfect schemer in this movie. I joked with my sister that this movie has something for the whole family: betrayal, royalty, sword fights, masked assasins, lots of blood, massive battle scene, cleavage, incest. And for the Chinese audience, a cheesy Jay Chou pop song over the closing credits.
Jan 28, 2007, 5:11:00 PM
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