Chinese Cinema
Alice's collection of Chinese films is growing as the film industry there expands and begins to embrace an ever-increasing international audience. Films from China are often marked by great craft and attention to detail, and the stories are involved and often carry a political subtext. Though we have very little that is pre-1990, there is everything here from engaging personal stories to sweeping historical epics.
Pictured: Maggie Cheung in the stylized and breath-takingly beautiful 'Hero' from master craftsman Zhang Yimou.
The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011)
5.9/10
Director: Tony Ching Siu-Tung
Starring: Jet Li, Charlene Choi, Eva Huang, Raymond Lam
White Snake (Eva Huang) in the guise of a beautiful woman falls in love with a young herbalist, Xu Xian (Raymond Lam). At her own risk but with the he... Read more
1911: Revolution (2011)
5.9/10
Director: Jackie Chan, Zhang Li
Starring: Jackie Chan, Jiang Wu, Joan Chen, Ning Jing, Sun Chun, Winston Chao, Duobuji , J...
Aka "Xinhai Geming". Martial arts legend Jackie Chan reaches his 100th film milestone with this historical drama set in the year 1911, as the Chinese... Read more
Shaolin (2011)
6.9/10
Director: Benny Chan
Starring: Andy Lau, Jackie Chan, Nicholas Tse, Bingbing Fan
In a young Republic of China, where greedy warlords fuel a period of war and strife, Hou Jie (Andy Lau) arrogantly shows no mercy to his enemies seeki... Read more
A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
5.7/10
Director: Wilson Yip
Starring: Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Kara Hui, Louis Koo, Yifei Liu
A kinetic remake of the classic Hong Kong original. Whilst spending the night in a haunted house tax collector Ning meets and falls in love with Sian,... Read more
Aftershock (2011)
7.6/10
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Starring: Li Chen, Jingchu Zhang, Xu Fan
This popular disaster drama from China concentrates on a family whose lives were destroyed by the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. When a mother is forced to... Read more
Aftershock (Blu-ray) (2011)
7.6/10
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Starring: Li Chen, Jingchu Zhang, Xu Fan
This popular disaster drama from China concentrates on a family whose lives were destroyed by the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. When a mother is forced to... Read more
What Women Want (2011)
6.4/10
Director: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Andy Lau, Gong Li
After an accident, a chauvinistic executive gains the ability to hear what women are really thinking. Based on the Hollywood blockbuster. Read more
Sacrifice (2010)
6.2/10
Director: Chen Kaige
Starring: Ge You, Wang Xueqi, Zhang Fengyi
A powerful General (Wang Xueqi) at the court of Duke Ling decides to seize the throne by murdering the Duke and pinning the crime on his rivals, the d... Read more
Shanghai (2010)
6.4/10
Director: Mikael Hafstrom
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, David Morse, Franka Potente, Gong Li, Hugh Bonneville, John Cusack...
Set in 1941 on the eve of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the story revolves around American spy Paul Soames (John Cusack), who arrives in Japane... Read more
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2010)
6.1/10
Director: Wayne Wang
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Vivian Wu, Russell Wong, Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun
Based on the best-selling novel by Lisa See, this sweeping drama tells the story of seven-year-old girls Snow Flower and Lily, in 19th Century China,... Read more