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.
Fearless ( Blu-ray ) (2006)
7.7/10
Director: Ronny Yu
Starring: Jet Li, Nathan Jones, Jean Claude Leuyer, Brandon Rhea, Shido Nakamura, Betty Su...
Rumoured (sadly) to be Jet Li's last wushu film this epic biopic tells the story of Chinese national hero and founder of the Jingwu Sports Federation,... Read more
A Battle of Wits (2006)
Director: Jacob Cheung Chi-Leung
Starring: Andy Lau, Sung-kee Ahn, Wang Zhiwen, Siu-hou Chin
Based on a popular 11-volume manga series entitled 'Bokko' and set during the Warring States Period in China in 370 B.C. when the country was split be... Read more
Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)
7/10
Director: Zhang Yimou
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li, Jay Chou, Liu Ye, Dahong Ni, Junjie Qin, Man Li
Zhang Yimou's characteristically lush historical melodrama, set near the end of theTang Dynasty, with Chow Yun-Fat as the Emperor whose wife (Gong Li)... Read more
Fearless (2006)
7.7/10
Director: Ronny Yu
Starring: Jet Li, Shido Nakamura, Betty Sun, Nathan Jones, Brandon Rhea, Anthony De Longis...
Rumoured (sadly) to be Jet Li's last wushu film this epic biopic tells the story of Chinese national hero and founder of the Jingwu Sports Federation,... Read more
The Promise (2005)
5.6/10
Director: Chen Kaige
Starring: Cecilia Cheung, Hiroyuki Sanada, Nicholas Tse, Dong-kun Jang, Liu Ye, Chen Hong
From the director of 'Farewell My Concubine' comes this visually stunning tale of passion, set in China's mythical past, that unfolds against a backdr... Read more
Beauty Remains (2005)
5.2/10
Director: Ann Hu
Starring: Xun Zhou, Vivian Wu, Wang Zhiwen, Lisa Lu
Set against the backdrop of Communism's rise in 1949 China, it is 15 years since a poor, illegitimate schoolgirl was abandoned; now her spoilt half-si... Read more
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2005)
7.5/10
Director: Zhang Yimou
Starring: Ken Takakura, Nakai Kiichi, Shinobu Terajima, Jiamin Li
Ken Takakura gives a career-defining performance as an old Chinese fisherman who has been estranged from his son for many years. When he receives a c... Read more
House of Flying Daggers ( Blu-ray ) (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Zhang Yimou
Starring: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi, Song Dandan
Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Andy Lau star in this stunning blend of lyrical romance and eye-popping fight scenes. Mei is an exotic, beautiful bl... Read more
Jasmine Women (2004)
Director: Yong Hou
Starring: Zhang Ziyi, Joan Chen, Wen Jiang, Liu Ye
Based on the well-regarded novel by Su Tong and starring Ziyi Zhang and Joan Chen, both in multiple roles, this is the story of three generations of C... Read more
Mountain Patrol ( Kekexili ) (2004)
7.7/10
Director: Lu Chuan
Starring: Duobuji , Zhang Li, Qi Liang, Zhao Xueying
Based on the true story of Beijing reporter, Ga Yu, who travelled to the remote mountain region of Kekexili on China's Tibetan border to cover a story... Read more