A Changing Of The Guard

Well, where does one start on such a sensitive and personal topic. For years Michelle Yeoh has been the only actress in my eyes. Her handsome features paraded across my television screen with some regularity in films such as "Police Story 3", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Tomorrow Never Dies". The photo above (and yes, she is the one on the left) does not do her justice. You have to see her move and listen to her soft, deep voice form those intricate sounds that exist only in the Mandarin language.

Lately though, there has been a new wind blowing from the East. I have tried to resist it with all my strength and sense, but in now looks as though I am starting to cave in. If you hadn't had the good fortune to lay eyes on her before, I now present Zhang Ziyi. Yes, I've known of her existence for a long time. I'd seen her

in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "House of Flying Daggers" and I was aware that she was rocketing towards worldwide stardom with her part in the newly released "Memoirs of a Geisha". It was an older film though that finally stole my heart away. 1999's "The Road Home" was a masterpiece of cinematography played out in a heart-melting romance. The movie starts with Luo Yusheng returning to his home village after his dad, Luo Changyu, has just died. Changyu was the school teacher in the village and had been for 40 years. Yusheng's mother, Zhao Di, wants her husband's body brought back to the village in the traditional manner, carried along the road with lots of shouting so that Changyu will not forget the way home. The village has a shortage of manpower so as Yusheng ponders a solution we are taken back to 1958 on the day when Changyu first arrived in the village as a 20 year old.

At the time Zhao Di was 18 and is called "the prettiest girl in the village". We have to take their word on this as as we don't see any others. Zhao Di falls in love with Changyu at first sight and commences an intense campaign to win his heart. This involves cooking her best dishes, gathering water from a well near the school and waiting by the road on which he travels every day. She finally catches his eye and things are moving along until Changyu is called back to town to face some political questioning. He says he will return by the end of the term and gives Di a hairclip as a parting gift. He does not return by the end of term and Di nearly kills herself walking to town in the middle of a snowstorm trying to find him. The villagers get word to Changyu in town and he comes to Di and sits by her bed as she sleeps for two days. Alas though, he has returned without permission and is taken away for another two years before he finally returns to marry his beloved.

One must mentioned that the present day scenes are filmed in black and white with the flashbacks being filmed in full-blooded colour. This contrast is amazing as it adds to the whole romantic feel - the dull grey of a time after death and the vibrant colour of new love. The different seasons are captured well, with the bleak, white winter contrasting well with the orange wheat fields during harvest time. Zhang Ziyi's performance however is what makes this film. Her pigheaded will to win Changyu could be viewed as stalking by today's standards, but her girlish charm makes you sympathise with her completely. The story is handled so well with no gratuitous sex or nudity, things that Western directors almost seem obliged to stuff in somewhere.

All I can say is that Zhang Ziyi makes it believable. I think it's hard for a woman to make you fall in love with her while wearing baggy pants and a matching jacket, but Zhang makes it happen. After I had finished watching this film I was almost ready to watch it again. This speaks of the effect it had on me. I encourage you to watch it and if your heart is not reduced to a quivering mess then consult your doctor.

Hands Up Hu Likes Communism!

Hello again devoted readers. It's been over a week since the last post and hasn't it been a crazy time! Well no actually, it's been pretty routine with some periods of extreme sloth interspersed with snippets of frantic movement. Pre-season training has started at soccer, which I believe to be a blessing in disguise. Every time I think about the word "pre-season" I envisage long runs, gruelling fitness work, being yelled at by two fifty-something Scotsmen and subsequent aches and pains for the next week. To my immense joy though I have thoroughly enjoyed the two sessions I have joined so far. Something about physical activity really floats my boat and I generally feel really pumped afterwards. Besides, we really don't do as much fitness work as I imagine, plus I'm a goalkeeper, which means even less fitness work.

Anyhoo, I've seen three fillums since last post: "Good Night, and Good Luck", "Cinderella Man" and "Dear Wendy".

"G N 'n' G L" is the story of Ed Murrow, a journalist who exposes Senator Joe McCarthy communist witch hunts for what they are. It's a bit pedestrian, but if your familiar with the time and events it's quite enjoyable. The fact that it's all filmed in black and white adds to the charm. David Strathairn plays Murrow and he is backed up by a solid performance from George Clooney.

"Cinderella Man" suffers from the same problems that afflict all Hollywood productions - the fact that the film must take you through the full range of emotions. Grief, fear, anguish, admiration, love, respect, joy, excitement, they're all there. My opinion is this slows the film down a bit, which is a shame. because it tells a good story. Russell Crowe plays James J. Braddock, a boxer who was once close to being heavyweight boxing champion of the world. The Great Depression in 1929 brings hardship to Braddock and his family and his boxing career slumps. He is offered a second chance after a last minute cancellation puts him in the ring with the number two contender for the heavyweight crown. Braddock KO's the chump in three rounds when popular opinion was that Braddock himself wouldn't last one. He then stitches up two more contenders before he takes the ring against the then current heavyweight champion, Max Baer.

Being based on a true story, I imagine it would have been difficult for the makers of this film to build any suspense, but lo and behold they succeeded. I found myself on the edge of my chair during several of the fights. I also thought the film gave a good snapshot of what things were like during the great depression. If you want to read the real story about James J. Braddock and check out some cool photos to boot go to: http://www.jamesjbraddock.com/.

Simple enough for even a boxer to remember eh?

I will write about "Dear Wendy" when I have had time to muse about it. Until then......