CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[Nashou66]

I got this movie because they had previews of it on another BD I had. I liked the snippets they showed visually and thought I'd give it a shot. It is a difficult movie for me to describe or put into words as I am not gifted with the prose this movie deserves. I t was sad yet happy,dark yet vibrant, troubling yet also comforting. It is a story of the ancient chinese bond of sisterhood called a laotong, sisters for life. it goes back and forth between ancient and modern times telling the tale of two laotongs that even though separated by thousands of years are somehow faced with similar situations. It seems to suggest these two ancient loatongs have transcended thousands of years and found their way to the modern times in a new bond.

I guess from reviews on Amazon that if I had read the book I may have not liked the movie as it is does not follow the story as well as it should. However having not read the book I found this movie thought provoking and moving. Visually it was a treat!! especially when going to the ancient era scenes .

Here is a good review from Amazon from a person who has not read the book either.

Let me begin by saying I have not read Lisa See's book upon which this film is based, hence I'm not in the category of other reviewers who disliked this movie primarily because of its deviation from the novel. Translating a work of art from one medium to another is a difficult task at the very least and it comes as no surprise to discover that a person who loves something in one medium is seldom pleased with its appearance in another. Personally I think a film should be judged solely on its own merits, like it or dislike it for what it is, not for what you thought or hoped it would be.

Having said that I would like to convey how much I loved this film. Director Wayne Wang instilled `Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' with the same depth of emotion and sensitivity that made his `Joy Luck Club' such a moving and memorable viewing experience.

The storyline moves neatly back and forth between two sets of Chinese women living in different times (Lily and Snow Flower in 1829 China, Nina and Sophia in present day Shanghai). Though time and place differ, the shared cultural and spiritual bonds formed by their mutual `vows of sisterhood' are identical and timeless. Bingbing Li plays the parts of both Lily and Nina and Gianna Jun the dual roles of Snow Flower and Sophia. Both story lines are engaging but clearly the Snow Flower and Lily tale is the more important of the two. Nevertheless the present day friendship between Nina and Sophia is essential to the intent of the film, providing not only context to the earlier friendship but a cultural bridge between past, present and future. In other words, while everything around us is constantly changing what's really important in life remains the same.

I strongly recommend this film; the storyline, dialogue, soundtrack, visuals and cast all make for a well spent evening of viewing entertainment. The only warning I would level is to say that this is, like `Joy Luck Club' a chick flick so gentlemen view at your own risk.

I must say having watched it last night I have an urge to watch it again before the weekend is over.

Athanasios

[dturco]

[Nashou66]

It might have been that Dave, I have watched that a few times and am into the book right now 1300+ pages long!!!

I really liked Snow Flower, not sure if I'll read the book as it is totally different, I guess in the book they do not have a parallel modern time story.

Athanasios

[MikeEby]

Snow Flower was great! Atlas Shrugged....Meh


Mike

[WanMan]

How is the video/audio quality? Its a $28 buy.

[Nashou66]

[draganm]

you guys all liked SNOW FLOWER? Let me guess, there's a great Lesbian scene right?
I generally am not a big fan of these types of movies but really enjoyed A Woman, a gun, and a Noodle Shop.

http://www.indiewire.com/film/a_woman_a_gun_and_a_noodle_shop