Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Raymond Sierra The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Jackson Booth-Millard I found this Chinese film in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, as with many titles featured in the book, I was hoping for something worthwhile and that would deserve its placement, it certainly sounded like something that could be good. Basically it is about the life and career of 1930s Chinese movie star Ruan Ling-yu (In the Mood for Love's Maggie Cheung, also as herself). She was China's first prima donna of the silver screen, emerging as a star of the silent screen by her twenties, and becoming known as "the Chinese Garbo". Ruan started as a background actress at the age of sixteen, with short appearances and small parts, eventually gaining leading roles, she starred in over a dozen films, many have been lost, but those that remain are still well-received. But Ruan had a troubled personal life, she was having an affair with a married man, and gained negative criticism from the press. Various public issues and intense private problems resulted in Ruan committing suicide, she poisoned herself with an overdose of barbiturates, leaving a note that apparently read "gossip is a fearful thing", there was also rumours of her lover being hostile to her, she was 24 years old. The film switches between documentary style interviews by those who knew Ruan Ling-yu, the cast and crew of this film, and recreations of her most famous films, including the critically acclaimed The Goddess. Also starring Chin Han as Tang Jishan, Lawrence Ng as Zhang Damin, Tony Leung Ka-fai as Cai Chusheng, Carina Lau as Li Lili, Cecilia Yip as Lin Chuchu and Waise Lee as Lai Man-Wai. Cheung gives a splendid performance as the troubled but talented actress, I personally know of the real actress from watching The Goddess, which was a brilliant performance, it is a tragic story of the rise to stardom and the pressures it brings, the most memorable scenes are the recreations of the famous films, overall it was a fairly good period biographical drama. Worth watching!

crossbow0106 This is a biopic about Yuan (Ruan) Ling-Wu, a movie star of the 30's in China. I've never seen any film she's been in, but I am very intrigued now. Maggie Cheung is excellent in this role. I feel Ms. Cheung is one of the best actresses in film, from any country. She is always interesting to watch. She plays Yuan sympathetically, passionately and solemnly. Looking at her in this role, looking at her pretty eyes, you can tell she understood this actress. At times, she looks flat out beautiful, especially when she smiles. I liked the style of this film, that the real Maggie Cheung comments on Yuan Ling-Wu during the film. Also commenting is the now departed contemporary of Ling-Wu, the very good actress Lilly Li (a few of her films have been recently released on DVD, and should be sought out). The film has a tragic air to it, as Ruan Ling-Wu committed suicide at the tender age of 25. Even if, like me, you have never heard of the actress, see this film. Ms. Cheung, with her smile, her sorrow, her anger all portrayed brilliantly through the film (she won Best Actress in Asia, richly deserved, just blows you away. Oh, and did I mention, she even dances in this film. A triumph, richly deserving of your time.

Ron Chow I stumbled on a DVD copy of the film from the local library, but before that I never heard of this film. Stanley Kwan also directed Rouge, a film I enjoyed and liked very much, and that prompted my decision to make the time investment to watch it.Center Stage, aka Yuen Ling-Yuk (Cantonese pronunciation of the main character) or Ruan Ling-Yu (the mandarin equivalent) is a slow film, a period piece focused on the life and premature death of an actress in the 30's in China. As a kid growing up in Asia several decades ago I never watched B/W silent films, so Yuen was never known to me, until now.It was a slow film, but well acted and researched. I enjoyed the depiction of Shanghai in the 30's and the personification of various people in the entertainment circle. This film is obviously not for everyone. For the selected few with the interest or the cultural background, it is a film worth watching. If nothing else, it is a cultural lesson on the filming business and a snapshot of the Chinese society in 1930. Seeing some big name actors in it, doing what they do best, is a bonus.

donleavy A biopic of Chinese silent film actress from the 30's, Ruan Lingyu, with Maggie Cheung as Ruan. This movie tells the sad story of a young woman who is rescued from poverty by show business, and is subsequently destroyed by it. It's a classic story of the patriarchal double standard in which an adulterous woman is punished by society while an adulterous man is not.Maggie Cheung's performance is quite good. First of all, she pulls off being an actress playing an actress who is very immersed in her work.Everyone in this movie is exceedingly composed - they speak carefully, and walk perpetually as if on eggshells. No one really comes alive until a scene at a dance hall near the end. But despite all the sugary politeness, Cheung successfully conveys a woman who is being slowly destroyed by her oppressive environment. And there are a couple scenes in which she completely loses it, and it's very affecting to watch.The movie is very interestingly interspersed with clips from Ruan's movies, documentary footage of Ruan's surviving contemporaries, and the actors' conversations with the director.The other actors, such as Tony Leung Ka Fai, Carina Lau, and Waise Lee, who are so interesting in other movies, all have little to nothing to do, except to look nice in period costume.Also interesting is the fact that Carina Lau (who plays fellow actress Lily Li) looks much more like the real Ruan Lingyu than Maggie Cheung does.Watching this film is a bit like watching a PBS documentary - edifying, educational, but not exactly fun.