Flyerplesys Perfectly adorable

Rijndri Load of rubbish!!

Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

Bessie Smyth Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

ex_ottoyuhr OK, I see that someone filmed _Pavilion of Women_. Interesting choice. Then I look at the credits: No Tsemo, no Rulan, and... what in the name of Hong Xiuquan is a Japanese general doing in _Pavilion of Women_!? They seem to have this confused with _Dragon Seed_ or something...And I was really looking forward to seeing who they cast as those two. The Tsemo-Rulan story arc was easily my favorite part of the book, and with their very good Fengmo, I had high hopes...In short: this sounds like it's *nothing* like the book. Perhaps I'll get this comment deleted for having been posted without seeing the film, but frankly, with a departure like *this* (not to mention Brother Andre utterly abandoning his original character -- ugh, the fact that the fellow doesn't actually exist doesn't mean that he shouldn't sue), I'd say that seeing the film is probably far too steep a price to pay. Let's hope for a *real* adaptation of _Pavilion_ someday -- or, to be more practical, something like _Kinfolk_, or ideally _Sons_.(Yes, on that subject, well, a _Sons_ movie would be nothing to stab one's treacherous but extremely beautiful kitsune concubine over, but it would be about as close to that as a film would be likely to get...)

csabarish Good god has no one read the book? It talks of a woman who wakes up on her fortieth birthday determined to break herself free from her duties to her family but without hurting anyone. This sets off a series of events she had not foreseen and does not know how to tackle. All this is set in a period when China was changing. It is a brilliant story of spiritual awakening. And what have they done to it?The missionary and the lady never even touch each other before he dies. In fact she doesn't even know that she loves him until that point. The son does not settle down with his father's concubine. And the woman does not turn communist, but becomes free in the true meaning of the word.It just beats me how any one could dare to call this movie by the name of the book. Blasphemous!

jaakkochan I must say I really like Willem Dafoe. He has charisma and he can convey a lot naturally, without acting too much. The young and adult women actresses were also good in this film. I can't understand why Dafoe decided to act in this movie. Until somewhere in the middle, movie keeps nice pace, although I was constantly bothered by the one dimensional man character, the husband of the wives, and also too simple black and white setting. The husband's and servant's characters were exaggerated and fool. Come on, what do you think we audience are? Dumb? Not to mention to deadly stinky dialog which makes Harlequin books deserve Nobel prize. The way how all the Chinese characters speaking weird English is nearly unbearably superficial. Mostly this bothers the husband's character which is seen as something between monstrous, pitiful and womanizer. And by the way, what is his job? When the movie should have focused on it's promising character development, it delivers patriotic Americanized foolish national message that doesn't tell anyone anything. Only Westerner is seen as some kind of liberator and martyr. Why this movie had to include the war and showing Japanese soldiers raping women in the street? Does that have anything to do with the story? We all know war is hell. One little detail - Japanese soldier whistling "Sakura" song while taking a leak. Sakura song is perhaps most known Japanese folk song. Such a small detail, but if they really wanted to show invasion of the foreign army, why not to do it with gut, not with cheap tricks like that. And, is this a war movie? OK the characters refer to the possibility of war in the middle of the movie too, and some might say it gives this porridge a dramatical end. But gimme a break! If they produce this as a TV movie and cut the unnecessary war part out and also remove the porridge from the beginning it might make a nice TV drama. If you want to see war movie, watch TORA TORA TORA. If you want to see Chinese drama, watch "The Joy Luck Club". Or read the book "Pavilion of Women" rather than watch this flick.

dromasca Director Ho Yim's movie is based on a novel of Pearl Buck. 60-70 years ago, this writer's books were cross-cultural best sellers, bringing to the US and Western audiences the image of the Far East which soon will have become part of the daily lives, when WWII broke. The film story line has all the elements of the time - melodrama, clash between the Western and Chinese traditions, and a missionary message which is probably the most problematic part of the movie.However, this is a good movie. Certainly, we have seen much better and original ones, coming directly from China without the intervention of the Hollywood producers. Having the film spoken in English may have won some US audiences, but certainly lowers the credibility. However, the filming is exquisite, the historical background is very well re-created, and the acting is fabulous. Is this really Luo Yam's first or second role? This is what IMDB's information says, I simply cannot believe it. She is giving an Oscar level performance, and I am certainly flattering some of the ladies who won feminine role Oscars lately.Worth seeing. 8/10 on my personal scale.