tdeslypper Reviews

Springtime in a Small Town (2002)

Just beautiful

[8/10 · 13 January 2004]

I usually don't dig Chinese movies. As far as asian cinema is concerned, I am more a Japanese or Korean fan. But this Springtime is bliss. Just about everything is beautiful, from script to cinematography to acting (with the notable exception of the girl who plays the young sister, whom I thought was over-acting).

One thing I thought was interesting is the way director Tian expressed his intention of editing from the original version of the movie (shot in the '50s) all the elements that would not appeal to a viewer today. Therefore, we must assume that pre-arranged weddings are still a common fact in today's China. What about love ?

Well, enough for the pseudo-sociological analysis. On a more pleasure-oriented level, this is a jewel. Not a perfect movie, granted, I couldn't rate it more than the 8 I gave it, but such a nice little piece of work. Colors, sounds, camera movements, actor's play, everything is fluid, warm, inhabited. A very nice springtime in a small town indeed...

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Lacks sense of epic

[5/10 · 19 February 2002]

Although I cannot say I was thoroughly disappointed with the movie, I must admit that, after reading the books five times at least, I was expecting something a little more brilliant. What I mean is that, even though nearly every episode of the story is present on the screen, they do not form a global story, they remain episodes. The consequence is, you can hardly take a liking to the characters, which remain superficial, even Frodo... As I wrote as subject, the whole movie lacks the sense of epic which, to me, was what made the books so appealing... Well, one never knows: the next one might be better...