It's hard to talk about this movie beyond its cinematography and the artistry of its visuals. Not because there's nothing beyond those two, but rather because those two are just so unbelievably well-done that it's hard to concentrate on anything else. This is a movie that deserves to be seen on the big screen if that's in any way possible. Because if you manage to do so, you will be sucked in from the very first frame. The vastness of Shanbei's landscape is capture beautifully in this film and at some points I found myself totally ignoring the dialogue and what was going on with the characters in favour of just admiring the scenery.
Though that isn't really a compliment. As I said in the beginning, this movie has a cinematography that's almost too good. The story only barely manages to keep up, which is a shame, because it's not a bad story. I found myself liking these characters, their unique characteristics and their actors, who were all very talented and natural for their roles. And I kind of liked the music and all of the songs as well. The latter ones took some getting used to, as they were so very different from what I usually listen to, but they had their own charm and power of emotion going for them.
So I really liked this film. Is it a masterpiece? No, not really. Cinematography alone doesn't make a masterful movie, and while the story is good, it's not that good. Still, I'd definitely recommend this one to almost anyone. It's a bit slow and nothing much actually happens, but it's a powerful piece to witness.
Though that isn't really a compliment. As I said in the beginning, this movie has a cinematography that's almost too good. The story only barely manages to keep up, which is a shame, because it's not a bad story. I found myself liking these characters, their unique characteristics and their actors, who were all very talented and natural for their roles. And I kind of liked the music and all of the songs as well. The latter ones took some getting used to, as they were so very different from what I usually listen to, but they had their own charm and power of emotion going for them.
So I really liked this film. Is it a masterpiece? No, not really. Cinematography alone doesn't make a masterful movie, and while the story is good, it's not that good. Still, I'd definitely recommend this one to almost anyone. It's a bit slow and nothing much actually happens, but it's a powerful piece to witness.