Zhang's Best and Worst Movies
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Zhang Ziyi
moviesbest — 16 years ago(March 06, 2010 10:19 AM)
My choice of Zhang Ziyi's best movies(note: I ranked them not just based on the movie but taking into consideration for her part and acting as well), what are yours ?
1)The Grandmaster - This movie that took over 10 years to complete is first rate in every department and she is super-compelling. I have never seen any actress who can act drama and action so well in a movie; as well as in the same scenes !! Not to be missed.
2) The Road Home(her first movie, directed by Zhang Yimou). No one can claim to know her well without watching this 1st movie of her that launched her career. You will agree that no one else could replace her in this movie.
3) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - This is the one if you can only watch 1 Zhang Ziyi movie, her most profilic movie where she showcased her versatility and talent in all sorts of expressions and actions !! She outshined the 2 leads and her supporting role ended up having more scenes than the 2 leads.
4) 2046 - She is very good in this one. How could anyone miss this Wong Kar Wai movie ?
5) Memoirs of a Geisha - She is also good in this one but can be much better if not due to poor direction and editing. Her best and most memorable scene is the ending scene, too bad it came only at the end.
6) House of Flying Daggers(Zhang Yimou) - Everyone who has seen it MUST agree she acted very well in this one. So well that she fooled all the audience. Sorry I cannot give anymore reason because it will be a big spoiler for the movie. Too bad this movie suffered because Anita Mui who was supposed to be the 2nd female lead got cancer and her role was scrapped. Watch it and we discuss it later.
7) Mo li hua kai(Jasmine Flower) - She played 3 different characters. Her fans cannot miss this one. How many actress can have 3 different roles within a movie ? Very few, I can only remember Sophia Loren.
Hero(Zhang Yimou) - She played supporting to Maggie Cheung but this is a very good movie that many felt is far better than Crouching Tiger.
9) Musa - A Korean movie. She don't get to show-off much in this one but it's a good movie
The above 9 movies cannot be missed if you like her.
I have not watched Rush Hour 2, Sophie's Revenge which was very successful in the box office in China and the lately Dangerous Liasions.
Her WORST movie must be the Tsui Hark's Zu Warrior where hardly any audience can recognise her in it but the movie made use of her big name to sell. Don't understand why she has very little screen time. Tsui Hark must have dislike her very much. She never mentioned about this movie after making it and Tsui never mentioned her either. -
moviesbest — 16 years ago(March 06, 2010 10:47 AM)
I heard she did well in Sophie's Revenge too. Will definitely look for it.
Yes, she is good in Purple Butterfly too but unfortunately this movie is not up to standard so I did not mention it.
Have you seen those I mentioned ? -
timc-20 — 16 years ago(March 06, 2010 09:44 PM)
Maybe I give the director credit for art, but after all this time that opening shot of Ziyi walking into the camera is really fine. It was a minor revelation for me. She has no makeup. No fine clothing. No elegant hair, yet the camera lingers on her. She looks totally modern, yet somehow ancient. I think I could see her walking in a street-scene 2000 years-ago. That's a remarkable quality. I think she reminds me of Jeanne Moreau; only Chinese instead of French. Jeanne Moreau had that visual quality that made her a star. She also had that scratchy voice. Which brings me to another quality I like in Ziyi. She has a weird, serious voice. Very distinctive.
Her easiest film to watch is The Road Home. Her most difficult film to watch is Purple Butterfly. Her most fun film to watch is Crouching Tiger. I think her best film to date is 2046.
I really don't blame the Chinese for not liking her. They've never seen anyone like her. I think when she's dead, they'll miss her. After they stop celebrating that she's gone. You don't know what you've got till it's gone.
I hope she moves to the U.S. -
moviesbest — 16 years ago(March 11, 2010 10:26 AM)
It's the Chinese culture.
They have been locked and hidden for thousands of years. They can never accept anyone of their own people got accepetd and famous in the West especially. In the past, they hated Gong LI and Joan Chen too. Now Zhang got to Hollywood so fast(after just 2 or 3 movies) so everyone is over jealous of her. -
lzlzy — 16 years ago(March 08, 2010 09:14 AM)
moviesbest, it seems you are a fan of Ziyi. Please watch Sophie's Revenge and come back to comment on Ziyi's acting. Everyone on this board has seen many movies and we know which ones are good ones. I do like Ziyi in the road home and 2046 many years ago. But it is a pity that Ziyi's recent years have been focus on publicity with fake news instead of improving acting skills.
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moviesbest — 16 years ago(March 11, 2010 10:40 AM)
Do you know she is also the excutive producer for Sophie's revenge ?
I think her asking fee is too high and she don't simply accept another HW movie now. In HW, you could flop very fast if your movie is no good. Just see Chow Yun Fatt and Michelle Yeoh now, they need to play supporting roles now.
She trusted WKW(since her success in 2046) so she just act for Grand Master. Acting for a WKW movie is a big sacrifice. It could take years to complete.
You are right, she is only 31 and with her strong fan base now, she need not go for many movies now. She can afford to choose. I think she is more keen to secure and stable her personal love life now. -
lzlzy — 16 years ago(March 11, 2010 11:42 AM)
Ziyi was supposed to be a cute nextdoor girl in the Sophie's revenge, however her eyes revealed toughness again as in her most other movies. While Fan Binbin's acting surprised me. Binbin is definitely the highlight of Sophie's revenge although more than 60% of film is about Ziyi.
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moviesbest — 16 years ago(March 11, 2010 10:32 AM)
Who cares for news ?> Only silly fans and silly readers do read such news.
Zhang never asked for news. Reporters wrote them and readers like them. It showed has pulling power.
She even produced Sophie's Revenge.
She is already so good in acting, not much room to improve. All she need is good director. -
moviesbest — 16 years ago(March 12, 2010 10:59 AM)
You are right.
Tang Wei only made one movie. Still early to tell whether she is really a good actress or "only good for that role" or all due to a good director's work.
While Gong Li was really good, I find all always the same character played and her best work all those few directed by Zhang Yi Mou. I doubt she could have any new breakthrough in other character role.
So far, ZZ has proven well. She can be equally convincing as innocent, seductive or in action. House of Flying Daggers really proved she is really good. She fooled all the audience(you know what I mean ?) Her last one in slapstick as you mentioned is another new role I am looking forward to see. Gong Li and Maggie Cheung are both good but not as versatile as her.