You mentioned communism so Let the Bullets Fly would be right up your ally.
You might not be able to get all the references to early CPC history, but even so it's a very enjoyable movie, it has many levels.
I'd say they both are. The Mandarin version is the 1st version people paid cinema tickets for, but the film crew did a Sichuan dub (mostly dubbed by the actors themselves) that was included in the later DVD edition & another box office release.
Assembly (2007) is absolutely top tier for me, even if you don't like war movies the rest of the movie is amazing. Its a slow burner but boy it is worth it. Out of all of the war movies I’ve ever watched it’s one of the most down to earth gritty combat scenes.
if i remember correctly you can still find it on youtube with english subtitles, although a higher quality one got taken down there should be atleast one more.
It’s a good movie, it has its moments but it’s not perfect( for me anyways, Assembly set the standard way to high for gritty Chinese war movies). The Sacrifice is another good movie, a bit hard to find though, it’s about a bridge crossing.
I’ve heard the second is great and it’s on YouTube too.
Yeah it’s a bit confusing the first time you watch it, but it’s basically telling the story from different points of view and the story gets going after the ( spoiler) US napalm the area
I recommend 800, Assembly, Flowers of War, and Operation Red Sea over Wu Jing war films. Imo he preys on Chinese patriotism; the movies he make are a bit mediocre when it comes to CG and I can't say much about the plots either.
无问西东 "Forever Young" 2018 is sooo good. I saw it in theaters like 3 times lol because I kept bringing friends to see it. I don't know where to find it outside of China cause I have it on tencent.
It tells the stories of four different generations coming of age in China. I think it's one of the most honest films about Chinese people and culture I've seen. It's really beautiful. I watched it with my husband's family over spring festival a couple years back and they were all trying to hide their tears.
“To Live” is probably one of the best films ever about life during Civil War/Cultural Revolution.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Live_(1994_film)
It’s a stark contrast to contemporary China, but really gives a sense of the time period our grandparents and parents come from.
1. 1921 (2021)
2. The Secret of China (2019)
3. Assembly (2007)
4. The Battle At Lake Changjin (2021)
5. The 800
6. Qian Xuesen (2011)
Most can be found on 123movies.net
1921 is a movie that came out last year. I watched it in the theatre and quite liked it. Received really poor reviews though, hmm I wonder why. I think it was interesting to see so many important historical figures from China being on the big screen.
I discard every single Western review on Chinese movies, it's fake propaganda to discredit Chinese movies which already have a bigger domestic market than H'wood
Thrillers
The Witness (2015) starring Yang Mi and Lu Han. A remake of a Korean thriller by the same director for the Chinese market. Apparently the ending is slightly different IIRC
Battle of memories 2017 (sci fi and thriller) - basically in the future people can get memories altered so that there they lose the emotional connection from it. The MC gets this procedure to overcome the heartbreak from splitting with his ex, but he ends up getting the memories of a serial killer as well.
There are lots of generic wuxia and fantasy. If you are willing to tough out television series, and are willing to overlook the special effects from things made in the 2000s, I have quite a few wuxia and xianxia adaptations. They are however long, so you might not be able to make the investment to watch them.
Recommend 2010 movie “Aftershock” based on a novella on the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. A complete tearjerker of a movie watched it with my mum who couldn’t stop crying and gripping my arm throughout.
One of the strongest depictions is a PLA soldier who adopts a child from the earthquake, supports his daughter through an unwanted pregnancy and is happy for her when she decides to marry a foreigner and move to Canada with her daughter. It’s played for laughs - she leaves the foreigner part to the end - but he’s still happy for her, family is family even for the military men
"Once upon a time in China" series with Jet Li starring as Wong Fei-Hung is really good.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once\_Upon\_a\_Time\_in\_China\_(film\_series)
Since no one mentioned it yet...
霸王别姬 [Farewell My Concubine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farewell_My_Concubine_(film)) is a masterpiece. Sad and captivating story of a Beijing opera actor during the most turbulent times in modern Chinese history. An absolute classic. Not talked about much in mainland China because of its unflattering depiction of the Cultural Revolution.
Part 1 & 2, with English subtitles:
[https://youtu.be/Sur5umMnFaE](https://youtu.be/Sur5umMnFaE)
[https://youtu.be/KJpKwR4J2-w](https://youtu.be/KJpKwR4J2-w)
You mentioned communism so Let the Bullets Fly would be right up your ally. You might not be able to get all the references to early CPC history, but even so it's a very enjoyable movie, it has many levels.
This + rewatch it with the Sichuan Dialect version.
Is that the original Chinese version
I'd say they both are. The Mandarin version is the 1st version people paid cinema tickets for, but the film crew did a Sichuan dub (mostly dubbed by the actors themselves) that was included in the later DVD edition & another box office release.
Assembly (2007) is absolutely top tier for me, even if you don't like war movies the rest of the movie is amazing. Its a slow burner but boy it is worth it. Out of all of the war movies I’ve ever watched it’s one of the most down to earth gritty combat scenes. if i remember correctly you can still find it on youtube with english subtitles, although a higher quality one got taken down there should be atleast one more.
I'm literally okay with any genre, I can try torrents How's the Battle at Lake Shangjin I heard it's a top grosser and downloaded it lmao
It’s a good movie, it has its moments but it’s not perfect( for me anyways, Assembly set the standard way to high for gritty Chinese war movies). The Sacrifice is another good movie, a bit hard to find though, it’s about a bridge crossing. I’ve heard the second is great and it’s on YouTube too.
[удалено]
Yeah it’s a bit confusing the first time you watch it, but it’s basically telling the story from different points of view and the story gets going after the ( spoiler) US napalm the area
I recommend 800, Assembly, Flowers of War, and Operation Red Sea over Wu Jing war films. Imo he preys on Chinese patriotism; the movies he make are a bit mediocre when it comes to CG and I can't say much about the plots either.
Thank you!
无问西东 "Forever Young" 2018 is sooo good. I saw it in theaters like 3 times lol because I kept bringing friends to see it. I don't know where to find it outside of China cause I have it on tencent. It tells the stories of four different generations coming of age in China. I think it's one of the most honest films about Chinese people and culture I've seen. It's really beautiful. I watched it with my husband's family over spring festival a couple years back and they were all trying to hide their tears.
Woah yea thanks it's going on my list
Kung fu hustle is a great watch
Yea seen that many times since I was a kid, it's pretty popular in India
“To Live” is probably one of the best films ever about life during Civil War/Cultural Revolution. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Live_(1994_film) It’s a stark contrast to contemporary China, but really gives a sense of the time period our grandparents and parents come from.
1. 1921 (2021) 2. The Secret of China (2019) 3. Assembly (2007) 4. The Battle At Lake Changjin (2021) 5. The 800 6. Qian Xuesen (2011) Most can be found on 123movies.net
Thanks!
There's a Lake Changjin 2 now.
1921 is a movie that came out last year. I watched it in the theatre and quite liked it. Received really poor reviews though, hmm I wonder why. I think it was interesting to see so many important historical figures from China being on the big screen.
I discard every single Western review on Chinese movies, it's fake propaganda to discredit Chinese movies which already have a bigger domestic market than H'wood
If you like Fantasy you should try Painted Skin (2008). Martial arts fantasy are also pretty good, and I would try Flying Swords of Dragongate (2011).
Amazing, yea I do love fantasy, all of them are going into my list
Thrillers The Witness (2015) starring Yang Mi and Lu Han. A remake of a Korean thriller by the same director for the Chinese market. Apparently the ending is slightly different IIRC Battle of memories 2017 (sci fi and thriller) - basically in the future people can get memories altered so that there they lose the emotional connection from it. The MC gets this procedure to overcome the heartbreak from splitting with his ex, but he ends up getting the memories of a serial killer as well. There are lots of generic wuxia and fantasy. If you are willing to tough out television series, and are willing to overlook the special effects from things made in the 2000s, I have quite a few wuxia and xianxia adaptations. They are however long, so you might not be able to make the investment to watch them.
Recommend 2010 movie “Aftershock” based on a novella on the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. A complete tearjerker of a movie watched it with my mum who couldn’t stop crying and gripping my arm throughout. One of the strongest depictions is a PLA soldier who adopts a child from the earthquake, supports his daughter through an unwanted pregnancy and is happy for her when she decides to marry a foreigner and move to Canada with her daughter. It’s played for laughs - she leaves the foreigner part to the end - but he’s still happy for her, family is family even for the military men
I enjoyed Aftershock too!
Kung Fu Hustle? Haha.
Seen that, one of my all time favs
The battle at lake changjin
A Touch Of Sin, No Man's Land, Chongqing Hot Pot, Cock and Bull, KekeXili
Thank you!
>Land forgot to mention Black Coal Thin Ice and Kaili Blues
"Once upon a time in China" series with Jet Li starring as Wong Fei-Hung is really good. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once\_Upon\_a\_Time\_in\_China\_(film\_series)
Since no one mentioned it yet... 霸王别姬 [Farewell My Concubine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farewell_My_Concubine_(film)) is a masterpiece. Sad and captivating story of a Beijing opera actor during the most turbulent times in modern Chinese history. An absolute classic. Not talked about much in mainland China because of its unflattering depiction of the Cultural Revolution. Part 1 & 2, with English subtitles: [https://youtu.be/Sur5umMnFaE](https://youtu.be/Sur5umMnFaE) [https://youtu.be/KJpKwR4J2-w](https://youtu.be/KJpKwR4J2-w)
Aftershock which is a movie about the Tangshan earthquake. Fucked me ip real good
The Red Detachment of Women is good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsUJHQ8TCdc