britney-lightbox: Jasmine Women

JASMINE WOMEN - Another EVERLASTING REGRET?

Finally have a chance to watch this movie today. First impression, the story flows like Sammi Cheng’s EVERLASTING REGRET. Both movies have female lead, who are unfortunate (in relationship) in the fast changing China. Both movies attempt to showcase what an actress is capable of stretching.

Briefly, the movie tells a family with four generations, which seems destine to be single-mother. Where the third generation settled down with a decent husband, the conclusions are equally devastating. I shall not place any spoilers here. Watch it to find out.

Although the movie earns many awards, I can’t help but yawn throughout the un-climatic plots. Somehow, the emotional bits, which are the most critical elements of such movie, are very dull and tone down. Zhang Ziyi still did not shake herself off that “stubborn-girl” expression seen in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers, and Memoirs of a Geisha. No surprise at all.

The saving grace of this movie could have been veteran actress, Joan Chen. She had comfortably pulled off two different roles, with three different temperaments in the movie: the struggled great Grandmother, the flirtatious mother, and a wise grandmother. In fact, I almost think that the movie is about her, rather than Zhang ZiYi!

Anyway, watching the movie is another everlasting Regret. Get the hint?

2.5/5 for movie
3/5 for Zhang ZiYi
4.5/5 for Joan Chen

Searching through my posters collection and found two original double-sided posters of Zhang ZiYi’s earlier movies: House of Flying Dagger and Memoirs of a Geisha.