Rating: 
Summary: Thank goodness for no sex and violence
Review: Thank goodness for once we can get a good flim without sex and violence instead a good family flim without silly talking animals, super cute apes and children so cute that they have been fed with sugar enough to bring in diabetes. The new crop of Chinese flicks are just great... Are'nt we jaded with the crop of rubbish Hollywood has poured on us in 2000. Like talking and kissing dinosaurs, a nude grinch, Independent women who dress like they are not....I will watch foreign flims if Hollywood stops making all those rubbish.
Rating:
Summary: Squeaky clean grumpy old men
Review: The title above is in fact a compliment to this absolutely wonderful movie. I will not say more about the plot as its been mention in all the wonderful reviews here. BUT I have to mention that I am becoming more and more fascinated with the old actor Xu Zhu. I first saw him in King Of Mask and I think he is fantastic. He always have a stern, grouchy grandpapa look that will burst into a heartwarming smile in a split second. Watch out for some of the wackiest characters too. The two sons are good, but the retarted one is both funny, and at the same time made me feel really sad for him. Some other really cute characters are a gentle spoken guy with a domineering, bullying wife, two old men always quibbling about their pet crickets like overgrown kids and a fat "o sole Mio" guy that is comical and yet annoying and irritating , and one of their friend who always dream of striking it rich :) Wonderful. one of my favourite quote from the movie: "Its time to stop dreaming - get a real job! " wow Some of the most mesmerizing scenes in the movie are in the flash-backs told by the aging father about the importance of water and the sacrifice people take in olden days to obtain water for usage, ceremonies and spiritual uses. These scenes are so dream like with gorgeous cinematography. That cant help but reminds you of those excellent landscapes used by Zhang Yimou , Xie Fei and He Ping. (These 3 directors are known for their lush visuals) Watching these scenes of water searching from the deserts of Northwest China to the arid plateau of the Tibetan Highlands are rich & beautiful with the haunting music and the singing of the Chinese folk song, will absolutely reminds you of great movies like Red Sorghum, A Mongolian Tale, The Road Home and Xiu Xiu, Tian Yu. This movie's message is world wide. Basically the difference in generation gap of the young and old, the modern and the traditional, technology and hand made. As to the question of Ms, Jane Chin about the seduction in reverse...I whole heartedly agree with her. I was seduced way before this movie was made and I am much happier and prouder with a simple humble lifestyle and this movie had confirmed that decision. Living here in a tightly packed Asia continent, with her 20 or more nations moving into modernization , this movie is too real. Genghiz Tanghe
Rating:
Summary: shower
Review: this film is enchanting, it made me cry, it made me smile and it made me laugh. do'nt miss the opportunity to see this beautiful film
Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Movies Ever Made if not the greatest!!!
Review: This film is outstanding, simply beautiful. The acting is top notch for unknown chinese actors speaking their language who and which i am not familiar with, but hope to be soon especially after watching this. This film shows things to be thankful about, shows honesty, faith, and most importantly love. Even if people cant stand reading the subtitles, this is worth every minute of it. Anyone who doesnt like this film doesnt know what a good movie is about, its not just an opinion its honestly a fact. This film is very funny and yet very deep. See it now if you havent, (...)
Rating:
Summary: Strange, captivating, and heart-warming.
Review: This is a really strange, captivating, Chinese movie about an old man and his retarded adult son who run a traditional, men's bathhouse in an old section of Beijing together. A short visit by the old man's other son, who had formerly wanted nothing to do with the business, becomes a longer stay than anyone expected due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. We could say that this is a movie about the encroaching modernization of China and it's impact upon traditional culture, but I came away from my night with the DVD wondering how one goes about putting together a small stable of fighting crickets. If I can figure this out, I'm headed down to Chinatown, looking for a match. This is an interesting, bittersweet movie that is comical in the way that Wertmuller's "Swept Away" is comical. The characters are very "human" and you will likely empathize with their situations, as I did. You may as well spring for the DVD as you will undoubtedly want to see it more than once in your life anyway. Possibly, before the next East-West summit, the heads of State involved should swap a few good movies before getting together.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderfully dramatized conflict of Modern China vs Tradit.
Review: This is a straightforward comedy about relationships, human feelings and human spirit. It is set in a city in modern day northern China. An older man (Zhu Xu, who starred in The King of Masks) owns a bathhouse. His son, Er Ming (second son) assists him, who is retarded. Er Ming is the delight of his father's life. They both love the bathhouse and all its customers. For Er Ming, especially, it is his whole world. Er Ming sends a post card to his brother Da Ming (big brother) who is a businessman is Shenzen, the economic heart of China, in the south. Da Ming has been estranged from his father for many years. On the post card, Er Ming, in his primitive way, seemed to indicate to his older brother that their father had passed away. Da Ming returns, but he discovers that his father is alive. The reason Da Ming is estranged from his father is because he is ashamed of him and the business he runs. He is ashamed of his father's traditional ways. Da Ming only respects greed and ruthless capitalism. The bathhouse is a haven for traditional ways and relationships. Da Ming is married but did not bring his wife along because he is ashamed of his retarded bother. One of the interesting contrasts is that although Da Ming is ashamed of his brother Er Ming, the father is ashamed of Da Ming and takes such joy in Er Ming. And none of the bathhouse customers stigmatize Er Ming. The film is not a downer; it is full of comedy. There is a bathhouse customer who sings, "O Solo Mio," (in heavy Mandarin accent) every time he takes a bath. Later, he teaches the song to Er Ming. The older customers raise and train crickets for cricket fights, which are held in the bathhouse. There is constant serious boasting and bragging over who has the toughest cricket. I don't want to give away too much. Another critic believes that, in the end, Da Ming learns some respect for the old ways. I did not feel that way. In the final scene, Er Ming sings, "O Solo Mio," in the batch house, and I feel it is like a funeral eulogy for tradition. The capitalist barbarians win. China has thrown out the baby with the bath water. Although the movie is in Mandarin with subtitles, it can be found in the regular movie racks at the video store. Lindy liked the movie much, much more than I did. I think to really appreciate it, one need Chinese cultural roots. And of course, if you don't know Mandarin Chinese, you have to read the subtitles, which means you can't focus on the pictorial.
Rating:
Summary: this movie is a 5 star movie, no matter what anyone says
Review: this is an incredible movie, very touching. it has a lot to say about today's mindless non-stop pursuit of who knows what. if you like great movies full of nuance and craft, this is one of the best. if you like schwarzenegger, don't even waste your time.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow!
Review: THis movie for lack of a better word BORING! The charecters in this movie have no depth. The plot is about a guy who runs a shower house. WHO CARES! The movie feels like it's 10 hours long. Buy it for foreign taste, but not for a movie that makes you think.
Rating:
Summary: The best foreign film ever!
Review: This movie has a little of everything for everyone. It should be nominated for an Academy Award this year! It is a wonderful, sensitive story set in China showing how the new world is replacing the old, and one family whose lives are unalterably affected by it. Don't miss this one!
Rating:
Summary: Seduction works in reverse
Review: This subtitled Chinese movie tells a story of collision between technological progress and old-times. The story begins when a prodigal son returns from the city to his home town - a place that barely changed since he was a boy - to see his aging father. During the course of his stay, the son began to accept and finally embrace the very things he had once detested as the "modern, progressive" man. This story is one we can all relate to, regardless of where we are and who we are. The world is changing quickly, and we have learned to take everything at face value and for granted. We make our lives complicated in hopes that we can concoct contentment within ourselves and in our lives. Then we become dependent on the technology we created and wonder why we feel tired/stressed/rushed all the time. "Shower" is a movie that made me wonder if seduction works in reverse - if the modern man can be seduced by a "kinder, more simple" lifestyle. I wonder whether many of us will be interested in living as a large extended family of neighbors who are customers and friends - people you talk about impotence and marriage problems with, people you would entrust your mentally handicapped child with. Most of the stories I hear are "success stories" of how someone "made it big" or "struck it rich". But I suppose, for a few, like the prodigal son, seduction works in reverse.
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