The King of Masks

Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Story
Review: "The King of Masks" is a beautiful, simple story between an old man and a little girl in 1930s' China. It has excellent picture framings and poetic background audio. The only negative about this movie is that the DVD is presented in a Pan & Scan format. I hope someday it will be re-released in its origiginal theatrical released format. If you love any movie at all you will love this movie- a Classic, a Masterpiece, a Must-see. You do not need to understand Chinese Mandrin (subtiteld in English, French, Spainsh) to appreciate "The King of Masks".

Rating:
Summary: The King of Masks is Anthropology 101
Review: What is it about us that makes us human? Please have this question in mind when you watch this film. This is a classic. It is literature on film. It has all of the dynamics of humanness that all of us live, understand or wish wasn't true. I had so many emotions flow through me while watching this film. It is so compelling. What I find even more interesting are the comments from viewers. They seem to feel the dynamics of this story, of the cultural dimensions and turnings, are wholly Chinese. It's as if they are asleep. It's as if they cannot recognize themselves in the film, if not exactly, certainly the possibilities are real. Therefore, this is why I recommend this film to parents and their children. It is a family film. But the lesson will be totally lost if American parents watch this film with their children and tell them, "See. This is how things were (or are) in China and some other places in the Third World." As if they don't happen and can't happen right here in America. This film is a chance to teach our children what all of the discipline and study and engagement in the better self is all about but it is also a wonderful opportunity for some parents to teach supremacy of the American Dream. And I can't emphasis "Dream" enough. Thank you for your attention.

Rating:
Summary: a touching gem of Chinese Cinema
Review: I came across this on television, flicking across the channels one night and ended up glued to it. While a simple tale, King of Masks eloquently describes the nature of friendship and family. The movie is beautifully shot, using an almost zen-like simplicity, creating an enchanting atmosphere of a riverside Chinese town. Performances by all characters are excellent and completely involving. I haven't seen the DVD but, seeing as it's anamorphic, the quality should be good. Hopefully other Chinese movies like those of Zhang Yi Mo and Chen Kaige, will also be released with anamorphic quality and we can enjoy these incredibly beautiful films in all their glory.

Rating:
Summary: Enchanting
Review: Two years ago, I saw this film on an airplane to the Orient. There, despite the roar of engines, the pain of the foolish, never-fitting earphones, and a tiny screen, I became enchanted with the picture and have been trying to buy it ever since. It is a touching tale of an orphan who is "acquired" by a foster father that lives on a river boat and has a special talent. Full of drama, emotion, and especially Chinese cultural insight. Super!

Rating:
Summary: King of Masks
Review: I haven't seen the DVD, this review is from the theatrical film.

A brilliant film, with the best peformance by a child since "Ponnette". Diretor Wu Tianming has said "I wanted to make this film because I fear society is forgetting our Chinese traditions. These traditions emphasized the value of morality and ethics, proper manners, a sense of honor, and taking care of each other." A wonderful story of the friendship between a street performer and a child.

Rating:
Summary: A Visual Treat
Review: "The King of Masks" is one of the best films I've seen in years, and I've seen quite a few. I love the fact that the Chinese have discovered what American filmmakers seem to have forgotten: that a good story, well acted and superbly shot, beats the heck out of high-tech special effects any day! This film is magical in its ability to transport you back to 1930's China and make you feel every little joy, every heartache, and the redemption of the human spirit in exquisite detail -- and it does it without blowing anyone or anything up! The actors deliver impassioned performances of a masterful script -- the director keeps the visuals captivating, and in the end, we are better people for having seen and loved this film. My only complaint -- why the Pan and Scan format! Please, please tell me we'll eventually be treated to the widescreen version of this modern masterpiece!

Rating:
Summary: Must see for everyone with a heart
Review: I love Chinese cinema,so I expected this to be a good film from the get-go...but even I was taken aback by the simple,heart-wrenching story(with a happy ending),and so were my 8 and 14 year-old sons.The subtitles are easy to read,and while it's true their aren't a lot of extras on the dvd-this is such a beautiful movie that it doesn't need gimmicks.You just need to see it.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, DVD sound quality poor
Review: This is a wonderful film, set in 1930s Sichuan, about an old man who is the last living practitioner of face-mask changing. He laments that he has no male heir on whom to pass down his art, and decides to visit a blackmarket where children are sold. There he finds a wonderful young boy who is thoughtful, enthusiastic and intelligent. Life seems wonderful and the old man proudly introduces his new grandson to the people he meets, but things don't go as planned and he rejects the child. The consequences of his bigotry reverberate until a dramatic action forces him to rethink his traditional views.

DVD treatment is below average. The movie can be heard in Chinese and subtitled in English, French or Spanish. The only extra is a trailer for the film.

Rating:
Summary: Captured my heart from the very beginning. I loved it!
Review: This 1996 Chinese film captured my heart from the very beginning. It's set in China in the 1930s, when street performing and Chinese opera were still considered an art. An old man performs with masks, an ancient Chinese art of which he is very proud. By family tradition, he must pass on his art to a male heir and, since his only son had died many years before, he needs to adopt a young boy. And so he goes to a "baby market" where parents and slave traders sell children. When an 8-year old calls out "grandpa", he purchases the child. It is only a few days later that he discovers that he has adopted a girl, not a boy. She begs him not to cast her away, and so he trains her to be a street performer, but does not teach her the art of masks because she is only a girl.

The plot gets more complex and held me captive with emotion as I was swept into the story and completely identified with the characters and all their problems, especially after the old man and the girl attend a Chinese opera, where female impersonators are stars. There, the ancient story of a woman sacrificing herself for her father is played out in highly dramatic costumed theatrics.

I loved this film - not only for the wonderful story and great acting, but it brought me right into the heart of China and let me immerse myself in another time and place. Yes, there is a happy ending, but not until there were more twists and turns of the plot and I never knew how it would all turn out. Acting was outstanding and I must applaud the actors, Yu Zhu as the old man, Zhigang Zhang as the female impersonator and - mostly, Renying Zhou as the little girl. Rarely have I seen such a fine performance by an 8-year old. Therefore, this film gets one of my highest recommendations. And even though there are some sad and scary parts, I recommend it for everyone.