Rating: 
Summary: You've never seen stubborn or determined ....
Review: until you see this movie. I mean the viewer practically squirms in their setas as they see the main character with dogged determination declare and demand ownership over a bicycle that he had paid for little by little as a messenger in downrown Beijing .... It's not your usual movie fare and any reveiwer that says they've been to this bustling city that wakens slowly every morning and could not idently with our main characters plight, don't know what they are talking about .... It's a wonderfull and thought provoking film of dogged determination ... something we see so little of today!
Rating: 
Summary: An appalling drudge
Review: When the critics rave ... beware!!! In spite of the elaborate critical acclaim for this film I found it to be unrelentingly depressing. The synopsis is utterly misleading. It reads far too optimistic and joyful. It should read: Simple farm boy gets job as city cycle courier. Works hard to pay for his bicycle. Selfish, sulky, ungrateful brat steals bike. Brat is responsible for farm boy being repeatedly beaten as he tries to reclaim bike. Brat bashes another man who in turn bashes him and the farm boy. End of sour commentary on the selfishness and greed of some blighted human beings. Unless you have the stomach for watching a simple soul and all he has worked for be ground down over 113 minutes don't watch it!
Rating: 
Summary: Annoying
Review: While this film is very beautifully made I found it quite simply irritating. Rather than feeling sorry for the main character's misfortunes, after nearly two hours of watching him trying to get his bicycle back, I couldn't help feeling at least a certain degree of satisfaction in the scene were he gets the s**t kicked out of him. It didn't seem like it was anything special about contemporary Chinese society that was responsible for his downfall (bicycles, are stolen all over the world) but his own naive personality and his utterly fustrating lack of ability to communicate with anyone. Furthermore, one part of the film did somewhat resemble BMX Bandits. I would however recommed Lao She's excellent book The Rickshaw Boy that this film is based upon, about a country boy in the 1930s who goes to Beijing to make a living in the Rickshaw business.
Rating: 
Summary: Captivating
Review: Who would have thought that a bicycle become the star of this show? For mainland Chinese, bicycle is something that they can't live without. This movie was made in Beijing and it explored the uneasy relationships between the city people and out-of-towners who are going there for better job prospects and thus, better life. The story revolved around this country boy who secured a job as a courier boy and he was presented with a state-of-the-art bicycle which meant to facilitate him in his job and to portray the image of his company. He meant to work to a certain level to pay off his bike and when he was on the verge of doing so, his bike got stolen and naturally, he lost his job. Due to his determination and stubborness, the boss agreed that should he manage to find the bike back, he would get his job in return. Then, we were introduced to yet another character, the person who was using his bike. Did he actually steal his bike or did he buy the bike from vendor who stole it? Along the way, we got to catch a glimpse of the alleyway lifestyle called "hutong" and how the downtrodden lived their lifestyle. Both of them loved the same bike wholeheartedly. One needed it because it's his livelihood & the other person wanted it for his lifestyle. Can you imagine what would happen when both of their lives collided? Sparks and fireworks ensued, and the ending was a spectacular climax with quite an explosive ending. Furthermore, there were other subplots which displayed of us the mentality of people from different social stratas, and attitudes of mainland Chinese when push comes to shove. Personally, this movie is akin to a symphony or poetry in motion. It might be slow for some but their very reason of disliking it is the very reason of me liking it. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A true story of Chinese life
Review: You can like it or hate it. But to say this film is not real life, that is simply ridiculous. I am a Chinese in my 30's and this story reminds me of my life more than 10 years ago.
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