Rating: 
Summary: A great film - but you have to be in the right mood.
Review: I've seen most of Chen Kaige's films and this one is undoubtedly one of his best efforts. Yes, there was plenty of luxuriant cinematography to complement the decadent sensuality of the story line. And yes the central theme of the story - the tragedy brought on by one man's inability to love, his indulgence in hate and jealousy - is a well-beaten horse. But Chen was so successful in creating richly-detailed, fully 3-dimensional characters that the viewer quickly became interested in their fate and the watched in fascination as the tangled web unfolds.I did not find the pace of the film too slow and mind you, I thought Mission Impossible 2 was too slow. But I don't expect a 3 figure body count from a Chen Kaige film. Nor did I find the plot of the film especially complex, as long as you are not distracted by the multitude of secondary characters and focus on the main ones. Ultimately, this is a story about boy (who happens to be a mobster) meets girl (who is supposed to be the victim), boy falls for girl, boy is scared of love, boy loses girl, boy becomes jealous and tragedy ensues. Despite the undercurrent of tragedy always present, the film does not lack for hilarious moments. Leslie Cheung is dashing as the gigolo-bandit who struts about sprouting pick-up lines such as "Miss, where is the family library?" Gong Li gave her usual solid performance as the woman discovering her sensuality and is always pleasant to look at, though I have doubts about her range. A great film. But you have to be in the right mood for it.
Rating:
Summary: Behold the fine work of Zhang Yimou
Review: It is never easy to see the beauty of Zhang's work and I'm pretty picky in what I watch, but when Zhang usally puts his wife (Gong Li) in it, you can bet it's one of the better films. Any love story from Zhang is to be honored, especially this one for its fascinating well design characters. The innocence of Ru Yi (Gong Li), Danwu's loyality and desire to serve his elder sister, and Zhongliang's style of charming and motives. I couldn't take my eyes off it for all the interesting situations and scenes are so unexpected. I can tell you that I have watched the movie more than four times, stil it never got old to me.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning, amazing, memorable
Review: It makes you think. Each of the three characters is human, fallable and understandable. X-liong, for his mistake made as a child, that he still suffers for in guilt and fear, Ruyi, for her humanity, and her curiousity and her easily made mistakes and misunderstandings, and Dwan-Hu maybe the strongest of the characters, suffers in silence and is driven by his pure selfless love of Ruyi, which is shown at the end of the movie, which I thought ended well, and in a sick way, justly. Those of you who thought it was hard to follow, need to learn to read better.
Rating:
Summary: Very good but very sad.
Review: It's a very complicated and beautiful drama. However it's very sad and everything you don't want to happen does. So if you don't mind being frustrated with the character's decisions then you will enjoy a well-written and well-acted movie.
Rating:
Summary: Another masterpiece by Chen Kaige
Review: Set in China during the 1920s, Temptress Moon is a brooding Gothic tale about innocence corrupted, love betrayed and the collision of traditional Chinese culture with modern Western ways, played out as an elaborate 'battle of the sexes'. The film's concept is almost as ambitious as that of its predecessor, Farewell My Concubine, but where Farewell My Concubine succeeded brilliantly in communicating both its personal and political aspects, Temptress Moon tends to get stuck in its own convoluted story line and repeated viewing is required to be able to fully appreciate it. Nevertheless, those patient enough to do so will be richly rewarded as this is a masterpiece in disguise, not least due to its stunning photography and the three lead actors' brilliant performances. Following the death of their parents, 13-year old Zhongliang (Leslie Cheung) is invited to live with his older sister and her husband, the heir of the wealthy Pang family, in their sprawling country mansion. He soon finds himself in the position of a virtual slave who has to wait on them hand and foot. When his brother-in-law tries to force him into an incestuous relationship with his sister, he poisons him and flees to Shanghai where he becomes a gigolo who makes his living off sleeping with married women and then blackmailing them. Meanwhile, the head of the Pang family has died and since the heir has been reduced to a vegetable by Zhongliang's poisoning attempt, his sister Ruyi (Gong Li) becomes head of the family in his place. Since she is only a 'weak' woman, her distant relative Duanwu (Kevin Lin) is appointed to be her servant in order to aid and effectively control her. Duanwu is, however, besotted with Ruyi and when she seizes control of the family's fortunes in an unexpectedly assertive way, he supports her 'shocking' actions, bravely facing the family elders' wrath. His hopes are dashed, however, when Zhongliang, by order of the triad boss he works for, returns to the Pang mansion and sets out to seduce the innocent (but very willing) Ruyi in order to lure her back to Shanghai with him. The cynical gigolo plays to her rebellious nature by educating her in Western culture but soon, to his horror, finds himself falling in love with her. Panicking, he tries to extricate himself from the web of deceit he has woven but it is too late and tragedy ensues. Temptress Moon is one of the few films that allowed tragic Hong Kong star Leslie Cheung (Farewell My Concubine, A Chinese Ghost Story, Happy Together) to display the full range of his impressive acting skills. He plays the doomed and damaged Zhongliang with disturbing intensity, from the dashing gigolo who is so full of hate that he won't allow himself to feel any emotions to the tormented young man who, when he finally does fall in love, is forced to confront his inner demons and is destroyed by it. He shines even in the smallest scenes, like when he slouches at a dancehall table and tries to seduce a young girl into dancing with him but then abandons the idea when he realises that she is crying. Without saying a single word he conveys a wealth of conflicting emotions that most other actors wouldn't be able to express if they had so many lines of dialogue to help them along. It is a pity that many people still seem to be unable to see past his 'pretty face' and realise what an exceptional actor he was underneath. As for the others, the great Gong Li is excellent as always in her poetic portrayal of the innocent but spirited Ruyi who tries to find her way in a hostile and oppressive environment and Kevin Lin gives a superb performance as the naïve Duanwu who, through betrayal and humiliation, turns from loyal and devoted servant into a devious brute.
Rating:
Summary: Moon over Shanghai
Review: Temptress moon takes us to the pre 2nd world war China where emperor still ruled and powerful families lived in big lands with many servants and employees. Story starts with a young member of the family who flees from home after her sister and her husbands lustful and opium based life that suffocates him. He poisons his sisters husband and flees to Shanghai. He becomes a gigolo who ambushes married rich ladies and blackmails them for a Chinese mafioso. Years later he returns home in order to seduce the young master of the house who was also a childhood friend a sister to him. The lead acting is provided by Gong Li and Leslie Cheung ,meeting one more time after the "farewell my concubine" and executed brilliantly. Scenes are well shot and especially nite time shots of the films opening scenes as well as street shots and hotel ballroom shots of Shanghai is impressive. Gong Li and her faultless innocence and Cheung's troubled sophistication and regret draws the main lines of the story and it journeys throughout the film, leaving us in curiousity of "what will happen in the next scene ?" The real surprise of the film is the unexpected ending that really adds to the overall success of the film. An alternative story of love and hate which will get your emotions going.
Rating:
Summary: Moon over Shanghai
Review: Temptress moon takes us to the pre 2nd world war China where emperor still ruled and powerful families lived in big lands with many servants and employees. Story starts with a young member of the family who flees from home after her sister and her husbands lustful and opium based life that suffocates him. He poisons his sisters husband and flees to Shanghai. He becomes a gigolo who ambushes married rich ladies and blackmails them for a Chinese mafioso. Years later he returns home in order to seduce the young master of the house who was also a childhood friend a sister to him. The lead acting is provided by Gong Li and Leslie Cheung ,meeting one more time after the "farewell my concubine" and executed brilliantly. Scenes are well shot and especially nite time shots of the films opening scenes as well as street shots and hotel ballroom shots of Shanghai is impressive. Gong Li and her faultless innocence and Cheung's troubled sophistication and regret draws the main lines of the story and it journeys throughout the film, leaving us in curiousity of "what will happen in the next scene ?" The real surprise of the film is the unexpected ending that really adds to the overall success of the film. An alternative story of love and hate which will get your emotions going.
Rating: 
Summary: Great to Look At but not up to Par
Review: The 5th Generation of Chinese Film Makers have given us some of the best foreign cinema in recent years. Chen Kaige has given us two of those in "Farewell My Concubine" and "The Emperor and the Assassin." However, I must admit to being slightly disappointed in Temptress Moon. The film looks good. Gong-li always looks good. And the film does a good job showing the corruption in government and lifestyle that was the Nationalist Period. According to the film, The China of Chiang Kai-shek and the decadence of the period was not good for the people of China. Unfortunately, the film is ultimately too slow. The film lacks those unforgettable moments of the many 5th Generations films. Yes, the film is a good period peace. Yes, the film shows the horrors of Opium. But ultimately, the film is just too much on the slow side.
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable
Review: The usage of symbols and colors turn this movie into art. At the same time, the plot itself is captivating.
Rating: 
Summary: Farfetched plot but great acting, scenery and location
Review: This 1996 Chinese film is set in the sophisticated Shanghai of 1920 as well as the surrounding area. It is a fascinating drama including opium smoking, love, lust and revenge. There's a beautiful young woman, who has been raised to prepare opium for her father and brother. As her brother is paralyzed, she inherits the family home but despite her wealth, she is unhappy. A distant male cousin serves her and falls in love with her. But she falls in love with her sister-in-law's younger brother who has fled the household years ago because of a shameful secret and now makes his living romancing and blackmailing wealthy women in Shanghai. The plot thickens. Sound complicated? Well, it is. But that didn't stop me from watching the story unfold in spite of the farfetched plot. The scenery was beautiful. The acting was excellent. And the location was exotic. And so I relaxed and just enjoyed the film. Recommended.
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