Review: what a great shame that such a talented director as chen kaige has chosen to make his english-language debut with a film 
Sentiment: negative

Review: earnest dramaturgy 
Sentiment: positive

Review: to squeeze a few laughs out of the material 
Sentiment: negative

Review: moves in such odd plot directions and descends into such message-mongering moralism that its good qualities are obscured . 
Sentiment: negative


Review: for occasional smiles