Great artists steal

Rating: 9/10 (21 December 2011)

Hated all Zhang Yimou's movies after "To Live". But "Flowers of War", Wow! much better than "Schindler's list".
Although "Flowers of War" is almost equal first half of "Saving Private Ryane" plus second half of "Schindler's List", there is something more.
Zhang Yimou wants an Oscar. But I don't think he will get it with this one.
Nonetheless, you will be entertained by the action scenes.
Then you will be touched.
At the end, you will cry.
Ironically, recently there is news of Christian Bale went to visit a blind Chinese human rights lawyer who is confined at home by local police in Shandong Province china. Bale being stopped and roughed up by local police was viewable on youtube. Though the situation was not a bit deadly as in the movie, the local police gave Bale similar attitude like the Japanese soldiers in the movie. Bale fled in a van with the camera crew, reminding viewers the end of the movie.