Chinese Cinema: Hero

This critical article was written by Eleanor Hisaye Taniguchi. It discuses the globalization of Chinese cinema, and it focuses on Zhang Yimou's movie Hero. It gives a background on Zhang Yimous life and the work he has done in the past. It also talks about the Chinese governments outlook on these films and how things are changing.

Chinese Cinema: Hero

This critical article was written by Eleanor Hisaye Taniguchi. It discuses the globalization of Chinese cinema, and it focuses on Zhang Yimou's movie Hero. It gives a background on Zhang Yimous life and the work he has done in the past. It also talks about the Chinese governments outlook on these films and how things are changing.

Zhang Yimou's Movies Get a Thumbs Down

This critical article written by Adam Graham-Silverman is entitled Why Zhang Yimou's Two Movies Shouldn't be on Top-Ten Lists: Critical Mistake. In the article, Silverman talks about two movies both directed by Zhang Yimou: Hero and House of Flying Daggers. Silverman talks about how although these two movies may be unique with their color choices and special effects, that doesn't make them good movies. Silverman goes on to say,

Critics should not mistake unique for good. Many critics are indeed snared by the surface elements of Zhang's two films: the wire-work fight scenes and the luscious use of color. But even if one examines only these formal structures, the movies still don't have much to offer.

Silverman goes on to talk about Hero by saying,

In the best classic wuxia films, the formal elements skillfully take on the functions that plot and dialogue often serve. While Zhang also focuses on these aspects, he doesn't achieve that synthesis. Like his color work, the movies look pretty but ultimately feel meaningless.

Silverman criticizes the slow-motion used in Hero by saying how it takes away from the few scenes that are interesting and making them all about the special effects instead of the plot.

Very quickly the overload becomes desensitizing and we're left feeling bored.

All in all, Silverman doesn't seem to like these two movies directed by Yimou. Not only does he criticize the overuse of special effects, but he thinks American critics are too nice towards the movies.

Critical Article on Three King

This this critical article is written by Julie Lorenzen. In this article Julie analyzes Three Kings in a couple of catagories. First she analyzes, "the socio/political context of The Three Kings" and then "the issues and events of the late 1990s." In other words there are some ideological analysis of the film with some historical in this article.

In the Combat Zone

This article is written by Marylin Young for "Radical History Review" in winter of 2003. The article can easily be accessed from UIC workstation. Non-UIC workstations need some kind of authorization.
The article gives us an interesting look in the place when it quotes George Clooney's special forces friend says that he really didn't know what he did there (kuwait). The main idea is that americans have liberated Kuwait. This is the reason the friend of this soldier replies, "Do you want to occupy Iraq", and "do Vietnam all over again".

The vietnam syndrome (no clear victory) and the media image is a big part of this article. It quotes Rove for the War on Terror saying that hollywood should play a role in declaring that "The war is against terrorism, not Islam... a fight against evil than disagreement between nations". This meeting provides a background to the powerful influence of media on our minds. The article mentions that madia blunders were blamed for the loss of the vietnam war. This is why you see in the quotes above that the army doesn't want to repeat "vietnam again". The power of media is shown in the film when George Clooney and his band of soldiers make the reporter go in circles than tell they plan to steal kuwaiti gold. Of course, stealing would hurt the "liberator" image of the army. But they don't hesitate to use the reporter when they are saving those iraqi refugees and moving them across to Iran at the checkpoint against army orders. These soldiers used the media to their advantage as due to the reporter's reporting on them, these soldiers get off easy because of their "heroic actions" in saving Iraqi civilians from saddam's murderous army.

Jump Cut-"Three Kings" Neocolonial Arab representation

Jump Cut begins this article about Three Kings by giving a brief overview of relations between the Middle East and America. The Persian Gulf War, and the present war against Iraq are mentioned, as well as the stereotypes of Arab's and the Middle East. This historical background is followed by giving a short summary of the movie, such as that it is based off of the end of the Persian Gulf War. How the movie relates to the reality of Middle Eastern relations is continuously discussed throughout the article. The author, Lila Kitaeff, discusses how in Three Kings the soldiers realize that America is not doing its job in helping the refugee's like they should be. Kitaeff also Brings to attention that Three Kings is a remake of Kelly's Heroes, a WWII film. So does this mean that the U.S. has been ignoring their responsibilities during wars since then? This critical article is very helpful in the fact that it analyzes the movie both ideologically, historically, and nationally.