2003CC: Zhang Yimou
- Ju Dou (90): *****
- Raise the Red Lantern (91): *****
- Red Sorghum (87): *****
- To Live (94): **** 1/2
- The Story of Qiu Ju (92): **** 1/2
- Not One Less (99): **** 1/2
- Shanghai Triad (95): ****
- The Road Home (00): *** 1/2
This is a new entry in an up-dated series I'm calling the New Critical Consensus. Several people have requested updates of the older series, and since critical opinions shift, I am revamping the entire system. I am averaging the opinions of several excellent film critics to produce a list of each director's movies. Rather than using a number system, which was perhaps a bit clunky, I will now be using a five-star system. The films will be listed in a recommended viewing order, so new fans will have an idea of where the best place to start watching a director's work is.
These are not my opinions, although, since I have chosen the critics used (and I'm using many), my taste will perhaps seep through a bit.
Terribly nerdy, I know, but maybe this will help people only now beginning to dabble into certain artists' bodies of work.
Scale:
***** - Masterpiece
**** 1/2 - Classic
**** - Great
*** 1/2 - Good
*** - Above Average
** 1/2 - Average
** - Below Average
* 1/2 - Bad
* - Terrible
1/2 - One of the worst films ever
You must have known I'd stick my head in here. :-) I can't argue with the critical concensus at all. While I could quibble over Ju Dou snagging the top spot from Raise the Red Lantern I won't. I know you prefer it, and they are both wonderful. Who knows, I may prefer it upon upon rewatching both as well.
The only one of these I haven't seen is Red Sorghum. While this is kinda an embarrassing admission coming from such a Zhang booster, in my defense I've never been able to find a copy to rent. Excuse me while I run off to update my DVDs I Wish Existed list...
Okay, I'm back. Thanks for the list! (not that you created it for me specifically or anything :-)
Except, of course, I mostly did.
The arrangement within each rating group is determined solely by me and isn't meant to imply any quality difference. I just weigh two concerns.
1) Is this film representative of the director's work or considered by many the masterpiece?
2) Is this film accessible to first time viewers of the director?
Sometimes, sadly enough, the two conflict, and I simply have to make a choice.
Ju Dou landed on top due to the second option. Asking around, I realized that most of my friends who have watched both films seem to think that Ju Dou was a bit more accessible and certainly a very enticing way to start boning up on this master.
So, I'm really not trying to say Ju Dou is better than Lantern.
I typed that pretty fast. Boy, I hope it makes sense!
I'm glad the list has your stamp of approval, as you are the local Yimou expert!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I'll add that when there is a close tie, as Ju Dou and Red Lantern very nearly were, I tend to allow chronology to win out. This was another factor to Ju Dou landing on top!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
That all makes sense to me! Thanks for the background info, and thanks again for the list! The more people that incorporate it into their "to see" lists, the better. :-)