Customer Reviews

The Children of Huang Shi

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the true account of George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), a young English journalist in China during the Japanese occupation of 1937. Initially there to cover the occupation and all that that entails, he and another journalist manage to infiltrate into an area where they are not welcome disguised as Red Cross workers. Things take an ugly turn, and George finds himself alone and wounded, captured by the Japanese, and about to be executed when he is rescued by a Chinese partisan. He is whisked away to a remote orphanage in the hills to recuperate, and what is at first only tolerated by the invalid becomes his mission in life.

With the help of the Chinese partisan (the great Chow Yun Fat) and a young Australian woman adventurer/nurse (Radha Mitchell), George undertakes an almost unbelievable task: to evacuate the sixty orphan boys in the orphanage he has turned into a school 700 miles through China mountain passes on the Silk Road to the edge of the Gobi Desert, to save them from being conscripted into war.

Beautifully filmed, the movie portrays mid-twentieth century China against breathtaking vistas and crowded cities amidst ancient buildings and sweeping deserts. The full vast scope of China is so gorgeously shown it makes you want to go there, and retells the story of George and his sixty young charges to a new generation of moviegoers who most likely have never heard of the Japanese Occupation. There is a beautiful score as well; the right music compliments a film, and this is all that and more.

I love a good historical drama well told, and there are no missteps here. This was an excellent film.

I agree with Flight Risk's review of this film on all accounts. I saw the movie last night, and could not help but be very moved by it. I am also glad that this man's obscure story is being told, as anyone can use it as an example for their life...I know that it has touched me greatly.

Technically a few flaws can be found, and most media reviewers are doing so, and completely missing the point of the movie. I do agree that a documentary version of Hogg's efforts really needs to be made, so that even more people can know the true history here, without the artistic embellishment. I also don't think that Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was really the best pick for portraying Hogg, as his pretty-boy looks somehow distracts from the character's believability, but his acting is touching nonetheless. The storytelling also does kind of move at a quick pace, and you really have to let what is being said here soak in through your eyes to your heart as it moves along -- that is, the realities of that era and being a child with no home or hope, which is what the story really is about. I think that these things are what has distracted the negative media reviewers from the beauty of the movie, unfortunately.

The story has very tragic points and I won't spoil them here. But I can say that during the final credits, some of the grown-up children that Hogg saved, give their thoughts on him and how he affected their lives, and what they feel they owe him. After the way the movie ends, combined with their sentiments, tears were a foregone conclusion for me and I don't cry at movies. Do see this film, if you are at all interested in Asian history, and children, and the inspiration of a life lived well, the way humans are meant to live -- in humble service to each other. I will definitely be purchasing this DVD when it's released and hopefully it will contain more backstory on Hogg and the children.

THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI is a long (greater than two hours) epic tale that happens to be a true story of an extraordinary hero's life and gift to humanity during World War II. If as a film the telling of this story is a bit shaky in spots, it is probably due to the episodic series of events that happened very quickly and under existing conditions of profound stress. Yet despite the occasional misfires in production this remains a bit of history we all should know.

George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is a journalist assigned to Shanghai in 1937 and with his colleagues he plans to explore the extent of the invasion of China by the Japanese. Under the guise of Red Cross workers his small band manages to enter Nanjing where now alone due to the loss of his friends to battle he observes and photographs the atrocities of mass murders of the people of Nanjing. He is captured by the Japanese, tortured when his confiscated camera reveals his terrifying photographs, and it is only by acts of fortune and the aid of a Chinese Nationalist Chen Hansheng (Chow Yun-Fat) that he escapes. Hogg probes the Chinese countryside for further evidences of the evil of the Japanese invasion, and he finds a village of children (adults are all absent) and realizes that he is in an orphanage without a leader. At first reluctant to assume the role of guardian of these impoverished and filthy frightened children, he soon accepts his responsibility and is challenged by an Australian nurse Lee Pearson (Radha Mitchell) to become not only the caretaker but also the father/teacher/provider/role model these children so desperately need.

Seeing the advancing of the Japanese, Hogg decides to take his wards 700 mile away to a small village by the Gobi desert reachable only by the infamous Silk Road. It is this journey and the way both the children and Hogg are affected by the challenge that absorb the greater part of the film. Observing the transformation of George Hogg's view of the world is made credible by Jonathan Rhys Meyers' performance. The cast of children often steals the limelight, but with supporting cast members such as Chow Yun-Fat, Radha Mitchell and Michelle Yeoh as an opium merchant the story never lacks color and character. The look of the film is dark, but the message of this story is full of light. Here is a bit of Chinese history we should all know! Grady Harp, January 09

At two hours in length, this beautifully photographed biographical film is still not long enough to flesh out the underlying story we are encouraged to imagine. The movie makes a good companion piece to The Last Emperor, as a record of pre-WWII China. But I do not know of a movie that fills in the psychology of the starving boys orphaned and raised wild by older boys -- their dreams, their fears, their codes of honor. The civilizing work of George Hogg and his allies, and its unexpected consequences, amount to another movie within a movie. And then there is the arduous long trek through mountains and out into the high Gobi desert, which tells yet another story of courage and perseverance that could have been expanded to satisfy my curiosity about the journey. How many animals did they lose along the way? Did their provisions last? Did the vegetable seeds and rice and grain they took with them do as well in sand as in the lowland mud?

This film is about a little known story of the exploits of British journalist George Hogg during the Japanese occupation of China in 1937.

The cast is excellent with very good performances by Michelle Yeoh, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun-Fat & Jonathan Rhys Meyers. An evocative musical score and some gorgeous cinematography of the wilds of Tibet combine to make this a treat to behold.

During the first 25 minutes or so of the story, it appears that the film will be an action thriller, but the "heart" of the story reveals the transformative power of self-sacrifice & caring in a hostile political and physical environment. It is an amazing story.

The story upon which this movie is based is fantastic---a tale of bravery and courage. However, this movie---a semi-fictionalized version of the real events---had some fatal flaws which undermined the power inherent in the tale.

But first, its positives:

1) Brilliant depictions of the horror of the Japanese occupation of China

2) Especially good (that is, disturbing) depiction of the Rape of Nanjing

3) Good use of Mandarin and Japanese interspersed with English. So many movies do not mix languages well---this one pulled it off.

4) EXCELLENT ending, or post-ending: using actual footage of the now-grown men whom Hogg helped rescue. It was actually the most powerful part of the movie.

5) Chow Yun Fat is an excellent actor, and does not fail here.

And its deadly flaws:

1) The two main characters (Hogg and the nurse) were too pretty and had weak acting ability. That combination made the movie seem FAKE and shallow. Had they gotten average, normal-looking actors OF QUALITY the movie might have worked.

2) The shallow acting made the characters' motives and relationships with others seem cheesy. Hollywood strikes again! (Strikes out, that is.)

3) The romance was unnecessary and insincere.

So, overall: I felt like I was watching Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie rescue more non-white orphans. What's sad is that the real George Hogg, from what I gather (via the internet and from the profoundly sincere words of the actual people he nurtured), was no Brad Pitt. He was the real deal.

The DVD that I ordered was on time as promised. The DVD was in good condition and we enjoyed the film. The film illustrates interaction between Chinese boys and a westerner who with time and patience won the kids over to his side. Thus the long and dangerous journey began.

See it! You will like it!

I love a movie that is based on fact, I absolutely enjoyed this movie to the full. I would recommend it to anyone

Best movie I have seen all year! Has it all. True story, good acting, great scenery, action/adventure, romance, compassion. If you are going to buy one movie this year, this is the one!

"The Children of Huang Shi" is based on the true story of the English writer George Hogg, portrayed by Jonathon Rhys Meyers (The Tudors) and his quest to save the boys of a destitute orphanage. This takes place during the Japanese occupation of China around 1937. Radha Mitchell also stars in this movie as the nurse, Lee Pearson, who moved about China helping where she could. She travels with George and the boys on an extraordinary 700 mile hike to escape the Japanese. This trek takes them far into the bowels of China along Marco Polo's silk road in search of a safe place to live. The scenery is as amazing as the story. I highly recommend this movie.