Customer Reviews

China Rises: A Documentary in Four Parts

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

 

 

This series gives a good overview of the problems facing modern china. It mainly focuses on the problems rather than the accomplishments over the last 40 years in china. The series really goes out of the way to emphasize the negatives aspects of modernization. For example, in all 4 episodes they mostly focus on the less fortunate and poorer segments of chinese society. The video lashes out against the "rich" for having "opportunity" and leaving the poor behind. Despite the fact that most of the CEOs and rich in the video came from poor and humble backgrounds. This series very much plays to an liberal audience and if you are progressive then you would enjoy it very much.

The series superficially interviews the more well to do. In fact the series completely ignores the regular middle class and upper middle class segments of china. They try very hard to push the "too big of a gap between the rich and poor" agenda. After watching all four episodes, it is quite clear that Chinese society is portrayed as a two dimensions (rich/poor) entity and not much else. This is either due to bias or laziness on the part of the producers to go into more depth.


Pros: The series does a decent job of showing the audience the problems that come with modernization. It dedicates a good amount of time on the life of farmers.

Cons:
The series really doesn't go into depth about the history and geopolitical circumstances surrounding the development of china. It doesn't tell you the accomplishments of the government in the past 40 years. It doesn't tell you what the reform really means. It doesn't show the circumstances surrounding the cultural revolution nor the circumstances that led to the reform. Therefore the most you will get out of this video is a superficial understanding, at best, of the problems and achievements of China in the last 40 years.

The film is a great introduction for the un-initiated in the current state of affairs in China. I visited China about 5 times now and the film did not show much that I did not know. I wish it went deeper in the fabric and the mentality of the Chinese society.

I also recommend
China's Century of Humiliation

for a much more comprehensive look at the historical background that still shapes the ideology of the Chinese leaders today.

The four-part documentary is well done, breaking the phenomenon that is modern China up into its 4 vital parts and examining them closely. The representation is fair, and each segment is well-paced. The bonus disc - the Great Wall, is also well recounted... except for the actors speaking with a fake Chinese accent: why not hire English speaking Chinese for the parts?

China Rises: Behind the Great Wall

This modern classic gives a deep and informative graphic lesson on China's 'wonder of the world'. It is value for money for anyone who is a student of China, teacher of Chinese history and culture or anyone who wants to learn about China and its heritage.

It's a great buy!

This was a very interesting DVD. Not only the information on the Great Wall but also of it's people.

The first dvd is, to a large extent, about trendy, shallow, selfish Chinese artists who are currently making a good living in Shanghai and could care less about the multitude of people who were ruthlessly displaced, so they could enjoy the good life in a brand new high rise apartment. How trivial and disgusting!