Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Sell Us Your Item
For up to a $2.10 Gift Card
Trade in
More Buying Choices
Amazon.com Add to Cart
$11.87  & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Flowers of War (2011)

Christian Bale , Ni Ni , Yimou Zhang  |  R |  DVD
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (219 customer reviews)

List Price: $19.98
Price: $11.60 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $8.38 (42%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 19 left in stock.
Sold by Pure n Simple and Fulfilled by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
Want it tomorrow, May 23? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
Watch Instantly with Rent Buy
The Flowers Of War   $3.99 $14.99

Other Formats & Versions

Amazon Price New from Used from
Blu-ray 1-Disc Version $19.99  
DVD 1-Disc Version $11.60  
"Star Trek Into Darkness" Available for Pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD
From director J.J. Abrams comes the next installment in the Star Trek saga, Star Trek Into Darkness. See it at Cinemark theaters now and pre-order on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, DVD, and the Exclusive Starfleet Phaser Gift Set. Shop Star Trek Into Darkness and more in the Star Trek Store. Learn more

Frequently Bought Together

Flowers of War + John Rabe + City of Life and Death: 2-Disc Special Edition
Price for all three: $49.01

Buy the selected items together

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Product Details

  • Actors: Christian Bale, Ni Ni, Xinyi Zhang, Tianyuan Huang, Xiting Han
  • Directors: Yimou Zhang
  • Writers: Geling Yan, Heng Liu
  • Producers: Chaoying Deng, David Linde, Leo Shi Young, Weiping Zhang, William Kong
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Cantonese, English, Spanish
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: R (Restricted)
  • Studio: Lions Gate
  • DVD Release Date: July 10, 2012
  • Run Time: 146 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (219 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B007WXUVHU
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,483 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "Flowers of War" on IMDb

Special Features

None.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Fans of Chinese-born director Zhang Yimou (Raise the Red Lantern, House of Flying Daggers) know how immersive his films are, how exquisitely, passionately of a place they are. His The Flowers of War is no exception, a deeply moving study of how ordinary people behave in extraordinary--and inhuman--circumstances. The Flowers of War is set during the Rape of Nanking, the epic 1937 battle of the Japanese invasion of China. The sense of place is immediate and raw, though most of the dialogue is in English. That bit of disbelief is easily suspended, however, as the depth of the performances carries the story easily. Christian Bale is an unlikely hero, an American mortician who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or is it the right time? As the battle intensifies, Bale's John Miller takes refuge inside a battered church, where a small group of terrified schoolgirls has been ushered by Chinese soldiers before reengaging in battle. (The Flowers of War is narrated by one of these young girls.) Suddenly a group of Nanking's infamous, glamorous prostitutes arrives at the church, also seeking sanctuary. Miller is torn, wanting only to leave, and knowing his white skin likely will grant him free passage out of the battle zone, but deciding to stay to help the young women. As a war film, The Flowers of War is not especially graphic, and yet it's gruesome and intense and drenched in sorrow. Death and cruelty and rape and torture are inflicted, as they always seem to be in wartime. And yet it's the tentative human connections made among Miller and the young women that prove to be a strong force--perhaps even capable of facing down a battalion. Bale is riveting in the role of Miller, a conflicted and imperfect hero. The lovely Chinese actress Ni Ni is also excellent, and heartbreaking, as Yu Mo, the steely prostitute who sees the world as it is, while wishing it might yet become what she hopes. The Flowers of War is an emotional, moving experience, and a must-see for any fans of war or historical dramas. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

From internationally celebrated director Zhang Yimou ( Ju Dou, Raise The Red Lantern, Hero, House Of Flying Daggers ) comes a story of love and war. The dangerous streets of Nanjing throw together a group of opposites - a flock of shell-shocked schoolchildren, a dozen seductive courtesans, and a renegade American (Academy Awardr winner Christian Bale, The Fighter, The Dark Knight) posing as a priest to save his own skin, or so he thinks - all seeking safety behind a walled cathedral. Trapped by marauding soldiers, over the next few days the prejudices and divides between them will fall away as they unite around a last-ditch plan to protect the children from impending catastrophe.

Customer Reviews

Very emotional movie with great acting. Barbara J. Hart  |  36 reviewers made a similar statement
Beautifully acted, directed, filmed, everything. DMWSeattle  |  34 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
87 of 97 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Movie January 12, 2012
Format:DVD
I will not be a reviewer that drops the whole story on you! I really don't like that, as I think any movie should be judged by the viewer. That being said, This is a movie you must see for yourself! The story does start with a bit of the American cliche on Christian Bale's character, however, after that the story is so very good.

This movie effectively embraces and conveys so many human virtues and flaws in a way I think so many could relate to, and it is beautifully told. This movie is brutal at times and yet delves into the deepest parts of our souls.

The story itself is narrated from the viewpoint of a young Chinese girl involved in what happened. Without giving anything away the set-up is an American mortician is summoned to a Cathedral in Nanking in 1937 (the Rape of Nanking) he poses as a priest in charge of a group of convent schoolgirls, a group of Chinese prostitutes arrive, then the Japanese. No one here is perfect, nor is anyone evil, they are human and behave as such. Some die, all squabble, all want out of the city, sacrifices are made.

The acting is flawless on all parts, the story beautifully told. I guarantee, there will not be a dry eye in the house at the end!

To see a movie this good is a rare gift, embrace it!

Easily, one of the best movies I've ever seen. If you're a fan of Kurosawa, it's up there with his directing.
Was this review helpful to you?
40 of 44 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Atrocities of War January 27, 2012
Format:DVD
If you've read Iris Chang's non-fiction book "The Rape of Nanking" you have some idea of what horrors to expect. As we know, in 1937 the Japanese invaded China; after conquering Shanghai, they turned their attention to the capitol, Nanking. The result was the slaughter of over 200,000 people.

In this movie, based on the novel by Galing Yan ("Xiu Xiu, the Sent-Down Girl"), we have a fictionalized story in this chaotic setting. We are in a church compound where two groups seek shelter: the first, a dozen convent girls fleeing Japanese soldiers, and the second, a gaggle of "working girls" from a prominent brothel who throw their suitcases over the wall and demand sanctuary. A drunk but frightened Western mortician has come to prepare a priest for burial, and our story begins.....

These were the few actors I could pick out of the cast:
* Christian Bale ("The Dark Knight") is the mortician, boozy and rude; Bale seems to enjoy playing a crude American who laughs in the face of their predicament. He first puts on a priest's robe to avoid Japanese bullets, but by the time he has to bury some of their little group, he isn't quite so blithe.
* Paul Schneider ("Water for Elephants") in a cameo as another American fleeing the massacre, is incredulous that our hero is choosing to stay and try to help his charges escape the city.
* Ni Ni in her screen debut is the lovely self-appointed leader of the prostitutes. None of the women like the "big-nosed" Occidental, but a job is a job.
* Xinyi Zhang ("Love is not Blind") becomes, by default, the leader of the convent girls. She is observant, multi-lingual and expects her father to help them escape.

Instantly, the two groups of females clash: the convent girls are horrified to think that "those women" would dare sully a church, while the prostitutes see the girls as naďve, over-indulged virgins. We see moments of heroism, experience anxiety when characters make foolish choices and hold our breath when the soldiers make their demands. This is 1937 Nanking, so expect gunfire, blood, rape, and lots of blowie uppie stuff.

Note: Because soldiers are always posted outside the church compound gates, all conversations are whispered, so unless your hearing is very, very good, wait for Amazon.com to release the DVD and see if it has closed captions.
Was this review helpful to you?
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Tragedy meets Beauty July 11, 2012
Format:Blu-ray
I am a huge Christian Bale fan and have been before his mega Blockbusters and Academy Award. To put this out there now I would classify this as a Foreign Film with a great British Actor as the focal point. To be fair this is more of a survival movie than a war movie.It also has some intense scenes with violence directed at females so if that makes you squeamish, I would still recommend the movie, however turn away from said scenes.

This story does not try to overdo itself like many American Films that blow war movies out of proportion. It is not involved with an absurd love story, however hints at it. I cannot compare it to any movie I have seen because it is unlike any other I have viewed and really tugs at your heart strings. The musical score compliments the themes and atmosphere perfectly, with children's choir music to sad traditional Chinese music. The acting in this movie is great! Like many who see this movie, they probably will not identify any of the actors/actresses other than Christian Bale and everyone balances each other out perfectly. (Meaning it isn't one great actor surrounded by bad performances.) Character development in my opinion has the perfect amount. Not delving too far into one particular character, however leaving enough for you to feel connected with the individuals to "feel" for them as individuals.

I will not spoil this movie. I will tell you it is lengthy however it did not seem lengthy while watching it. (Sign of an enjoyable movie) For those who like a good survival movie, sprinkled with different forms of love, war themes, and change of heart stories, Definitely worth the watch!
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A gritty, action-packed war story with a lot of heart
The Flowers of War centers around a girls' convent (school) as the town is under siege in the war between China and Japan. Read more
Published 5 days ago by ReadingGranny
4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome movie
Loved this movie, a real look at what happened back then. My grandpa was a guerrilla fighter and a good sniper in the Sino-Japanese war in WW2, fight against the jabs. Read more
Published 15 days ago by PPP
5.0 out of 5 stars Flowers of War- Rape of Nanking
This was an excellent film that covered the massacre of Nanking-- when the Japanese came & ravaged this city around 1937. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Robin V. Schenck
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth watching for sure
Very predictable, but not popular with Japan because of its truthful treatment of the rape of Nanking
during WWII. This story is in no way an exaggeration. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Leroy S Marion
1.0 out of 5 stars Malicious Falsehood
This film is claiming that the story is inspired by true events.
Well, apart from the part "the Japanese Army indeed occupied the large part of Nanking on 13 December 1937",... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Hiromi
5.0 out of 5 stars great movie
got this excellent DVD at a great price as well as a rapid delivery . the movie is difficult to watch due to the background of a violent war
but if your a serious movie buff... Read more
Published 1 month ago by nick dagostino
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunningly Beautiful
It's hard to say that l "like" a movie that is this dark, but it the story was stirring. You won't be able to sit through it and not feel SOMEthing. Read more
Published 1 month ago by taaj
5.0 out of 5 stars It is excellent
Very impress. And I think it is best movie about WWII . I strongly recommend you to watch it .
Published 1 month ago by RENZE WANG
5.0 out of 5 stars Flowers of War
At first, it didn't seem that great until towards the end of the film. I really enjoyed the ending. It showcased courage and sacrifice.
I highly recommend to others! Read more
Published 1 month ago by CeCe Saechao
5.0 out of 5 stars What a good movie
This movie was very inspirational and touching. It is hard to watch, but really changes your perspective on things. Great movie
Published 1 month ago by Christie
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Forums

There are no discussions about this product yet.
Be the first to discuss this product with the community.
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 



Look for Similar Items by Category

Pure n Simple Privacy Statement Pure n Simple Shipping Information Pure n Simple Returns & Exchanges