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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Zhang Yimou (Ju Dou) directed this fascinating, visually formal 1991 film about an educated woman (Gong Li) who is sent off to become the newest wife of a feudal nobleman in 1920s China. Nearly isolated in his spooky, palatial home, she develops relationships with several of the other wives and slowly becomes aware of a hideous legacy of punishment toward more willful women. The film has a brittle and dry quality that is deliberate, but also suggestive of Zhang working through various explorations of his own style (which he resolved in his next film, The Story of Qiu Ju). Gong Li, one of the world's great actresses, is superb. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Songlian, an educated nineteen-year-old girl, is forced to leave college to become the fourth wife of a powerful, feudal nobleman and becomes involved in the intrigues and rivalries between his other wives.
Genre: Foreign Film - Chinese
Rating: PG
Release Date: 24-JUL-2007
Media Type: DVD
Genre: Foreign Film - Chinese
Rating: PG
Release Date: 24-JUL-2007
Media Type: DVD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
185 of 187 people found the following review helpful
By Blue Lew
Format:DVD
There is no need for me to praise the movie. It's one of the best movies ever made. I am here to clarify some information so that others won't be too confused.
Last year (January 2006) Razor Digital Entertainment released the DVD version of Raise the Red Lantern, with the poorest quality one can imagine: red isn't red (Raise the Jack-o'-Lantern), black isn't black, horrific subtitles, cropped screen, etc. It wasn't a restoration of a great film, but a decomposition.
This year (July 2007) MGM World Films released the DVD, and this time, I can say the problems are fixed. This is a much much better version. (Except the subtitles. I didn't look at them this time so I didn't pay attention to see if there are many mistakes)
Some 1-star reviews posted here in Amazon were referring to the 2006 DVD quality, not the movie. Some reviews said "excellent movie but do not buy the DVD" and that's because they were talking about the 2006 DVD. Now the 2007 DVD is out, you know which version to buy.
Last year (January 2006) Razor Digital Entertainment released the DVD version of Raise the Red Lantern, with the poorest quality one can imagine: red isn't red (Raise the Jack-o'-Lantern), black isn't black, horrific subtitles, cropped screen, etc. It wasn't a restoration of a great film, but a decomposition.
This year (July 2007) MGM World Films released the DVD, and this time, I can say the problems are fixed. This is a much much better version. (Except the subtitles. I didn't look at them this time so I didn't pay attention to see if there are many mistakes)
Some 1-star reviews posted here in Amazon were referring to the 2006 DVD quality, not the movie. Some reviews said "excellent movie but do not buy the DVD" and that's because they were talking about the 2006 DVD. Now the 2007 DVD is out, you know which version to buy.
107 of 114 people found the following review helpful
By ZenPenguin
Format:VHS Tape
If there were any fairness in Hollywood, Gong Li would have won the Academy Award for Best Actress for any one of her many movies. Besides being drop-dead gorgeous, she is an exquisite actress of the first order. The opening scene, a close-up of her face as she resigns herself to her nihilistic future, will convince anyone of this fact. Raise the Red Lantern is a thinking, engrossing movie that dispenses with special effects and overwhelming scores and concentrates on story and acting. Zhang Yimou is famous for delivering biting criticism of the oppressive, delusional aspects of Chinese society. Raise the Red Lantern shows one very strong, independent woman's attempt to overcome thousands of years of historic oppression in early 20th ca China. Women are collectables for rich men, mere objects of possession. The horrific backstabbing and betrayal is among the women themselves as they vie for most-desired-object status. When the human need for dignity and respect surface, the repercussions are catastrophic.
The plot has been well documented, although this is one of those movies where the less you know going in the better. Suffice to say the first thing you'll want to do once the movie is over is to watch it again.
It is disappointing to see a number of very mediocre movies receiving 4 and 5 stars simply because they shun the standard Hollywood formula, as if mainstream automatically equals bad and independent automatically equals good. The mediocrity of these films becomes apparent when compared to indy films of the highest caliber, such as Raise the Red Lantern. Highly, highly recommended.
57 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I must admit that I feel very hesitant to write a bad review for anything, it just isn't my style, but this DVD was so outrageously bad, I just can't help myself. This was a beautifully filmed and very captivating movie that I have waited for for years with very high anticipation to come out on DVD. I was so very excited when I preordered it, but alas, the picture quality is terrible, and filled with flaws as is the translation. I don't even know where to begin on how bad the translation on the subtitles are, but some of it is absolutely nonsensical to say the least. First of all the movie is set in the early part of the twentieth century, and it actually uses the word "groovy", and in a way that would make no sense even if you were in the correct era. There are many flaws in the sub-titles that were not in the VHS movie, such as words left out that should be there in order to make sense in English, and they have substituted the word "mister" instead of the original "master", and "savant" instead of the original "servant", overall just a very poor English translation I am sorry to say. I don't understand why they didn't just copy the translation word for word from the VHS tape?
I don't wish to discourage anyone from watching this movie, because I feel it is a must see movie, and in my eyes, a must own movie, but I would discourage anyone from buying this rendition of it on DVD. I truly hope it is made once again in a quality DVD version. I will be waiting!
I don't wish to discourage anyone from watching this movie, because I feel it is a must see movie, and in my eyes, a must own movie, but I would discourage anyone from buying this rendition of it on DVD. I truly hope it is made once again in a quality DVD version. I will be waiting!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
really liked it
big Gong Li fan. one of her better films. Have watched this one a few times over and still enjoy it. Must recommend for gong li fans.
Published 4 months ago by brian d. bouvier
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favorite Zhang Yimou Film
RAISE THE RED LANTERN received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Film, It is my favorite film by the acclaimed film director Zhang Yimou. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Blue Leaves
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully told story of a 4th wife in 1920s China
This film immediately drew me in and held me tightly until it's tragic ending. I often wonder whether the myriad people required to produce extraordinary films such as this... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Constance
5.0 out of 5 stars
Raise you lantern high!
I'm a huge fan of Yimou and Li's previous collaboration, `Ju Dou', which came out the year before `Raise the Red Lantern' was released. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Andrew Ellington
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent - Young Gong Li, tensions, intrigue, futility
This movie captures the tensions and intrigues in the household among the various concubines. Through Gong Li's superb acting the audience also gets a sense of the futility and... Read more
Published 14 months ago by MJC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Movie, not so great DVD
WHile the DVD quality wasnt up to my standards the movie itself is excellent. It captivates you watching the dynamics between these women all married to one man. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Delilah M.
1.0 out of 5 stars
One of the worst movies I ever saw
I HATE when that happens. You watch a film and boy, is it bad. But you keep watching, thinking it HAS to get better because NOTHING can be THIS BAD! Read more
Published 17 months ago by C. Wiseman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning
This film is very terrifying and suspenseful. The magnificent house(s) really shows how isolated all the wives are. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Angela S.
3.0 out of 5 stars
raise the red lantern
The DVD quality was good but there were no subtitles!
I watched it anyway. I had somewhat a sense of the story.
I watched it anyway. I had somewhat a sense of the story.
Published 19 months ago by Jeanie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful, Beautiful, Disturbing, Ironic, Cruel. Very Well Done.
I rented this without being familiar at all with the title, or actors, or Director. I was glad I gambled on it. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Vickie
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