Product Details

• Actors: Richard Gere, Ling Bai, Bradley Whitford, Byron Mann, Peter Donat
• Directors: Jon Avnet
• Writers: Robert King
• Producers: Jon Avnet, Baifang Liu, Charles Mulvehill, Gail Katz, Jordan Kerner
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• DVD Release Date: April 29, 1998
• Run Time: 122 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304883773
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,614 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Red Corner" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Using a faulty thriller for his soapbox as an outspoken critic of China, a devout follower of the Dalai Lama, and an influential supporter of Tibetan freedom, Richard Gere resorts to the equivalent of propagandistic drama to deliver a heavy-handed message. In other words, Red Corner relies on a dubious strategy to promote political awareness, but director Jon Avnet appeals to the viewer's outrage with such effective urgency that you're likely to forget you're being shamelessly manipulated. Gere plays a downtrodden TV executive who sells syndicated shows on the global market, and during a business trip to China he finds himself framed for the murder of the sexy daughter of a high Chinese official. Once trapped in a legal system in which his innocence will be all but impossible to prove, Gere must rely on a Chinese-appointed lawyer (played by Bai Ling) who first advises him to plead guilty but gradually grows convinced of foul play. Barely attempting to hide its agenda, Red Corner effectively sets the stage for abundant anti-Chinese sentiment, and to be sure, the movie gains powerful momentum with its tale of justice gone awry. It's a serious-minded, high-intensity courtroom drama with noble intentions ... but did it have to be so conspicuously lacking in subtlety? --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

In modern-day China, an American is about to be punished for the ultimate crime...his innocence. Richard Gere stars in this electrifying suspense thriller charged with lethal confrontations, raw passion and international intrigue. On the verge of signing a huge business deal, attorney Jack Moore (Gere) is on top of the world. But his elation soon comes tumbling down after he spends the night with a beautiful woman...and is then accused of her brutal murder! At the mercy of the strict Chinese court systemwhere one is guilty until proven innocentJack finds himself completely alone. But when his defense attorney (Bai Ling) unearths puzzling contradictions in the case, she acts against the court and her country, joining him in a pulse-pounding race to find the true killer...while both of their lives hang in the balance!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Enjoyable Than The Movie., October 14, 1999

By	Mr. Fellini "Fellini" (El Paso, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Red Corner: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

The music for "Red Corner" is thrilling and emotional. It flows with the intense feeling of the movie and it's visual images. I especially loved the music that plays when Richard Gere escapes from Chinese authorities and it progresses into a thrilling roof-top chase scene. "Red Corner" was an okay movie, the soundtrack is even better. It's full of powerful emotion and feeling, it's also quite thrilling. I highly recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars China Apologists Stay Away, March 26, 2001

By	Jason Roth (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're a big fan of Chinese forced-labor camps, having nuclear missiles pointing at your head, or getting run over by tanks during public protests, you probably won't like this movie. Sorry, it doesn't try to evade China's human rights violations like the mainstream media does.

This movie has its flaws (mainly in some cliche Hollywood techniques like "the techno-geek saves the day"), but it's a pretty well-made movie about two heroic characters (both Gere's and the cute Asian lawyer) fighting for freedom. If you liked The Shawshank Redemption and The Hurricane, you'll probably like this one. It's not as good, but in a world of anti-heroes, it's definitely a breath of fresh air. Gere is especially sympathetic as a man who is strong but believable. (No Rambo stuff here.)

And if you find yourself irritated by the China-lovers bashing this film, pick up a book by Harry Wu (e.g., Troublemaker) and learn what China is really like.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gere Enlightens..Ling Bai delights, December 13, 2002

By	L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (fountain valley, ca United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

In this 1997 Political Thriller, Richard Gere and Director Jon Avnet(Up Close and Personal/Fried Green Tomatoes)have made a film that brings to light the lack of freedoms given to defendants in the Chineese judicial system.A sytem where a defendant is guilty until proven innocent,where pleading guilty(even if innocent) may prove for a more lenient punishment then defending yourself.

In this gripping eye-opener Gere plays American lawyer Jack Moore trying to close a huge deal with the Chineese Film Ministry. While being wined and dined, he meets and spends the night with a beautiful woman. They drink, have fun, and make love. Moore is shocked to be awakened in the morning by the Police taking him into custody for the girl's violent murder.
He's got her blood all over him, fingerprints all around,and is in her bed. The case is pretty much sealed from that moment on.
To make matters worse, the woman is the daughter of a very important General.Was he framed for this horrific crime? If so, why?

Moore is pretty much left on his own. The American Embassy is no great help to him.(The point is made in the film that if this were a foreigner in our country, in the same situation, we would not want their government interfering either).Then he is assigned an advocate who he has never met, nor discussed the case with. Shen Yeulin(Ling Bai) as well as being young and beautiful, is an intellegent lawyer who knows the ropes of the Chineese legal system. She insists Moore plead guilty to possibly avoid execution. Moore insists that he is innocent, and as he points out the discrepencies of the case to her, she puts her reputation and career on the line and they work together to prove his innocence.

There are many gripping as well as poignant moments,in and out of the courtroom, in the film. Moore escapes at one point running across the rooftops heading for that beautiful American Flag at the Embassy. Shen Yeulin does some secretive investigating on her own, and gets roughed up for her efforts.And of course the beautiful friendship that develops between Moore and Shen Yeulin is heartwarming.

The story is enlightening and thought provoking as well as entertaining. It is beautifully filmed, with a beautiful score by Thomas Newman. Richard Gere makes good use of our own Freedom of Expression, to expose this form of government. He was awarded the Freedom of Expression Award from the Nat'l Board of Review for his efforts.
Ling Bai is stunning in her portrayal of the dissenting Chineese lawyer and reiceved the Best Breakthrough Award from the same board. The film also recieved an award for "Democracy" from the Political Film Society.

The transfer to DVD(MGM) is beautiful. This theatrically released widescreen edition takes in all the action and scenery.The picture is crisp and clear in all scenes, and the colors are vivid. The Sound is in 5.1 surround and the dialouge also clear. Extras include Audio commentary by Avnet which can be played during the film if you choose. There are some production notes, an original theatrical trailer and may be viewed in French.It also comes with a very informative booklet of a behind the scenes look.

If you already know you like this film, you should be happy with this DVD. If you havn't seen it, it's well worth the view.
Check it out.....Laurie

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