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| Chow Yun-Fat | Emperor Ping |
| Gong Li | Empress Phoenix |
| Jay Chou | Prince Jay |
| Liu Ye | Crown Prince Wan |
| Chen Jin | Mrs. Jang (Imperial Doctor's Wife) |
| Ni Dahong | Imperial Physician Jiang |
| Li Man | Jang Chan |
| Qin Junjie | Prince Yu |
| Guo Changhui | |
| Feng Bai | |
| Li Ming | |
| Guo Jiukong | |
| Wang Cong | |
| Chen Xinhua | |
| Hong Zonghan | |
| Feng Dinghong | |
| Chen Xiaoyi | |
| Sun Menging | |
| Zhang Shihan | |
| Hou Jingkun | |
| Song Huiru | |
| Li Yufei | |
| Zhang Jiao | |
| Ge Dan | |
| Li Shuang | |
| Liu Shanshan | |
| Zhang Jihang | |
| Liu Wanting | |
| Wang Lanqi | |
| Hu Pan | |
| Yu Tingting | |
| Li Sisi | |
| Zhang Yu | |
| Liu Yang | |
| Li Lu | |
| Li Jingfei | |
| Ai Lisen | |
| Xi Sailan | |
| Yang Ziu-Neng | |
| Liu Weijie | |
| Zhang Wen | |
| Liu Shabai | |
| Liu Xiaohui | |
| Shu Aiqin | |
| Zeng Yali | |
| Li Junxi | |
| Li Xianjie | |
| Wang Jinbo | |
| Sun Quan | |
| Li Yang | |
| Zhu Guarangyu | |
| Yang Zeyu | |
| Wang Xingye | |
| Gao Yudong | |
| Jiang Houli | |
| Li Geng | |
| Liu Zhengeng | |
| Liu Lianyuan | |
| Shi Renshan | |
| Jiao Lianshi | |
| Cong Shusheng | |
| Ling Daiying | |
| Wang Hongsheng | |
| Zhang Hua | |
| Huo Guangxi | |
| Liu Chunyu | |
| Sheng Honglin | |
| Zhang Yide | |
| Zhang Ziaoqing | |
| Shi Chuan | |
| Mao Yangming |
| Zhang Yimou | Director, Screenwriter |
| Dong Chengguang | Art Director |
| Yee Chung-man | Costumes/Costume Designer |
| Wen Deguang | Camera Operator |
| Liu Guonan | Asst. Director |
| Sun Hongwu | Art Director |
| Liu Jianping | Makeup |
| Tao Jing | Sound/Sound Designer |
| Bill Kong | Producer |
| Raymond Lam | Camera Operator |
| Cheng Long | Editor |
| Fu Lulu | Asst. Director |
| Zong Minxuan | Art Director |
| Wu Nan | Screenwriter |
| Zang Qwu | Asst. Director |
| Huo Tingxiao | Production Designer |
| Ching Siu Tung | Action Director |
| Shigeru Umebayashi | Score Composer |
| Zhang Weiping | Producer |
| Sun Wongwu | Art Director |
| Zhao Xaoding | Cinematographer |
| Zhao Xiaoding | Cinematographer |
| Wei Xinhua | Art Director |
| Liang Yu | Asst. Director |
| Man Yun-ling | Makeup |
| Zhang Zhenyan | Associate Producer |
| Bian Zhihong | Screenwriter |
| Ban Zhihong | Screenwriter |
HERO was spectacular and House of Flying Daggers was pretty cool, but this movie bests them with ease. Here we have a more Shakespearean level of tragedy, intrigue, plotting, deceit and sordid histories uncovered, all within one entrancing location - the palace of the royal family during one of China's dynasties. Chow Yun Fat and Gong Li were riveting as the Emperor and Empress, and all three of their sons were also perfectly cast. Liu Ye is particularly impressive - see him in Purple Butterfly, too.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I am going to say right now, flat out, that I love this movie more than Crouching Tiger, House of Flying Daggers, and even Hero - combined. While the movie is lacking in the amount of martial arts action typical of other movies in the genre, it makes up for it (at least for me) in mental stimulation.
Despite its tragic ending, this movie wraps up perfectly, beautifully, and absolutely ironically. In retrospect, I am often surprised by how much I am pleased by the way this movie ends. It is like taking thousands of strings to weave an epic tapestry, only for the design to come out backwards. While films like Crouching Tiger had me sobbing and hoping never to lay eyes on it again (no matter how visually stimulating, or poetic the story), this movie instead had me laughing even into the next day.
The story itself is complicated enough that trying to communicate it to others becomes a trial. However, watching the webs of the relationships between all the characters play out is extremely pleasing.
Naturally, the visual elements of the film play a large role, to the point that you may experience slight discomfort from too many bright colors assaulting your eyes all at once. The fact that this movie got clearance to film in the forbidden city, may well be enough reason to check it out.
Now, if what you are looking for is an action packed martial arts movie, this is not the film for you. That is not to say there is no martial arts, it is just not the central feature of this film. If, however, you can appreciate a beautifully ironic tale with a (albeit morbidly) hilarious ending, well, you're in the right place.
Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
As most of reviewers agree, this movie is so impressive visually. The coloring of the costumes, buildings, backgrounds, and scenery are amazing. (Especially in HDTV !) I enjoyed the plot and the manipulation of the royal family. However, if you watch action films, you know what is coming in the movie. The movie rolls slowly, but it is interesting to watch as the Emperor and Empress plot against each other, though you see more of the inner workings of the Empress. I definitely was expecting more martial arts in the film for some reason, but that did not happen all that much. Though the few scenes were cool, it did not have the consistency of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or " House of Flying Daggers". Chow Yun Fat is fine in the film, but I wish he had more screen time. He is definitely one of my favorite Asian actors. His arrogance as the Emperor at times were amusing at times, especially when he was stroking his chin whiskers. All in all, it was an entertaining, visually stimulating film, but again if you are looking for an action-packed Martial Arts film, then go buy Hero or Crouching Tiger !
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
Yimou Zhang once again produces a work that retains his position as one of the master builders of contemporary cinema. His ability to capture an intricate story historically based in a setting of splendor is up there with the great filmmakers. CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER is no exception. The time of the story is the Tang Dynasty, one of the more corrupt and cruel periods in Chinese history. Emperor Ping (Chow Yun Fat) has married a princess from the neighboring province, becoming Empress Phoenix (Gong Li) and in addition to becoming stepmother to the Emperor's firs-born son (Ye Liu), she bears him two additional sons (Jay Chou and Junjie Qin). Attending the palace is a doctor (Dahong Nim) and his wife (Jin Chen) who figure significantly in the family's destiny. Each of these dysfunctional family members has secrets that could destroy an empire. The Empress is clearly the titular head of the kingdom and her wily manipulations and incestuous relationships are controlled only by her doses of a medicine that is supposed to make her insane. The boils on the body of the ruling family fester until great wars break out and the royal family is revealed to be the strangely bizarre group they are. The story works (though admittedly it is often difficult to follow) because of a brilliant cast and a pacing from the director that almost matches the glory of the visual production that seems to keep growing on the screen, like a huge garden bearing more color and moods as the story progresses. Yimou Zhang is a visual artist and choreographer but he is also a man with the gift of finding the cores of his characters beneath all the glorious trappings of this films. Grady Harp
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 23, 2010
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Posted May 20, 2009
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Posted March 1, 2010
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