Hong lou meng

Very beautiful motion picture, wish could be longer to cover more details.

This is one of four top rated classic Chinese Novel, it could easily take more than three 120 minutes parts to cover.

It's challenging to make the older classic to be a newer classic standard.

I don't know if this is director's uncut version or not.

Hu Mei's 2024 film Hong Lou Meng is a ravishing, deeply felt reimagining of the classic - sumptuous production design, heart-stopping performances, and a clarity of emotion that makes the centuries-old tragedy feel immediate and raw. The ensemble (led by Lin Peng and Zhang Miaoyi among others) delivers layered, unforgettable portrayals that honor the novel while bringing fresh cinematic life to its characters. A visual poem that balances spectacle with intimacy - profoundly moving and utterly transportive. My score: 10/10.

First, this film requires a enthusiast of Chinese culture and a familiarity with "Dream of the Red Chamber," one of China's four great classics. It contains numerous traditional cultural symbols that can be difficult for Western audiences to grasp. Secondly, once you understand the backstory, the film's fidelity and artistic accomplishment are truly remarkable. Finally, for viewers without relevant background knowledge, the pure storytelling is weak and lacks exciting moments. The film's overemphasis on artistic expression may not be suitable for those who simply walk in.

Hu Mei's Dream of the Red Chamber is a film woven with both poetry and lament. Its imagery is exquisitely beautiful-the grandeur of the Grand View Garden, the changing of the seasons, the intricate costumes-all resemble flowing scroll paintings, pulling the audience into a dreamlike realm. Through light and color, Hu Mei sketches a world of fleeting splendor and illusion, echoing the essence of Cao Xueqin's masterpiece: prosperity that inevitably fades into nothingness.

In her characterization, the director places particular emphasis on the entanglement between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu. Their lingering affection and inevitable sorrow are captured repeatedly, stirring a subtle ache in the audience's heart. Yet this strong focus on romance, to some extent, diminishes the original novel's profound depiction of family decline and the impermanence of society. What emerges is more like a lyrical elegy than a sweeping social epic.

Even so, Hu Mei's Dream of the Red Chamber remains a distinctive attempt. It presents the most tender and touching emotions of the story, while reminding us that the so-called "dream" is destined to be a beautiful yet fleeting illusion.

To be fair, don't be biased, both advantages and disadvantages are obvious.

The advantage lies in the structural reshaping, which is a balance limited by space. The inverted ending is a creative innovation in artistic creation, while also leaving blank space, which is very clever.

I think actress who played Wang Xifeng and actor who played Jia Baoyu have the best dialogue in the whole film, clear and pleasant, and their personalities are also very prominent.

The disadvantage is that the pace is too fast, the main story line is unclear, and there is no focus at all. To be frank, it's like watching a super long trailer, and as soon as I get my appetite up, the plot switches to the next part, and there's not a single plot that's finely crafted for people to chew on.

Lin Daiyu's personality is not fully displayed, appearing to be very petite. In addition, the actor's lines are weak, as if she were reciting very single word as hard as she can, which further reduces her score.

Overall, with so much content stuffed into this movie, it's clear that the whole cast and crew have put in a lot of effort to score a passing grade.