Huang xin jia qi

Having read the last reviewer's comments ("Beautiful movie. . . "), I felt a need to write this review. 'Beautiful' shouldn't be the word to describe this movie, although I would concede that the movie was RIVETING, especially the 2nd half. The story starts out portraying a developing relationship between 2 women despairing over the men in their lives. As the plot unfolds, the viewer realizes the women are involved with the SAME man. From thence it would seem like the plot would be straightforward but then the movie takes a sharp turn which I can only describe as DEPRAVED, like a cross between "Silence of the Lambs" and "Seven" . Even now, a week later, I can't stop thinking about it. This movie would best be described as well acted but, depressing, dark, depraved and thoroughly disturbing. And, just when you think everything is going to work out in the end, there's a final twist and NO HAPPY ENDING. Don't see this movie if you're the type of person afraid to walk down a lonely, dark street by yourself. And, if you do see it, be prepared to feel DISTURBED at the end.

Here's an example of a movie that doesn't work even if you hire the best actors to do their job.

The movie seems to have Japanese production, and no doubt it has Japanese movie like story, to it. They might of thought that hiring the best of Hong Kong acting talent, and combine it with Japanese-ish visuals would instantly create a success. Well, they were wrong.

I'm an Asian movie fan, and I'm a fan of both Hong Kong, and Japanese movies, but I've rarely seen an incipit movie as this one. It was infuriating to watch the talents wasted.

The movie does no justice to Anita Mui, and Simon Yam, and it was a mismatch like hiring French actors to do an American movie.

It might have worked if the actors were all Japanese, and then it would have been like some of the Kadokawa movies.

2.5/10

This film has a beautiful package--gorgeous settings, beautiful stars, astonishing photography--but surprisingly void of content. Suspending disbelief at the plot's central conceit is nigh on impossible, for starters... then, the contrivance of the kidnapping--which plays into many foreigners's worst prejudices and fears about the Arab world, and is relatively unfounded in fact--is laughable. Not as laughable as R. Junna's performance, though: basically, she utters dry English lines without conviction, or screams/cries/wails hysterically. Anita Mui's embers smolder and flame, but she seems out of place in a film of (poorly directed?) second-rate actors. I was bored silly through most of the Morocco sequences: the characterization was stereotypical (who is Mike, and why should we care about him? why on earth would any woman be interested in the callow Chinese doctor, is unimaginable, etc.) and the plot painfully predictable. A voyeur's paradise, maybe, but a critic's nightmare.

This movie has a real interesting plot. Anita Mui's character's marriage is failing and by chance she bumps into her husband's mistress (who's pregnant with his child) on a trip in France. When they go to Morocco, however, the mistress mysteriously disappears. Most of the film was shot in English and on location in both France and Morocco. I just wish more people got a chance to see it. It's just a beautiful movie!!!