Gu dong ju zhong ju

This movie was a lot of fun, it was like a mix of an Indiana Jones movie and a mystery film with a bit of film noir (It's never clear which characters can be trusted.)

The main characters are reasonably well developed and you won't be bored. The problem, and the reason I can't give it above a seven star rating, is that the plot is very convoluted. It seems that in almost every scene a new character is introduced, or multiple characters, making it very hard at times to figure out what is going on and who is talking about whom. Many characters are introduced, given names, and seem to be set to play a large role in the rest of the film, and then promptly disappear in one or two scenes. The other issue is that, while for movies like this, one expects to suspend their disbelief and enjoy things, at times the director expects you to believe some utterly unbelievable coincidences and plot twists.

All this being said, I still enjoyed the film and found it to be a fun way to while away a few hours in an afternoon. The interspersing of Chinese history made it enjoyable and it made me want to read more about the Tanq and Qing dynasties. The characters who do stick around for the whole film are interesting and relatable in their human flaws (greed, sloth, capriciousness, etc.) but, in some cases, their ultimately good heart.

Overall, I'd say if you're not feeling picky and are looking for a fun film that has a good pace, this is well worth a Sunday afternoon viewing. Don't expect to be blown away, but you won't feel like you wasted your time either.

This movie is awesome. A huge treasure hunt with clues to be found along the way. When the Asians make a movie they make it really well. This is far better than Hollywoods National Treasure movies. Great cast and acting throughout. The plot/story is very cleverly done. Definitely recommend this one if you're like me a fan of Chinese or South Korean cinema.

This movie is a bland, unoriginal mess of a film if you could call it that. The cinematography was mediocre, jutting from direction to direction from place to place. The quality felt lacking, and while it does run at a solid HD resolution, it feels very unprofessional in close-ups, with tons of motion blur. Although I did enjoy the clever transitions. The plot is any ting but creative. Stupid plot twists, character deaths, without any weight to the characters. As Roger Ebert cleverly pointed out, it feels very overinflated and emotionally flat. The plot points lazily connect, it feels like it ends at the middle, and is unfocused with any of its plot points, and the script is hastily made. The characters lost their personalities halfway through the movie, and the final plot twist made me face-palm in the theatre. It feels like barely any care or love went into this movie. If you want to see a movie about priceless antiques and marketing, trading, and interesting stuff, then stay as far away from this movie as you can. I would rather sell my firstborn child than recommend this movie to you as a consumer.