http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1410063
Storyline: 5/5
Acting: 5/5 — main and secondary characters all convincing
SFX: 4/5 — impressive but a bit unrealistic at times
Music: not a notable factor
The film gets a lot of story-telling in a two and a quarter hours. Both action and interpersonal sequences were very well done. A few moments appear more theater-like but that doesn’t detract from the realism of the film. I wonder why American films utterly fail and portraying such convincing and engrossing worlds.
I wonder why American films utterly fail and portraying such convincing and engrossing worlds.
Hollywood’s in the business of selling daydreams mostly… and films are often made by a commitee of people..
Key word is appealing, not convincing.
From a review:
But however terrible and real the threat of rape, the clumsy screenplay turns every Japanese soldier into a rampaging maniac, some of them screaming exultantly upon discovering virgins.
From what I’ve read, they were indeed all rampaging maniacs. Japanese Army encountered resistance conquering Nanjing, and the high command has given out orders that told the troops they are ordered to kill all male captives..
Furthermore, according to veterans, rape and murder of Chinese, though against regulations, was punished rarely if all..
http://www.gendercide.org/case_nanking.html
City of Life and Death is a view of the same event but with a wider focus, more understated. also worth watching.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124052/
Hollywood can’t produce such films, IMHO, because the number of people in film there, who understand war to any degree, is vanishingly small.