I enjoyed this surprise of a picture. I read that it was China's most expensive movie ever, at a "scant" $45 million. It certainly seemed the director eschewed realism for sensationalism. I was OK with that. It was between going to see Rocky Balboa or the new CIA movie and frankly American films have begun to bore me, so I took a chance, because I saw a newspaper article that rated Golden Flower highly. I was thoroughly entertained although not for one minute did I believe the rainbow-colored palace or the low-cut women of the palace. I didn't care. It was a lot of fun to look at. What the end of the movie said to me was kind of a day-glo Alexander Nevsky. Just like Nevsky, I see this film is a warning to foreign armies. No matter what you do, you can't beat the Chinese. They're too huge and they're ruthless. And as soon as they're finished engulfing and devouring you, they'll wash your blood away and cover it with brand new carpeting.
Review of Curse of the Golden Flower
