Mr. Kurtz's Neighborhood

Remembering

Anita Mui Yim - Fong 10 October 1963 - 30 December 2003

Courtesy of Womanheart

Much of Anita's life was about friendships.

Anita Mui Funeral Booklet Cover Printed by Ming Pao

Surprise, Surprise ?

Terracotta Warrior (Qin Yong) - 1990

Given the history of its stars and the venue, this is something of an odd film, albeit quite generally conventional in its development. A thoroughly Hong Kong production, (in Cantonese) produced by the remarkable Tsui Hark of the "Swordsman" and "Chinese Ghost Story" and "Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain" films and directed by Ching Siu-Tung, director of "The Heroic Trio" and "Chinese Ghost Story" series as well as the god of action and martial arts choreography in such works as ""Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers", it nonetheless stars the two most prominent figures of mainland, Mandarin film.

The action begins circa 215 BC as a soldier is overseeing the construction of the gigantic mausoleum for the first Qin Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi , including the creation of the Terracotta Army. In scenes reminiscent of "The Ten Commandments" thousands of toiling and disposable workers labor under the lash to feed the Emperor's megalomania.

The Emperor's quest for immortality doesn't stop at architectural gigantism however; at the same time, he is driving the court necromancers to develop an elixir that will allow him to live forever, and he is not a patient man. Driven by a close call in which his construction supervisor, General Mong Tian Fong, saves his life, and the nature of politics at the time, Qin Shi Huangdi feels a cold hand on his shoulder.

It is now that the general meets an unhappy Imperial concubine, Winter, as she is considering suicide. A straight path is followed here as they fall in love, are caught and executed; he by being encased in terracotta and she by burning, but not before she slips him a non-FDA approved sample of the immortality elixir. Cut to:

"The Nineteen Thirties", as the shooting of China's first talkie is underway. Descending from a shiny airplane is the squeaky-voiced, giggly, wannabe starlet, Lily Chu, dressed like a Goodwill version of Gloria Swanson and evincing an airy cluelessness worthy of Carole Lombard. And here we come to the surprise, for Lily is played by none other than Herself, Li Gong, the powerful center of such films as "Raise the Red Lantern", Jou Do, The Story of Qiu Ju and "Farewell to My Concubine". Furthermore, she is alarmingly natural - and maybe having a little fun with it. She is also the exact image of Lady Winter from the ancient time.

Pathetically convinced that she will walk straight into a starring role, Lily breezes into the middle of the filming, centering on the star, Bai Yun Fai, played by the handsome and ever-dependable HK baddie Yu Rongguong , who has more history on his mind than film, namely, looting the priceless tomb of the Qin Emperor if it can be found.

In her glue-like pursuit of fame and rave reviews, Lily wanders into a site being investigated by Bai and his unholy henchmen, thereby earning herself a "ride" - one-way - in the scoundrel's plane. After his plot fails, Bai parachutes to safety leaving Lily to crash into a lovely soft sand bank and then be swallowed up and descending into...the The Emperor's Tomb where she meets; and you guessed it; General Mong Tiang Fong, just coming around after his 2000 year sojourn encased in terracotta.

The double surprise is completed here as Mong is played by Zhang Yimou, the great "Fifth Generation" director of many of the above mentioned films and the companion of Li for many years. A rare acting role for him is well fleshed out; he conveys the stolidity of an ancient warrior and bureaucrat (plus nifty combat moves) and the bewilderment of confronting the twentieth century and the flighty Lily, whom he is convinced is his long-lost Winter. He also displays a neat sense of deadpan humor with temporal dissonances involving autos, guns, a train and a pair of sunglasses.

Here the story returns to its adventure/romance mode with few surprises, generally following threads of heroic archeology and time-dislocation films such a the "Indiana Jones" series, "Time After Time" and the hilarious The Iceman Cometh starring Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk and Yuen Biao. I won't follow the story to the end to avoid possible spoilers for those who might see it. The film does end, or does it, in the "1990s" After all, the real point here is the answer to a long held question of mine; can she do comedy? Damn right!

A note here: I purchased this DVD from hkflix.com; it isn't available at NetFlix and I'm too far removed from any possible rental site like San Francisco's Chinatown. Also, the transfer quality is miserable and the English language subtitles, while surprisingly correct, are tiny and hard to read, so maybe this is only for fanatics like me.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

Happy New Year to all.!

And Happy Birthday to

Gong Li (Li Gong or Lei Gung)
December 31, 1965, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, PRC

This powerful actress has starred in some two dozen films such as Red Sorghum, Raise the Red Lantern,, To Live and 2046 and has been the principal muse of the "Fifth Wave" of Chinese directors like Yimou Zhang, Kaige Chen and Kar Wei Wong. And yes, she's 40.

Dancin' Feet

It's Tuesday and time for another Cotillion Ball, this week hosted by:

Ilyka

Kellipundit

Sisu

Portia Rediscovered

Read the best.

The Ball Begins Again

Wow! Its not only that time of the week again, but courtesy of Tammy, of A Mom and Her Blog for a spanking new design, and Shano, with more of her dynamite illustrations, The Cotillion Ball has a stunning new look.

Spreading the wealth, this week features four hostesses:

Beth, of MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy,

Claire, of e-Claire,

Sadie at A Fistful of Fortnights

and Denita, of Who Tends the Fires.

You will not find better.

Ladies' Day

Tuesday rolls around and that means another Cotillion Ball.

This week's gracious hostesses are Dr. Sanity, Beth, at MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, Annika, of Annika's Journal and Girl on the Right. You will not find better on the web.

Flash SISU has got her iMac G5. It's not exactly jealousy I feel; more like high-minded envy. The Boys don't look too impressed, but then one never know, do one?

They're Baaack!

And a fine thing it is, to be sure.

[Drumroll]

The Cotillion Ball

Step right this way, folks, for another fabulous spectacular. At least a week's worth of wit, wisdom and wreading.

Hosting are Cassandra, of Villainous company,

Christina, with some Feisty Repartee and the inimitable

Sissy Willis.

Shamefully enough, I have yet to read them all, being somewhat consumed by the other launch, but I am assured that all will be up to the usual standard of excellence. So for starters, try:

Jody at Steal the Bandwagon, for thoughts on terrorism and blame,

Portia Rediscovered and

Beth, of Yeah Right Whatever,

Take a lesson in The Language of Terror from Right Thinking girl.

Many more goodies from Zendo Deb at TFS Magnum,

Denita of Who Tends the Fires and

E M Zanotti, the American Princess musing on "Roe" with a link to Thomas Sowell.

Red Friday.

Is it catching on?

Maria Bartiromo today on CNBC's market wrap show, "Closing Bell"

Naturally, I only watch for the "articles".

"That was nuts!

Put on Yer Dancin' Shoes

The third Cotillion Ball has opened, this week hosted by Tammy, of A Mom and Her Blog, Crystal Clear and Sadie of A Fistful of Fortnights.

The expected snark, musing and wisdom on wry, plus a whole bevy of new Members. Check them out.

Absinthe and Cookies
Annika's Journal
Baldilocks
Bobo Blogger
Dr. Sanity
Just a Girl
Maxed Out Mama
Portia Rediscovered
Reasoned Audacity
Right ThinkingGirl
Villainous Company

About half of these ladies are regular reads and half are new. All are more than worthwhile.Thank you ladies, for getting my attention.

This is pathetically late, my excuses being; painting the house trim, judging photos for final printing, mounting, etc. and my server apparently getting into the Seconal. Oh, yes, and rebuilding my Cotillion Blogroll. :-)

Remember, your card is filled on Tuesdays. Go. Read. Think. Comment.

In Memorium