Shadow Magic

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Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="549" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="545"><div> Compromise is the essence of  Life</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Raymond Wallace: Jared Harris</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Liu Jinglun: Yu Xia</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Ling: Yufei Xing</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Master Ren: Peiqi Liu</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Widow Jiang: Qingzhuo Fang</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Liu's Father: Jingming Wang</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Madame Ren: Liping Lu</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Lord Tan: Yusheng Li</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Director: Ann Hu</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="304" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: When motion pictures are introduced to China in 1902, it is seen as a threat to the established arts and culture of the Chinese Opera and still photographers. The multi-layered story deals with a coming of age romance, resistance to changing technology, and conflict between western and eastern cultures.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B> Raymond Wallace (Jared Harris) is an entrepreneur from Britain who hopes to gain fame and fortune by introducing motion pictures, "shadow magic," in China. As he stands in front of his theater trying to sell tickets, what he describes is so hard to comprehend that no one is willing to pay him to come inside and see for themselves if he is telling the truth. He comes across as another western huckster trying to rip people off.</div> <bR> <div> Liu Jinglun (Yu Xia) is a man who enjoys his job as the first assistant at Master Ren's photography studio. When Liu learns of the new theater, with its <I>moving</I> pictures, he sneaks in to see the show, because he is fascinated by technology. Before long he is a partner with Wallace at the theater, and still working at the photography studio.  </div> <bR> <div> When Liu gives the sales pitch to the passers by on the street, they come in, not only because he is Chinese, but also because he does a better job of telling them what they will get for their money. Soon the theater is doing enough business that attendance is down at the opera, where Lord Tan (Yusheng Li) is a renowned star. Lord Tan is also a major client at the photo studio, and when he brings his entourage, to include his daughter Ling (Yufei Xing), Liu falls in love.</div> <bR> <div> As we start to see the conflicts develop between jobs and class status, an additional major complication arises when Liu's father (Jingming Wang) insists that he accept an arranged marriage to Widow Jiang (Qingzhuo Fang). She too is a photographic client, who likes to wink at Liu just before her picture is taken. Although this marriage would set him up for life financially, he feels no passion for Widow Jiang and must decide if he will go against the will of his father so that he may follow his heart.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: <I>Shadow Magic</I> is one of those films where even though you can predict how certain things will work out, the movie is still outstanding. We learn so much about Chinese culture and the silent cinema of moving pictures, that in the process, the fact that Liu and Ling are together at the end is only a minor part of what the movie is about. </div> <bR> <div> While Lord Tan is concerned about his business and resists change that can affect the opera, artists tend to appreciate other forms of art. The masses first tend to gravitate toward something new in large numbers, in part because of the novelty effect. Once you understand it, you then look for balance, assuming you still care about it. In this case, music, photography and movies need not be mutually exclusive.</div> <bR> <div> The reaction to people seeing a movie for the first time is presented in this film with the magical and surreal feeling that people probably experienced at that time. When a train comes rushing toward them on screen, they think it is real; just like when we get a sense of vertigo in some IMAX films when a plane suddenly drops down into a large canyon. Even more amazing is how people react when they first see <I>themselves</I> on film, moving, not just standing still. The power of the image is stronger than voice on film. </div> <bR> <div> Although there is a large cast of characters in what is a relatively complex story, many are memorable people whom you care about. When something happens to them, whether good or bad, you feel something inside. <I>What</I> happens is important, but how and why something occurs also matters. It's why predictability in films is not a curse. If along that journey you become a more informed person, and especially if you are a better person, then what you have learned will enrich your life.</div> <bR> <div> This is the first co-production of Taiwan and mainland China, which is historically significant. Another film evoking the love of movies was 1989's <I>Cinema Paradiso</I>, a tremendous commercial success.</div> <bR> <div>  This movie is one of the best films of the year and a fine example of when the term "art" can be applied to a movie just like a fine painting. </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> Not Rated</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> George O. Singleton © 2001</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>