Gong Li vs. Joan Chen
Anne
Hi,
Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG fan
of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
Anne S.
Therman Watson III.
Hi Anne,
I think gong li was excellent in Shanghai Triad and Farewell My
Concubine. Since you are such a big fan you probably have already seen
these two movies. If not, I highly recommend them both. Also, would you or
anyone else happen to know what she is currently working on now?
Watsunya Ferreira
Difficult? Probably. Impossible? Never.
Questor
In <32FFE7...@pacbell.net> Anne <anne...@pacbell.net> writes:
>
>Hi,
>
>Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
>such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
>interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG
fan
>of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
>sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
>
>Anne S.
What type of film is The Red Lantern? I'm curious! I think Joan Chen is
really a great actress, very diverse, and if Gong Li is comparable I
want to see her in "action."
Later!
Dr/Q
Godzilla
Anne wrote:
> Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
> such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
> interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG fan
> of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
> sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
Gong Li is a better actress than Joan Chen... However,
since she and her lover, director Zhang broke up, she had
not done a good movie, I don't think... Shaghai Triad was
their last collaboration.....
sad, really.....
but then, she is making tons of money on Pert Plus
commercials in HK and Taiwan.
PS
Godzilla
Therman Watson III. wrote:
> these two movies. If not, I highly recommend them both. Also, would you or
> anyone else happen to know what she is currently working on now?
I don't off hand, but if you are interested, I could
ask a reliable source of mine.
PS
Godzilla
Questor wrote:
> What type of film is The Red Lantern? I'm curious! I think Joan Chen is
> really a great actress, very diverse, and if Gong Li is comparable I
> want to see her in "action."
they are different... Joan is more Hollywood, having
appeared in films such as "The Last Emperor", and "Wild
Side" with Christopher Walken....
Gong is more Asian in that most of her stuff are Chinese
made...
but award-wise, Gong has won more recognition than Chen
PS
Blue@pacific.net.sg Bannerman
Anne <anne...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Does anyone here know who Gong Li is?
Who doesn't?? She's the queen of all Chinese actresses, and compared to
that lump of shit called Joan, how do you place "The Empress Dowager" and
a Hollywood puppet side by side?? To me, its Gong Li #1, Liu Xiao Qing
#2...=)
Richard Lee
Anne (anne...@pacbell.net) scribbled:
: Does anyone here know who Gong Li is?
I think most people here know.
: She appears in many many movies
: such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
It's actually _Raise the Red Lantern_, by Zhang Yimou.
And, as you know, it's really the story of a young wife trapped into a
stifling social system which she can't break free from...eventually going
insane and watching another of the rich man's wives get killed. Probably
the best of Zhang's movies, but I like Ju Dou and Red Sorghum better
because of the visuals (he makes great use of colors in his movies,
mainly because of the TechniColor film process...the last MGM TechniColor
film factory was sent off to China...and these 5th generation directors
have made great use of it...not just by Zhang...but in other director's
movies like _The Blue Kite_).
: interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG fan
: of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
: sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
Well, part of the reason is that Gong Li isn't very good in English (last
I checked, she didn't speak it), and Joan Chen is American, so obviously,
they are in totally different markets with totally different opportunities.
Other movies she's been in (that are decent):
_Red Sorghum_ (her first collaboration with Zhang Yimou...he gained favor
with the communist government since this movie had a communist martyr in
it...it's really a very raw Zhang Yimou directing this movie, but I like
that rawness...there's a feeling that this movie is a bit rough on the
edges, but it doesn't seem automated like Hollywood movies or even
Shanghai Triad, so I like it)
_Ju Dou_ (which actually was the center of controversy at the Oscars a
few years back when it was nominated for best foreign film...the Chinese
government wouldn't let Zhang come to America for the ceremony cuz of the
not-so-subtle indictment of the new generation communist government in the
allegorical story...this movie was about Gong Li forced into a marriage
with an abusive old man...only to have a son by the man's nephew, who is
trapped into a relationship with the old guy where he is exploited as well)
_The Story of Qiu Jiu_ (didn't see this one. supposed to be about Gong
Li looking for retribution for her husband's public humiliation and
finding a lot of red tape in the way)
_Living_ (decent movie, but it tries to cover every single topic in life
in this film...too much to tackle...anyway, it's about Gong Li and her
ugly husband who gambles away everything they have...only to find that
life's twists and turns eventually save them...and then try to destroy
them...then save them again...etc., etc...this is the only one of these
movies that do NOT end tragically for some reason) -- btw, i'm not too
sure on the exact title of this movie, as I saw this when it was in the
theater in Berkeley, and I think I was doing too much pot at the time so
I forgot a lot of things...maybe the movie was called _Life_. I dunno.
i don't remember.
_Shanghai Triad_ (this movie kinda sucked in comparison to the
others...same kinda theme as Ju Dou and the beginning of Red Sorghum where
innocents get exploited by more powerful figures and are helpless to
break free...but Ju Dou is a lot deeper with its symbolism ...but at
least Gong Li looks really good in this movie)
_Farewell, My Concubine_ (the only one listed here that is by a different
director...Chen Kaige...this one was about a pair of opera
singers/actors, one of whom was a homosexual, and the movie parallels the
story of the actual opera, with all the modern day upheavals of China in
the background ...incidentally, this movie was based
on a book by the same name by one of China's most famous female authors)
that's it for now,
Richard Lee
--
Finger me.
Richard Lee
Godzilla (godz...@vividnet.com) scribbled:
Joan Chen was also in _Twin Peaks_, as Josie, the former call girl turned
"widow" of that rich old Andrew dude, while also being being the
sheriff's interest. She was also in _Golden Gate_, with Matt Dillon.
All regular American stuff, Joan Chen being American.
Of course. Gong Li has been named Best Supporting Actress by the New
York Critics Film Circle for _Farewell, My Concubine_, and she was named
Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for _The Story of Qiu Jiu_. Not
to mention her numerous nominations (including an Academy Award
nomination) and the fact that her films have gone on to win Best Picture
accolades at the Berlin Film Festival (_Red Sorghum_), Cannes Film
Festival (_Farewell, My Concubine_), and Venice Film Festival (_The Story of
Qiu Jiu_). _To Live_ also gained some award at Cannes. _Ju Dou_ was
nominated for best foreign film at the Oscars and so was _Farewell, My
Concubine_. Not sure if _Raise the Red Lantern_ was, but I think it
garnered some attention. So, I'd guess it's safe to say, in addition to
being very talented, a lot of Gong Li's awards and praise are due to being
associated with very good films and a couple very good directors in Zhang
Yimou and Chen Kaige.
Richard Lee
Godzilla (godz...@vividnet.com) scribbled:
: Anne wrote:
: > Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
: > such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
: > of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
: > sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
: not done a good movie, I don't think... Shaghai Triad was
: their last collaboration.....
: sad, really.....
You don't think _Temptress Moon_, by Chen Kaige was a decent movie? It
was right after _Shanghai Triad_. I forgot to include it on my last list
of her decent movies (she's been in martial arts stupid movies, but they
don't count). In fact, I just thought I'd mention that she was in some
movie recently directed by a fellow female actress (I forget the name of
it), and that fellow female actress is none other than Sylvia Chang
(Taiwanese), who starred as the youngest of the 3 daughters in _Eat
Drink, Man Woman_. Pretty cool, eh?
Richard Lee
p.s. Btw, I listed one of Gong Li's movies as entitled _Living_. I was
close. I remember now. It is actually _To Live_.
--
Finger me.
Godzilla
I am impressed, Richard....
Richard Lee wrote:
> You don't think _Temptress Moon_, by Chen Kaige was a decent movie? It
sorry, I was NOT aware of that movie... the last one I
was aware of was Shanghai Triad.
> don't count). In fact, I just thought I'd mention that she was in some
> movie recently directed by a fellow female actress (I forget the name of
> it), and that fellow female actress is none other than Sylvia Chang
> (Taiwanese), who starred as the youngest of the 3 daughters in _Eat
> Drink, Man Woman_. Pretty cool, eh?
that girl, Sylvia Chang, the youngest of the three daughters
in Eat Drink Man Woman was the 'actress' for a clip shown
before each movie in Taiwan, showing the audience in
the movie theaters where the nearest emergency exits are.
I was quite surprised to see her in Eat Drink Man Woman.
PS
Godzilla
Man, I thought I was a Gong Li fan......
Richard Lee wrote:
> Concubine_. Not sure if _Raise the Red Lantern_ was, but I think it
> garnered some attention. So, I'd guess it's safe to say, in addition to
> being very talented, a lot of Gong Li's awards and praise are due to being
> associated with very good films and a couple very good directors in Zhang
> Yimou and Chen Kaige.
since Gong and Zhang broke up, I wonder if they are going
to do any future collaboration....
I sure hope so.
PS
Hugh Bonney
Richard Lee (lo...@also.hooked.net) wrote:
: Godzilla (godz...@vividnet.com) scribbled:
: : Questor wrote:
: : > What type of film is The Red Lantern? I'm curious! I think Joan Chen is
: : > really a great actress, very diverse, and if Gong Li is comparable I
: : > want to see her in "action."
: : they are different... Joan is more Hollywood, having
: : appeared in films such as "The Last Emperor", and "Wild
: : Side" with Christopher Walken....
: : Gong is more Asian in that most of her stuff are Chinese
: : made... but award-wise, Gong has won more recognition than Chen
: Joan Chen was also in _Twin Peaks_, as Josie, the former call girl turned
: "widow" of that rich old Andrew dude, while also being being the
: sheriff's interest. She was also in _Golden Gate_, with Matt Dillon.
: All regular American stuff,
: Joan Chen being American.
Isn't Chen from the PRC originally? If memory serves she had some
success there as a teenager, then came to the US where she has not
been as successful as she should be. 'Memory serves' means she lives
in the SFBay area somewhere and so gets written up in the papers
occasionally.
: Of course. Gong Li has been named Best Supporting Actress by the New
: York Critics Film Circle for _Farewell, My Concubine_, and she was named
: Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for _The Story of Qiu Jiu_. Not
: to mention her numerous nominations (including an Academy Award
: nomination) and the fact that her films have gone on to win Best Picture
: accolades at the Berlin Film Festival (_Red Sorghum_), Cannes Film
: Festival (_Farewell, My Concubine_), and Venice Film Festival (_The Story of
: Qiu Jiu_). _To Live_ also gained some award at Cannes. _Ju Dou_ was
: nominated for best foreign film at the Oscars and so was _Farewell, My
: Concubine_. Not sure if _Raise the Red Lantern_ was, but I think it
: garnered some attention. So, I'd guess it's safe to say, in addition to
: being very talented, a lot of Gong Li's awards and praise are due to being
: associated with very good films and a couple very good directors in Zhang
: Yimou and Chen Kaige.
Some of the Zhang/Gong films are really excellent..Jou Dou portrays
a way of life in the village that is totally stiffling. The characters
seek any happiness like water seeking out the minutest crack in a pot.
It must have had some not-to-obvious political level (as did Shanghai
Triad) that is not clear to foreigners, but much of the film is still
accessible which much Chinese art is apparently not.
The Story of Qiu Jiu (Qiu Jiu Goes to Court is the Chinese title,
I was told) is more entertainment, but still complicated. Her
character's long effort to obtain justice for her husband who was beaten
by the village official are rewarded by the official's arrest. But
not before the same official saves her life after she has gone into a
very difficult labor. So Qiu Jiu is left at the end with both triumph
and guilt which she shows with as much skill as I remember in a film.
Both her and the official are portrayed as having a certain stubborness
and pride that get people into trouble anywhere. The story also
includes an everyday kind of life that we don't see much of either.
The PRC government is cracking down heavily on the arts and so it's
hard to say if more such films can be made for quite a while. Gong
has bailed out of the PRC hasn't she, as have others lately? It's
hard to say if things can come together again as they have before
even for such talented people. The CCP's running them out says more
than all the films they could make.
H.
John R. Meixner
the old man at the end. The youngest sister who worked at Wendy's was
played by Wang Yu-Wen.
Sylvia Chang is a bit older.
-JRM-
--
John R. Meixner
Austin, Texas
Check out my Where to Find HK Films Homepage
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/4736/WhereHKMV.htm
John R. Meixner
Richard Lee wrote:
> Joan Chen was also in _Twin Peaks_, as Josie, the former call girl turned
> "widow" of that rich old Andrew dude, while also being being the
> sheriff's interest. She was also in _Golden Gate_, with Matt Dillon.
> All regular American stuff, Joan Chen being American.
>
I believe Joan Chen is a mainlander who came to US in the eighties, I
can;t remeber any details but I remember reading an article in an
entertainment magazine during the Twin Peaks craze.
bob
On Tue, 11 Feb 1997 08:09:45 -0800, Anne <anne...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>I recently saw it on tape. I think the title is 'To Live'. It turned
>out to be my favorite. I like how it portrayed the life or ordinary
>people trying to survive and adapt to the changes of the political
>agenda.
>I was raised in Taiwan for nearly 19 years, and I have never been to
>China. I am facinated by the life styles of 'the other China'. It's so
>different, yet so mysteriously similar, to the life in Taiwan.
>
>Anne
Anne:
I am glad you like the movie. I saw the movie two years ago with a
white washed ABC whom I was dating at that time. I thought that was a
good movie but she made a few nasty comments about the Chinese in the
movie. It pissed me off so much I stopped dating her. I think if
you have prior exposure to the culture you can definitely appreciate
the story more.
bob
bob
>On Mon, 10 Feb 1997, Anne wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
>> such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
>> interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG fan
>> of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
>> sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
>>
>> Anne S.
>
>Hi Anne,
> I think gong li was excellent in Shanghai Triad and Farewell My
>Concubine. Since you are such a big fan you probably have already seen
>these two movies. If not, I highly recommend them both. Also, would you or
>anyone else happen to know what she is currently working on now?
>
> Watsunya Ferreira
>
>Difficult? Probably. Impossible? Never.
>
I heard Gong Li is trying to release an album! Can anyone verify
this? I mean she is a good actress, but can she sing?
bob
Xich Lo
Richard Lee wrote:
>
> Not to mention Gong Li's numerous nominations (including an Academy Award
> nomination)...
Gong Li has never been nominated for an Academy Award.
> _Ju Dou_ was
> nominated for best foreign film at the Oscars, and so was _Farewell, My
> Concubine_. Not sure if _Raise the Red Lantern_ was, but I think it
> garnered some attention.
Yes, Raise the Red Lantern was nominated for Best Foreign Language
Film. It should have won, too, but so far no Chinese film has ever won
this award.
Donald J Marion
John R. Meixner (jmei...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
: I believe Joan Chen is a mainlander who came to US in the eighties, I
Right. Chen was born Chen Chong in Shanghai, and got into movies as a
teenager. She won China's "Best Actress" award in 1981, for a war movie
called "Little Flower", then came to the U.S. to go to college. She
became a U.S. citizen in 1989 and now lives in San Francisco.
Don
Anne
> I heard Gong Li is trying to release an album! Can anyone verify
> this? I mean she is a good actress, but can she sing?
>
> bob
Hi Bob,
I think she actually sang the songs herself in the movie Shanghai Triad.
I was not impressed ... I wish she had not done it. I also did not
think the role in Shanghai Triad fitted her very well, either.
If anyone knows what either Gong Li or Chang Yi Mou are currently
working on, please share the information. I lived in Idaho for 9 years,
and just recently moved back to California. But I still need to drive
50 miles to San Francisco. I could used some juicy movie star gossip!
Any interesting sites for such things on the internet?
Thanks!
Anne
Jonathan
On Mon, 10 Feb 1997, Anne wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
> such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
> interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG fan
> of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
> sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
>
> Anne S.
>
>
I've seen a lot of Gong Li's movies... my favorite one was "To Live." I
thought that her performance in that movie was really moving. I haven't
seen "Shanghai Triad" yet, however. Is it any good? As for the
comparison with Joan Chen, you're right, they're very different. But
something that bothers me is the whole deal about Joan Chen being a
"sell-out." Her roles might not be "Asian," however, she's succeeding in
a predominantly Caucasian industry... that in it self is very admirable
and she deserves our respect. If anything, the Asian-American community
should be proud of her and what she's accomplished.
Jonathan
Vauxhall
On 11 Feb 1997, Questor wrote:
> In <32FFE7...@pacbell.net> Anne <anne...@pacbell.net> writes:
> >
> >Hi,
> >
> >Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
I do. She is a good Chinese actress.
> >such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
> >interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG
> fan
> >of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
> >sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
Chang Yi Mou was also her husband. She is now divorced from him and married
to a Singaporean tobacco tycoon- very rich that is why she married him. :)
>
>
> >Anne S.
> What type of film is The Red Lantern?
Why don't you raise your Red Lantern to find out? :)
I'm curious! I think Joan Chen is
> really a great actress, very diverse, and if Gong Li is comparable I
> want to see her in "action."
Gong Li speaks in Manadarin when she acts and specializes in movies
which has themes dealing with China such as Farewell My Concubine- Peking
Opera Schools, Red Sorgnum- Growning a type of crop, like wheat, during
Japanese invasion of China? & Jin Dou,
etc.. She should have taken a co-starring role with Richard Gere.
What should have been the name of the movie? Anybody know?
I don't know why she did not take it and decide to open a restaurant
with a business associate? Maybe if she would have taken that acting role
should would be more famous then Joan Chen?
If Chinese actress want to be big in Hollywood, then she should not give
up a role with Richard Gere star of "The American Gigolo!.
That is a big mistake. She could have now been a Chinese Julia Roberts star
in "Pretty Woman" with Richard Gere. :)
Joan Chen starred in Taipan with Bryan Brown- not too successful in
Hollywood these days. I only like Bryan Brown in his role in
"A Town Like Alice", which was a good mini series.
Joan Chen now wants to go more main stream and want to take up more "white
ladytype actress roles"
Have you ever seen Joan Chen act in a main Chinese
movie and acting role speaking in Mandarin or Cantonese.
Possibily a little in "The Last Emperor" was the last, a long time ago.
BTW anybody have any info. on Vivian Wu and Rosalind Chao are they getting
any "white lady type roles"?
Vauxhall
<If you wish to reply to me, please remove xx at the end of my address>
Peter Sun
John R. Meixner wrote:
> Sylvia Chang played Jin-Rong, the mother of the little girl, she marries
> the old man at the end. The youngest sister who worked at Wendy's was
> played by Wang Yu-Wen.
> Sylvia Chang is a bit older.
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....
I did not know her English name.. I have always know Sylvia Chang
by her Chinese name: Chang Ai Chia.... she is an accomplished
singer with one of my favorite songs of all time "Tong Nian2"
(Childhood).
PS
Peter Sun
bob wrote:
>
> I heard Gong Li is trying to release an album! Can anyone verify
> this? I mean she is a good actress, but can she sing?
I am not sure about releasing an album.. though I would not be
surprised if she did....
because of this karaoke thing, everyone thinks he/she can sing...
Jacky Chan has a couple of albums out, most of the singers in HK/
Taiwan have tried to act.... most of the actors/actresses in HK/
Taiwan have tried to release albums...
PS
eng...@aol.com
In article <32FFE7...@pacbell.net>, Anne <anne...@pacbell.net>
writes:
>Hi,
>
>Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
>such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
>interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG fan
>of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
>sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
>
>Anne S.
>
>
Gong Li vs. Joan Chen? Hands Down, Gong Li. If anyone interested in a
tear-jerker, check out "Raise the Red Lantern" it is authentic Gong Li.
You could still find it in major video rental stores like Blockbuster
(under foreign films). Directed by her former husband Zhang Yimou. While
you're there Check out Jackie Chan flicks!!
Eng "Jackie Chan makes james bond look like a
whimp!"-eng
Lee Yuk Ting
In <Pine.GSO.3.95.970211...@taurus.oac.uci.edu>
>>
>> Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many
movies
>> such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
>> interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG
fan of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex
and sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
Does anyone know if it's true that Gong Li is living with a White
Eurorean film executive?? There weas something about it on the Chinese
TV news>
Richard Lee
Xich Lo (kevin_...@ccmail.turner.com) scribbled:
: Richard Lee wrote:
: > Not to mention Gong Li's numerous nominations (including an Academy Award
: > nomination)...
: Gong Li has never been nominated for an Academy Award.
Yup. You are right about that one. I was incorrect and I shoulda said
that she'd been in films that have been nominated for Academy
consideration. Oh well.
Richard Lee
Hugh Bonney (hbo...@netcom.com) scribbled:
: Richard Lee (lo...@also.hooked.net) wrote:
: : Joan Chen was also in _Twin Peaks_, as Josie, the former call girl turned
: : "widow" of that rich old Andrew dude, while also being being the
: : sheriff's interest. She was also in _Golden Gate_, with Matt Dillon.
: : All regular American stuff,
: : Joan Chen being American.
: success there as a teenager, then came to the US where she has not
: been as successful as she should be. 'Memory serves' means she lives
: in the SFBay area somewhere and so gets written up in the papers
: occasionally.
Yes, she was born in Shanghai.
: Some of the Zhang/Gong films are really excellent..Jou Dou portrays
: a way of life in the village that is totally stiffling. The characters
: seek any happiness like water seeking out the minutest crack in a pot.
: It must have had some not-to-obvious political level (as did Shanghai
: Triad) that is not clear to foreigners, but much of the film is still
: accessible which much Chinese art is apparently not.
The political angle was very obvious to me. First off, in most of
Zhang's movies, the young characters are always exploited and destroyed
by old, powerful men who don't appear on screen, much as China's billions
have been tugged and prodded by old, powerful men who work behind the
scenes...this portrayal of sympathy toward the plight of rebellious youth
is not something the Chinese government finds ideal. In addition, note
the characters in Ju Dou. Here we have a powerful old man who owns the
dye mill and makes life hateful for his nephew and his young wife, much
as the old China, set in its ways and decaying fast, created a backwards,
bleak society looking for beauty in the face of hopelessness. Then,
these parents give birth to a new child, a representative of the new
generation...who betrays and eventually destroys them, much as
the new Red Guard with its youthful members betrayed their parents...in
the Cultural Revolution, the young turned on the old, including their own
parents, and denounced them as traitors and criminals. In the end, this
new generation is not so different than the old, decadent one, and again,
this message (not so subtle for anyone with any clue of China in the last
100 years) isn't an ideal one for the Chinese government right now.
How about _To Live_? Remember how the husband had to support his family
throughout the wars and revolutions and persecutions by giving puppet
shows to the different people he aligned himself with? This isn't
exactly a very difficult parallel to the way China's leaders (again, old,
ruthless, powerful men) pulled the strings and jerked around a population
of a billion people. I think _Raise the Red Lantern_ was more an
indictment of how another old rich man, with centuries of chauvinism and
unfairness at his side, used the divide and conquer strategy to cause the
insanity of one wife and the death of another. This is, I would think, a
charge against old Chinese ways and customs which were inherently unjust,
but yah, since it is another old guy doing the unjust crap, I'm sure the
old guys running the country didn't really like that.
: The PRC government is cracking down heavily on the arts and so it's
: hard to say if more such films can be made for quite a while. Gong
: has bailed out of the PRC hasn't she, as have others lately? It's
: hard to say if things can come together again as they have before
: even for such talented people. The CCP's running them out says more
: than all the films they could make.
She has not bailed out of PRC. She is married now (married last year i
think) to some Singapore business guy, but she is still in China. She
was considering playing some female role in _Heat_ (you know, with Al
Pacino and De Niro), but I dunno which role it was (doesn't matter, since
she ended up not being in the movie). I assume one day, when her English
improves, we'll see her in some lame Hollywood flick.
Richard Lee
Lee Yuk Ting (miss...@ix.netcom.com) scribbled:
: Does anyone know if it's true that Gong Li is living with a White
: Eurorean film executive??
False. She is married to some Singapore tobacco executive (his name
starts with a C...way to narrow it down, huh?).
Richard Lee
--
"You can't spell P-E-N-I-S without ESPN!"
--seen on a sign held by a student in the stands at the Utah vs.
Colorado St. basketball game, televised by ESPN.
Richard Lee
eng...@aol.com scribbled:
: Gong Li vs. Joan Chen? Hands Down, Gong Li. If anyone interested in a
: tear-jerker, check out "Raise the Red Lantern" it is authentic Gong Li.
: You could still find it in major video rental stores like Blockbuster
: (under foreign films). Directed by her former husband Zhang Yimou. While
Gong Li was never married to Zhang Yimou...they were just living in sin
for a number of years (he left his wife and child to be with Gong Li when
he met her at her drama school where she was still a student). She's now
married, though, to someone else.
Richard Lee
Vauxhall (met...@freenet.mb.caxx) scribbled:
: Chang Yi Mou was also her husband. She is now divorced from him and married
: to a Singaporean tobacco tycoon- very rich that is why she married him. :)
You sure she was married to Zhang Yimou? I was under the impression that
they were lovers and partners (personally and professionally), but they
weren't married to each other. In fact, I'm not sure where you got the
idea that Zhang married Gong Li.
: etc.. She should have taken a co-starring role with Richard Gere.
: What should have been the name of the movie? Anybody know?
: I don't know why she did not take it and decide to open a restaurant
: with a business associate? Maybe if she would have taken that acting role
: should would be more famous then Joan Chen?
: If Chinese actress want to be big in Hollywood, then she should not give
: up a role with Richard Gere star of "The American Gigolo!.
: That is a big mistake. She could have now been a Chinese Julia Roberts star
: in "Pretty Woman" with Richard Gere. :)
Where did you get this fantasy? Gong Li never had the opportunity to
co-star with Richard Gere (she did get an offer to play a female
character in Michael Mann's recent _Heat_). And she is ALREADY more
famous than Joan Chen (Gong Li, if you consider China's huge population,
is arguably the world's most famous actress). Your conclusions are
incredibly bizarre.
: Have you ever seen Joan Chen act in a main Chinese
: movie and acting role speaking in Mandarin or Cantonese.
: Possibily a little in "The Last Emperor" was the last, a long time ago.
Joan Chen works in the Hollywood film industry. Gong Li works in the
Chinese film industry (for now). Understand? They are gonna be in totally
different types of movies.
Alex Lam
>Anne wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
> such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
> interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG fan
> of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
> sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
>
Gong Li IS the better actress, no doubt about that. However,
Joan Chen is a little more well known here in the West, because
Joan Chen speaks pretty good English , and had appeared in
many Hollywood movies, including some action flicks with
Stephen Seagal, etc.
I found Joan Chen to be quite ordinary looking as well, I've seen
a few Chinese waitresses that look very much like Joan Chen.
Gong Li has a more star quality look and is prettier.
Alex Lam.
--
Alex Lam's Virtual Studios.
http://www.alexlam.com/users/lampas
Alex Lam
>Godzilla wrote:
>
>> Questor wrote:
>
> > What type of film is The Red Lantern? I'm curious! I think Joan Chen is
> > really a great actress, very diverse, and if Gong Li is comparable I
> > want to see her in "action."
>
> appeared in films such as "The Last Emperor", and "Wild
> Side" with Christopher Walken....
>
> Gong is more Asian in that most of her stuff are Chinese
> made...
>
> but award-wise, Gong has won more recognition than Chen
>
There is another very good, but less well known young Asian/Euroasian
actress, whom I cannot remember her name . She played the young
mistress to the rich young Chinese business man in the French film
'Indochine.' Which is, by the way, an excellent movie about the French
colonial Vietnam era.
Alex Lam
> Anne wrote:
>
> > I heard Gong Li is trying to release an album! Can anyone verify
> > this? I mean she is a good actress, but can she sing?
> >
>
> Hi Bob,
>
> I think she actually sang the songs herself in the movie Shanghai Triad.
> I was not impressed ... I wish she had not done it. I also did not
> think the role in Shanghai Triad fitted her very well, either.
>
> If anyone knows what either Gong Li or Chang Yi Mou are currently
> working on, please share the information. I lived in Idaho for 9 years,
> and just recently moved back to California. But I still need to drive
> 50 miles to San Francisco. I could used some juicy movie star gossip!
> Any interesting sites for such things on the internet?
> Thanks!
>
> Anne
You SHOULD log on to the Chinese University's web site in Hong Kong,
they have links to most HK media there.
What the heck were you doing in Idaho - the
land of potatos in the first place?
Welcome to California.
Soon-Yi Previn aka Uncle Hot-Rod
On Tue, 11 Feb 1997, Hugh Bonney wrote:
>
> Isn't Chen from the PRC originally? If memory serves she had some
> success there as a teenager, then came to the US where she has not
> been as successful as she should be. 'Memory serves' means she lives
> in the SFBay area somewhere and so gets written up in the papers
> occasionally.
Yes, I saw her at the Kabuki THX theater in Japantown SF, and also the
Maruwa Nippon store. She was buying some Mochis. She asked me if I was a
graffiti artist, and I said, "Look lady, if you ....
Joon-Mo Ok
gen...@Leland.Stanford.EDU
"Let me serenade you with
flaming arrows of kerosene..."
Don Marion
Richard Lee wrote:
> You sure she was married to Zhang Yimou? I was under the impression that
> they were lovers and partners (personally and professionally), but they
> weren't married to each other. In fact, I'm not sure where you got the
> idea that Zhang married Gong Li.
They were never married, although they lived together for several years.
He was married for a long time to a woman named Xiao Hua, a teacher, and
it was long believed that if his wife ever gave him a divorce he and
Gong Li would marry. But after the divorce they split up instead. I
read a Chinese newspaper story after her marriage that said the breakup
was due to Zhang's unwillingness to have any more children (he has a
daughter by his first wife) but I don't know if that is fact or rumor.
> Where did you get this fantasy? Gong Li never had the opportunity to
> co-star with Richard Gere (she did get an offer to play a female
> character in Michael Mann's recent _Heat_). And she is ALREADY more
> famous than Joan Chen (Gong Li, if you consider China's huge population,
Actually, she was approached about the possibility of co-starring in a
movie Gere is now making about the Dalai Lama, but she very wisely
turned it down. Think about it: Gere is closely aligned with the
Tibetan independence movement, and this movie will probably be very
anti-China; if she did make it, it may do something for her career here
(very iffy proposition--Chen's movie career peaked with "Last Emperor",
10 years ago) but Gong would probably never be able to film again in her
home country.
--
Barney Fife
>eng...@aol.com wrote:
>Gong Li vs. Joan Chen? Hands Down, Gong Li. If anyone interested in a
>tear-jerker, check out "Raise the Red Lantern" it is authentic Gong Li.
>You could still find it in major video rental stores like Blockbuster
>(under foreign films). Directed by her former husband Zhang Yimou. While
>you're there Check out Jackie Chan flicks!!
>Eng "Jackie Chan makes james bond look like a
>whimp!"-eng
. . . especially since he does his own stunts! BTW, perhaps Gong Li
is a better actress than Joan Chen, but Joanie's still my favorite.
She is such a babe!
Never said I wasn't superficial,
Barney
Shelly Kraicer
Richard Lee wrote:
>
> You don't think _Temptress Moon_, by Chen Kaige was a decent movie? It
> of her decent movies (she's been in martial arts stupid movies, but they
> don't count). In fact, I just thought I'd mention that she was in some
> movie recently directed by a fellow female actress (I forget the name of
> it), and that fellow female actress is none other than Sylvia Chang
That film was Sylvia Chang's _Mary from Beijing_ (Meng4 xing3 shi2
fen1), from 1992. A mainlander-in-HK drama: it seems to have been quite
poorly received, by critics. I vaguely remember it from the 1993 Toronto
Film Festival. Starred Kenny Bee (Chung Chun-To), as well.
--
Shelly Kraicer
Chinese Cinema page http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/5170
email s.kr...@utoronto.ca
Brian
Joan Chen is easliest one of the most beautiful women on this earth (and
she often takes off her clothes to prove it) , but since 'THE LAST
EMPEROR" she has been in some dreadful movies - THE WILD SIDE,GOLDEN
GATE and TAI-PAN to mention a few. I noticed that she is in a HK film
called something like RED ROSE WHITE ROSE which does not sound like my
cup of tea, but it would be interesting to see her in a non-US
production.
buran
On Tue, 11 Feb 1997 08:09:45 -0800, Anne <anne...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>Hi Richard,
>
>> I forgot a lot of things...maybe the movie was called _Life_.
>
>I recently saw it on tape. I think the title is 'To Live'. It turned
>out to be my favorite. I like how it portrayed the life or ordinary
>people trying to survive and adapt to the changes of the political
>agenda.
Then you know how the Taiwanese military dictatorship
relied on censorship and of course imprisoning the
opposition. (*)
>I was raised in Taiwan for nearly 19 years, and I have never been to
>China. I am facinated by the life styles of 'the other China'. It's so
>different, yet so mysteriously similar, to the life in Taiwan.
Actually it's not. I've been to China recently. It's like Taiwan
maybe 40 years ago. yeah, Chinese people don't change
wherever they go.
>
>Anne
buran
On Wed, 12 Feb 1997 01:31:11 GMT, barne...@aoler.com (Barney Fife)
wrote:
Who's your favorite asian porno start btw asiaphile?
eng...@aol.com
>
>>Eng "Jackie Chan makes james bond look like a
>>whimp!"-eng
>
>. . . especially since he does his own stunts! BTW, perhaps Gong Li
>is a better actress than Joan Chen, but Joanie's still my favorite.
>She is such a babe!
>
> Never said I wasn't superficial,
We've never doubted you! :)
Eng
>Barney
>
>
Richard Lee
Alex Lam (lam...@alexlam.com) scribbled:
: There is another very good, but less well known young Asian/Euroasian
: actress, whom I cannot remember her name . She played the young
: mistress to the rich young Chinese business man in the French film
: 'Indochine.' Which is, by the way, an excellent movie about the French
: colonial Vietnam era.
I saw this movie (really long...3 hours), and you know what? I have no
idea what you are talking about when you say some mistress to
some rich Chinese dude. As I remember, the movie centered on 3
characters, Catherine Denueve's character, her adopted Vietnamese
daughter (is this the actress you are referring to?), and a French naval
officer (Vincent Perez, who was also in _The Crow Part 2_ and that French
movie with Isabella Adjani..._Queen Margot_). Anyway, I can't remember
any rich Chinese dude and no mistress of any sort unless you count the
adopted Vietnamese daughter, who steals Perez away from Deneuve.
Alex Lam
Richard Lee wrote:
>
> Alex Lam (lam...@alexlam.com) scribbled:
> : There is another very good, but less well known young Asian/Euroasian
> : actress, whom I cannot remember her name . She played the young
> : mistress to the rich young Chinese business man in the French film
> : 'Indochine.' Which is, by the way, an excellent movie about the French
> : colonial Vietnam era.
>
> I saw this movie (really long...3 hours), and you know what? I have no
> idea what you are talking about when you say some mistress to
> some rich Chinese dude. As I remember, the movie centered on 3
> characters, Catherine Denueve's character, her adopted Vietnamese
> daughter (is this the actress you are referring to?), and a French naval
> officer (Vincent Perez, who was also in _The Crow Part 2_ and that French
> movie with Isabella Adjani..._Queen Margot_). Anyway, I can't remember
> any rich Chinese dude and no mistress of any sort unless you count the
> adopted Vietnamese daughter, who steals Perez away from Deneuve.
>
> Richard Lee
> --
I saw this movie many years ago, can't remember exactly who's who now.
It's a long movie indeed, but a good movie.
Alex Lam.
> "You can't spell P-E-N-I-S without ESPN!"
> --seen on a sign held by a student in the stands at the Utah vs.
> Colorado St. basketball game, televised by ESPN.
--
Barney Fife
Beavis, see my other post in "Amy Tan..."
Barney
Barney Fife
js...@erols.com
Vauxhall <met...@freenet.mb.caxx> wrote:
>On 11 Feb 1997, Questor wrote:
>> In <32FFE7...@pacbell.net> Anne <anne...@pacbell.net> writes:
>> >
>> >Hi,
>> >
>> >Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
>I do. She is a good Chinese actress.
Correction. She's great!!!!
>> >such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
>> >interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG
>> fan
>> >of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
>> >sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
>Chang Yi Mou was also her husband. She is now divorced from him and married
>to a Singaporean tobacco tycoon- very rich that is why she married him. :)
>>
I didn't think that she and the director Zhang Yi - mou were married.
I think that they were just lovers for many years.
> >
>> >Anne S.
>> What type of film is The Red Lantern?
>
> Why don't you raise your Red Lantern to find out? :)
>I'm curious! I think Joan Chen is
>> really a great actress, very diverse, and if Gong Li is comparable I
>> want to see her in "action."
> Gong Li speaks in Manadarin when she acts and specializes in movies
>which has themes dealing with China such as Farewell My Concubine- Peking
>Opera Schools, Red Sorgnum- Growning a type of crop, like wheat, during
>Japanese invasion of China? & Jin Dou,
I think the title is "Ju Dou." And don't forget "To Live," "Shanghai
Triad," and her (hopefully) soon to be released here in the U.S.,
"Temptress Moon." There are several Gong Li fan pages on the www.
Just do a search on her name.
>etc.. She should have taken a co-starring role with Richard Gere.
>What should have been the name of the movie? Anybody know?
>I don't know why she did not take it and decide to open a restaurant
>with a business associate? Maybe if she would have taken that acting role
>should would be more famous then Joan Chen?
>If Chinese actress want to be big in Hollywood, then she should not give
>up a role with Richard Gere star of "The American Gigolo!.
>That is a big mistake. She could have now been a Chinese Julia Roberts star
>in "Pretty Woman" with Richard Gere. :)
I think that she would do well here in the U.S., although both she and
Gere agreed that the proposed script they were planning to put into
production was weak. So, they've decided to hold off to wait for
something better. All in all, a wise decision.
>Joan Chen starred in Taipan with Bryan Brown- not too successful in
>Hollywood these days. I only like Bryan Brown in his role in
>"A Town Like Alice", which was a good mini series.
>Joan Chen now wants to go more main stream and want to take up more "white
>ladytype actress roles"
>Have you ever seen Joan Chen act in a main Chinese
>movie and acting role speaking in Mandarin or Cantonese.
>Possibily a little in "The Last Emperor" was the last, a long time ago.
She is featured in the Chinese production of "Seduction of a Monk."
Blockbuster and the other rental shops usually have a copy to rent.
You can also catch her as the Vietnamese matriarch in "Heaven and
Earth" with Tommy Lee Jones, and in re-runs of the "Twin Peaks"
series. I also think she stars with Rutger Hauer (of Blade Runner
fame) in a low-budget ripoff of Mad Max called "The Blood of Heroes."
The original title was different but I think that is the title for the
U.S. release of the film.
>BTW anybody have any info. on Vivian Wu and Rosalind Chao are they getting
>any "white lady type roles"?
What exactly are these 'white lady type' roles you're referring to?
>Vauxhall
><If you wish to reply to me, please remove xx at the end of my address>
I have Joan Chen's address if you would like to write to her. If you
want it, just send me email. I don't want to post it here in the NG.
js...@erols.com
lo...@also.hooked.net (Richard Lee) wrote:
>Lee Yuk Ting (miss...@ix.netcom.com) scribbled:
>: Does anyone know if it's true that Gong Li is living with a White
>: Eurorean film executive??
>False. She is married to some Singapore tobacco executive (his name
>starts with a C...way to narrow it down, huh?).
>Richard Lee
Actually, Richard, you're wrong. Gong Li isn't married to anybody
whose name begins with a "C." She is, in fact, married to Ooi Hoe
Seong (as of 2/15/96) who is a wealthy Singaporean businessman living
in HK (where they both now live) who works for B.A.T. You can read
about it on any one of the Gong Li fan webpages or check out their
wedding photo in the February 10, 1997 issue of People magazine.
- Andy Shepherd
js...@erols.com
bu...@hotmail.com (buran) wrote:
>>. . . especially since he does his own stunts! BTW, perhaps Gong Li
>>is a better actress than Joan Chen, but Joanie's still my favorite.
>>She is such a babe!
>>
>> Never said I wasn't superficial,
>> Barney
>>
>Who's your favorite asian porno start btw asiaphile?
Hey everybody, it's Burlap! Welcome back to the fray. I just knew
that you couldn't resist opening your rotten piehole to begin slinging
insults in another desparate attempt to be noticed.
By the way, Burhead, who is your favorite porno 'start' ? I've seen
you post this in several Asian and AA NGs. You must have quite the
collection since you seem to be quite preoccupied with pornography.
In any case, Burma, it's so nice to see one of your 'courage over the
keyboard' posts, again. Keep them coming. We all can use the
occassional good laugh...even if you keep in tucked in your panties
most of the time.
- Andy
js...@erols.com
eng...@aol.com wrote:
>In article <32FFE7...@pacbell.net>, Anne <anne...@pacbell.net>
>writes:
>>Hi,
>>
>>Does anyone here know who Gong Li is? She appears in many many movies
>>such as The Red Latern, directed by Chang Yi Mou. I there are many
>>interesting contrast in her style and that of Joan Chen. I am a BIG fan
>>of Gong Li. I find her the the role she plays much more complex and
>>sophistocated than Joan Chen ...
>>
>>Anne S.
Sorry, Eng. They were never married. Just lovers for seven years or
so.
jshep
>Gong Li vs. Joan Chen? Hands Down, Gong Li. If anyone interested in a
>tear-jerker, check out "Raise the Red Lantern" it is authentic Gong Li.
>You could still find it in major video rental stores like Blockbuster
>(under foreign films). Directed by her former husband Zhang Yimou. While
>you're there Check out Jackie Chan flicks!!
>Eng "Jackie Chan makes james bond look like a
>whimp!"-eng
The MAD Happa!?!
js...@erols.com wrote:
>
> I think that she would do well here in the U.S., although both she and
> Gere agreed that the proposed script they were planning to put into
> production was weak. So, they've decided to hold off to wait for
> something better. All in all, a wise decision.
was the only Kurosawa flick that I didn't instantly love.
he played a dorky guy visiting his Japanese in-laws in
Hiroshima. it was pretty weird.
Nuff said
Rob(not a really big fan of ol' Rick G. BTW)
eng...@aol.com
>
>Sorry, Eng. They were never married. Just lovers for seven years or
>so.
>
>jshep
>
>
My apology, jshep ..I took my friends words for it and now i pay the price for it too. Quite shameful, nevertheless.
taker care,
Eng
Phil
What do you think, any truth to that gerbil thing?
Richard Lee
Brian (ns...@earthlink.net) scribbled:
: Joan Chen is easliest one of the most beautiful women on this earth (and
: she often takes off her clothes to prove it) , but since 'THE LAST
: EMPEROR" she has been in some dreadful movies - THE WILD SIDE,GOLDEN
: GATE and TAI-PAN to mention a few.
All ya gotta say is "Judge Dredd."
Richard Lee
--
Richard Lee
js...@erols.com scribbled:
: lo...@also.hooked.net (Richard Lee) wrote:
: >False. She is married to some Singapore tobacco executive (his name
: whose name begins with a "C." She is, in fact, married to Ooi Hoe
: Seong (as of 2/15/96) who is a wealthy Singaporean businessman living
: in HK (where they both now live) who works for B.A.T. You can read
Yah I misread the O as a C.
Vauxhall
On Wed, 12 Feb 1997, Brian wrote:
> Joan Chen is easliest one of the most beautiful women on this earth (and
> she often takes off her clothes to prove it)
She has to take off her clothes to prove to you that she is beautiful???
Vauxhall
<If you wish to reply to me, please remove xx at the end of my address>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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<My favorite railway station- Clapham Junction- busiest in the world>
buran
On Thu, 13 Feb 1997 09:52:58 GMT, barne...@aoler.com (Barney Fife)
wrote:
>>bu...@hotmail.com (buran) wrote:
>
>>Who's your favorite asian porno start btw asiaphile?
>
>Beavis, see my other post in "Amy Tan..."
>
> Barney
>
Whatta crybaby you are. Hehe.