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2.46- random rants Fall 2002
2.47

THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI

DVD Review by David Blackwell

 

DETAILS:  125 minutes, making of featurette, theatrical trailer, previews

VIDEO:  2.35:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)

AUDIO:  English 5.1 Dolby Digital

Subtitles:   English, Spanish (Castilian)

 

STUDIO:  Sony Pictures Classics/ Film Finance Corporation Australia/ Ming Productions/ Bluewater Pictures/ Zero Fiction/ Cheerland

RELEASE DATE:  1-20-2009

British journalist George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) sneaks across enemy lines in 1937 China to expose what the Japanese are doing to the locals in Najing.  Instead he ends up being captured after being caught with the photos he's taken.  He is rescued by communist resistance leader Chen after George is about to be beheaded by a samurai sword.  he is taken to the orphanage of Huang Shi where he learns to teach the orphaned children to live as he falls for an Australian nurse, Lee (Rhada Mitchell).  He has local dealings with Madam Wang (Michelle Yoeh) while knowing the Japanese and the Chinese Nationalist army (that who see the kids as future soldiers) could spell danger for his children.  George must make daring decisions if he is to save the children.

THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI is based on a the true story fo George Hogg.  It is a moving story with breathtaking Chinese landscapes and a film that blends East with West.  It is a human film that blends the joy and tragedies of George's life.  It is mixed with happiness and sadness.   George didn't want to take on the children, but he felt he needed to help them.   George didn't want to be a hero, but he did by taking the children on a journey on the Silk Road that has been traveled by Marco Polo centuries ago.  Meyers breathes life and humanity into George while Mitchell shows how weary Lee is (as she looks for something to believe and live for).  The characters all make hard decisions.  Chen aka Jack used to be romantically involved with Lee and Madam Wang likes George more than he knows.  Plus the music score sweeps you more into the film's world and emotion.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The original theatrical trailer and previews are included on the disc.  THE CHALLENGE OF HAUNG SHI is a brief 11 minute making of featurette that is better than many featurettes of that length.  I wish there was a featurette that looked more into the real lives of the characters in this film.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI is a sweeping and moving film.   It's one of the best I have seen this year.

 

this DVD review is (c)7-3-2009 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com

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