The Curse of the Golden Flower is a Chinese epic drama film released in 2006. Directed by Zhang Yimou, the film tells the story of a royal family in ancient China and the power struggles within. The film is set during the Tang Dynasty and revolves around the Emperor, his Empress, and their three sons. The Emperor, played by Chow Yun-fat, is portrayed as a ruthless and paranoid ruler who is determined to maintain his power at all costs. The Empress, played by Gong Li, is trapped in a loveless marriage and seeks solace in the arms of her stepson, the Crown Prince. The film takes a dark and twisted turn when it is revealed that the Emperor has been poisoning the Empress in order to ensure her obedience.
The emperor is poisoning his wife with a fungus in her medicine (she coughs and faints occasionally); swordplay is swift, bloody, and climactic; characters have scars/brands indicating previous abuses; some one-on-one fighting (punching, slapping, kicking); assault by army of assassins features flaming arrows, hooks, spears, knives, and swords; a character stabs himself in the throat (he lives, with bloody bandages visible in later scenes); a character commits suicide by slashing his own throat (gruesome but brief).
The emperor is poisoning his wife with a fungus in her medicine she coughs and faints occasionally ; swordplay is swift, bloody, and climactic; characters have scars brands indicating previous abuses; some one-on-one fighting punching, slapping, kicking ; assault by army of assassins features flaming arrows, hooks, spears, knives, and swords; a character stabs himself in the throat he lives, with bloody bandages visible in later scenes ; a character commits suicide by slashing his own throat gruesome but brief. Knowing that she is Yuan Xiang s half-sister, Jiang Chan gets crazy and runs out, with her mother running after her, and then the two both get killed.
The film takes a dark and twisted turn when it is revealed that the Emperor has been poisoning the Empress in order to ensure her obedience. As the plot unfolds, we see the devastating consequences of the Emperor's actions. The royal family becomes embroiled in a web of deceit, betrayal, and violence.
Curse of the Golden Flower
The film is a 2006 Chinese epic directed by Zhang Yimou. The plot is based on a famous play, "Thunderstorm", written by Cao Yu, a celebrated Chinese dramatist, but is set in the imperial court in ancient China.
The Emperor, originally a small military officer, marries a new wife who holds a high position. He plots to have his ex-wife murdered, leaving him with their son, the Crown Prince Yuan Xiang. The Emperor and his new wife, the Empress, give birth to two more princes. His ex-wife escapes death, conceals her name, and marries the Imperial Doctor.
The Emperor discovers that the Empress and Yuan Xiang are having an illicit affair and secretly orders the Imperial Doctor to add tiny amounts of poisons into the Empress’ medicine. The Empress feels dizzy and is aware of the poison, but still eats the medicine in order to not raise the Emperor’s suspicion.
The Empress persuades Prince Yuan Jie to rebel during the Chongyang Festival, the day for appreciating golden chrysanthemum flowers, and kill the Emperor.
The Crown Prince Yuan Xiang not only has an affair with the Empress, but is also in love with Jiang Chan, the Imperial Doctor’s daughter, whose mother is in fact the Emperor’s ex-wife. Yuan Xiang, however, keeps this unknown.
On the day of Chongyang Festival, Jiang Chan and her mother are hunted by the Emperor’s soldiers, and the Empress leads them to a room, where the Empress reveals the true identity of Jiang Chan’s mother, namely the Emperor’s ex-wife. Knowing that she is Yuan Xiang’s half-sister, Jiang Chan gets crazy and runs out, with her mother running after her, and then the two both get killed.
Thousands of warriors led by Yuan Jie charge the palace, but the Emperor is prepared for Yuan Jie’s rebellion, and has hidden a golden-armored army in the palace. The prince manages to fight but eventually has to surrender.
After the battle, the yard is cleaned up swiftly as if nothing happened. The Emperor does not sentence Yuan Jie to death, instead punishing him by forcing him to feed poisoned medicine to the Empress everyday. Yuan Jie apologizes to his mother for his failure to kill the Emperor and commits suicide. His blood spills on the Empress’s medicine, and the Empress screams aloud, slapping the plate out of the servant’s hands with extreme grief.
Comments:
The film is a kind of feast in terms of its gorgeous costumes and spectacular scenes. Many praise the movie, while some think it is a poor reflection of director Zhang Yimou’s past acclaimed works.
The intricate palace politics and power struggles lead to a tragic and bloody climax. The Curse of the Golden Flower is visually stunning, with lavish sets, costumes, and cinematography. The use of vibrant colors and intricate details adds to the richness of the film. The performances by the cast, particularly Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li, are captivating and bring depth to their characters. The film explores themes of power, love, and sacrifice. It depicts the destructive nature of ambition and the price that individuals and society pay for it. The Curse of the Golden Flower serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked power and the human desire for control. In conclusion, The Curse of the Golden Flower is an epic drama that delves into the dark underbelly of power and greed. Directed by Zhang Yimou, the film offers a visually stunning portrayal of a royal family torn apart by their own ambitions and desires. It serves as a reminder of the destructive nature of power and the tragic consequences that can result from it..
Reviews for "A Tale of Revenge: Curse of the Golden Flower Explored"
1. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars
I was really excited to watch "Curse of the Golden Flower" due to the stunning visuals and the promise of an epic story. However, I was left deeply disappointed. The plot felt convoluted and confusing, with too many unnecessary subplots that distracted from the main story. The characters were also poorly developed, which made it difficult to connect or care about their fates. Overall, I found the film to be a visually captivating but ultimately shallow and unsatisfying experience.
2. Mike - 1 out of 5 stars
"Curse of the Golden Flower" is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The excessive use of CGI and extravagant costumes may appeal to some, but for me, it felt like a desperate attempt to distract from the lack of substance in the story. The dialogue was cringeworthy and the acting felt wooden. I found myself constantly checking my watch, waiting for the film to be over. It's a shame because I had high expectations for this film, but unfortunately, it fell flat in almost every aspect.
3. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars
I had heard great things about "Curse of the Golden Flower" and was excited to watch a visually stunning period drama. However, I found the film to be overly melodramatic and lacking in depth. The plot moved at a sluggish pace, and the characters lacked nuance or development. The heavy use of golden tones throughout the film became monotonous and lost its intended impact. Overall, "Curse of the Golden Flower" failed to engage me and left me feeling underwhelmed.