A movie whose rave reviews have all mentioned how the plot is really not that important next to the stunning visuals. Not that I disagree, but when people in your theater start laughing at the most dramatic moments, you have to admit that it just ain't playing. So -- beautiful bamboo, neat dancing, but not as overwhelming as others have found it.
Matter of fact, my mind was wandering during the film, and what I was thinking was about how Chinese directors have successfully mined Chinese history and mythology for completely fictionalized fairy-tales such as these. Why hasn't a Native American filmmaker done the same? I'm talking pre-european stories here. The history of storytelling, and incredibly rich visual arts and culture are already there. I dig the small modern Indian storytelling movement, such as what Sherman Alexie has been doing, but I'm talking about a big, sprawling special fx retelling of one of the great legends. I would love to see that.
Where we saw it: Movie Theater | We deign to rate it: 74 outta 100