Anita herself has too legendary of a story to tell. From her childhood to her domination in the pop scene in Hong Kong, and her bumpy road on relationships and marriage, this movie encapsulated the story that us fans know all too well.
To be fair, the first half of the movie is a bit loose and uncoordinated, but all the storyline tied up well in the second half of the movie, up until her curtain call concert. The entire movie focuses on 3 main storyline, her relationship with her sister, her romantic interests and the ever-changing social atmosphere in Hong Kong. Overall, the movie reintroduces and exemplifies why Anita is the daughter of the city Hong Kong.
It is ambitious for the director to try to pack the entire life of the legendary singer/actress in two hours, and there is still much more of her life to be explored. The overall story telling in complete, yet there are many build up of personal relationships in the beginning of the movie that went nowhere. The development between her and Eddie Lau and Leslie seems a bit rush and sudden, while the depiction of what is to be believed as Masahiko Kondo and Ben Lam is merely scratching the surface, especially when Godo Yuki is so much a deviation of Kondo that he seems right out of fairytales. Each of the relationship only occupy a small portion in a specific era her life, making us hard to believe that these persons would be the ones her reminisced at the end of her life.
The only relationship that is fully developed and wel-depcited is between the Mui sisters. While Anita achieved great heights of her career, Ann got the one thing Anita wanted the most in her life, love. The intertwined love-hate relationship between the sister, to the funeral of her sister, foreshadowing Anita's own demise, is heart-wrenching and life-like.
For fear of Chinese censorship and personal controversies, some part of the Anita's life is censored and deleted to much of the audiences dismay, me including, but it was never the agenda of the movie is criticise or condemn, but the remember and revisit. Along the script and the dialogues, we do see a general depiction of her mother and her philanthropy work. Even though I would so much love to see the June forth movement shown on the big screen, I personally understand why it was not included.
For the big screen debut of Louise Wong, she overdelivered and is truly a star in her performance and interpretation. From her imitation of Anita's body language, to the singing voices, and the few emotional scenes, it is hard to believe that she had no prior acting experience. It is not a exaggeration to say that she is the only contender for next year's best actress award at the Hong Kong Films Awards.
Overall, for a movie perspective, the movie is merry an above average piece for a biography. But the life of Anita is legendary of its own that the twist and turns and regrets at the movie leaves a strong aftertaste in the throat, one that will linger even when you walk out of the movie theatre. The movie paced to be melodramatic and ease us into the glamorously tragic life of Anita from the beginning, the last half hour cry fest is exactly what everyone knowingly signed up for. The movie did not disappoint in most parts, and pays tribute to the most legendary pop queen that the orient has ever seen. Anita will be remembered, for her artistry and her life story, and this movie will leave her mark in hall of fame of Hong Kong movies, as her legacy lives on.
To be fair, the first half of the movie is a bit loose and uncoordinated, but all the storyline tied up well in the second half of the movie, up until her curtain call concert. The entire movie focuses on 3 main storyline, her relationship with her sister, her romantic interests and the ever-changing social atmosphere in Hong Kong. Overall, the movie reintroduces and exemplifies why Anita is the daughter of the city Hong Kong.
It is ambitious for the director to try to pack the entire life of the legendary singer/actress in two hours, and there is still much more of her life to be explored. The overall story telling in complete, yet there are many build up of personal relationships in the beginning of the movie that went nowhere. The development between her and Eddie Lau and Leslie seems a bit rush and sudden, while the depiction of what is to be believed as Masahiko Kondo and Ben Lam is merely scratching the surface, especially when Godo Yuki is so much a deviation of Kondo that he seems right out of fairytales. Each of the relationship only occupy a small portion in a specific era her life, making us hard to believe that these persons would be the ones her reminisced at the end of her life.
The only relationship that is fully developed and wel-depcited is between the Mui sisters. While Anita achieved great heights of her career, Ann got the one thing Anita wanted the most in her life, love. The intertwined love-hate relationship between the sister, to the funeral of her sister, foreshadowing Anita's own demise, is heart-wrenching and life-like.
For fear of Chinese censorship and personal controversies, some part of the Anita's life is censored and deleted to much of the audiences dismay, me including, but it was never the agenda of the movie is criticise or condemn, but the remember and revisit. Along the script and the dialogues, we do see a general depiction of her mother and her philanthropy work. Even though I would so much love to see the June forth movement shown on the big screen, I personally understand why it was not included.
For the big screen debut of Louise Wong, she overdelivered and is truly a star in her performance and interpretation. From her imitation of Anita's body language, to the singing voices, and the few emotional scenes, it is hard to believe that she had no prior acting experience. It is not a exaggeration to say that she is the only contender for next year's best actress award at the Hong Kong Films Awards.
Overall, for a movie perspective, the movie is merry an above average piece for a biography. But the life of Anita is legendary of its own that the twist and turns and regrets at the movie leaves a strong aftertaste in the throat, one that will linger even when you walk out of the movie theatre. The movie paced to be melodramatic and ease us into the glamorously tragic life of Anita from the beginning, the last half hour cry fest is exactly what everyone knowingly signed up for. The movie did not disappoint in most parts, and pays tribute to the most legendary pop queen that the orient has ever seen. Anita will be remembered, for her artistry and her life story, and this movie will leave her mark in hall of fame of Hong Kong movies, as her legacy lives on.