26
Metascore
14 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 50New York Daily NewsJami BernardNew York Daily NewsJami BernardIntroduces American audiences to Luo Yan, a charismatic Chinese-born actress now living in Los Angeles. She single-handedly nurtured this project to fruition, serving as producer, co-writer and star.
- 50USA TodayMike ClarkUSA TodayMike ClarkIt saves its clunkiest scene for the finale. No fair telling, but the key words are "political," "propaganda," "outdoors" and "orphans."
- 40New Times (L.A.)Andy KleinNew Times (L.A.)Andy KleinHas an awkwardness that defeats whatever emotional involvement it tries to achieve.
- 30The New York TimesDana StevensThe New York TimesDana StevensIt might have been a satisfying if not terribly original piece of historical melodrama, but its clumsiness turns it, against its best intentions, into half-baked operatic kitsch.
- 30Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasCan never rise above the melodrama of a past era, despite a splendid, impassioned portrayal by Willem Dafoe and an affecting one by Luo Yan.
- 30Washington PostWashington PostA film that was made in China but has the soul of a '50s Hollywood melodrama.
- 30TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghThe locations and production design are breathtakingly beautiful. But though cast largely with Chinese actors, it was shot in English, which no doubt made business sense but almost certainly accounts for many truly awful performances.
- 25New York PostLou LumenickNew York PostLou LumenickIt's loaded with -- scenery-chewing melodrama, cornball pidgin dialogue and syrupy music.
- 25San Francisco ChronicleWesley MorrisSan Francisco ChronicleWesley MorrisThis version is a well-meant but corny distillation -- a whole lot of bombast and phony exaltation in the name of entertaining enrichment.
- 20VarietyRobert KoehlerVarietyRobert KoehlerFails to stir the emotions despite its heavily melodramatic drive.