|
(Chinese film director Feng Xiaogang and the cast members including Zhang Ziyi, Zhou Xun, Ge You, Huang Xiaoming and Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu, at "The Banquet" premiere in Beijing on September 9th. / CRIENGLISH.com Photo)
After touring through four Chinese cities, director Feng Xiaogang's high profile movie "The Banquet" finally made its grand debut in Beijing on September 9th.
The highly anticipated film has already proved highly controversial.
Critics and reporters laughed out loud during all the wrong scenes when the Banquet premiered in Guangzhou. Some even walked out during an awkward scene.
But the film received a far more positive response when it screened in Hangzhou, Xiian and Shenyang.
So what did the people of Beijing react? And how has the mixed reception affected the director and cast?
 "The Banquet" sparked a range of reactions from the audience when it premiered in the capital city.
Some greeted the scenes with applause, while others snickered all the way through.
Some said the movie has everything you could hope from a blockbuster, as well as big stars.
Others panned the script, saying the traditional language sounded comical and unnatural.
When asked about the mixed reception the film has received, Director Feng Xiaogang says:
"I am quite confident about this movie because I have a good understanding of audiences. "
The media have by-and-large panned the traditional language used in The Banquet. But the director stood by his script.
"The lines of the movie written by Shen Heyu are quite good. People who criticize the lines could not possibly be more familiar with traditional Chinese than Shen."
"The Banquet" is a loose adaptation of "Hamlet" that depicts an empire in chaos.
The main characters – the emperor, empress and prince – hold a banquet to finish off their enemies.
The emperor is played by Ge You, an actor known for his comic roles in the past.
Many critics find it hard to take the sight of him in a dramatic role seriously, bursting into laughter whenever he appeared onscreen.
Ge You is somehow helpless about it.
"I do not know when and why some people laughed, but I have to accept it. Maybe I have played too many comic roles."
Most of the praise for The Banquet has gone to actress Zhang Ziyi for her sophisticated performance.
But she gave a restrained response when asked what she thought of some criticisms from foreign media, such as the 'Variety' magazine, saying that her actings are too light and unstable to the queen role.
"I think the character is quite different from my own experience, including the age, the conflicts and struggles. Most audiences and the media have given me credit for the role. So I think I can describe my performance as 'steady and moderate'."
With a 200 million yuan budget, high profile director, stellar cast and soundtrack by Grammy winner Tan Dun, "The Banquet" can hardly fail to be a box office hit, despite the critics.
It opens in cinemas across China from September 14th.
|
Director: Liu Chi