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A BEAUTIFUL LIFE (CHINA, 2011)Movie Reviews
Mandarin language romantic drama about the burgeoning relationship between a Beijing policeman, who's suffering from worsening dementia, and a flighty realtor. Cast:Liu Ye, Shu Qi, Tian Liang, Fairy FengDirector:Andrew LauRelease Date:May 20, 2011DVD Release:December 13, 2011From:China LionLength:2 hr 2 min
DECEMBER 13, 2011
A Beautiful Life (China, 2011), Fair Reviews Limited
A Beautiful Life (China, 2011) played in limited release to fair reviews. • Jeff Shannon wrote in the Seattle Times, "It's all quite harmless, as tear-jerkers go, despite an overwrought screenplay that strains credulity and feels 20 minutes too long." • And Michael C. Walsh wrote in the Boston Phoenix, "Lau throws in one too many wrinkles, squandering our empathy by forcing us through a long-winded relationship..." More Reviews Below...
A Beautiful Life (China, 2011) Positive Reviews (8 Reviews, reviews below)
A Beautiful Life (China, 2011) has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (4 Reviews)
Mike Hale, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "The first hour is charming, before the balance shifts from romance to melodrama to, in the final minutes, the kind of maudlin crescendo that Asian audiences are accustomed to."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 396 words, 05/20/11
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...proves far too sweeping for what's essentially an Eastern version of those old disease-of-the-week TV movies.... Whatever does work here ultimately gets lost in the excess."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 246 words, 05/20/11
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "...a light romantic comedy or a sappy melodrama? Sadly, it's both... The movie finally bogs down with too many subplots... The sugary musical score is the final insult."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 207 words, 05/20/11
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...a melodrama that will leave you crying - if not from emotions, then from sheer boredom... insistently tugs at heartstrings... a clichéd love story..."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 206 words, 05/19/11
KEY CITIES (1 Review)
Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "It's all quite harmless, as tear-jerkers go, despite an overwrought screenplay that strains credulity and feels 20 minutes too long."(See all of Jeff Shannon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 421 words, 05/20/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (3 Reviews)
Michael C. Walsh, Boston Phoenix: WEAK(cg) "Lau throws in one too many wrinkles, squandering our empathy by forcing us through a long-winded relationship... The story would be better suited to 'A Beautiful Two Months.' "(See all of Michael C. Walsh's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 157 words, 05/19/11
Chuck Bowen, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...the film, initially at least, has a striking visual style that authentically conveys the woozy intoxication of unexpected love.... The surprise is how quickly it deflates."(See all of Chuck Bowen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 488 words, 05/19/11
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...a melodrama that will leave you crying - if not from emotions, then from sheer boredom... insistently tugs at heartstrings... a clichéd love story..."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 206 words, 05/19/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Mike Hale, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "The first hour is charming, before the balance shifts from romance to melodrama to, in the final minutes, the kind of maudlin crescendo that Asian audiences are accustomed to."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 396 words, 05/20/11
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...proves far too sweeping for what's essentially an Eastern version of those old disease-of-the-week TV movies.... Whatever does work here ultimately gets lost in the excess."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 246 words, 05/20/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Russell Edwards, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Strong visuals elevate classy Chinese romancer, despite an excess of melodrama... Tang Kit-ming's script gets caught up in its own indecisiveness..."(See all of Russell Edwards's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 676 words, 05/30/11
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...proves far too sweeping for what's essentially an Eastern version of those old disease-of-the-week TV movies.... Whatever does work here ultimately gets lost in the excess."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 246 words, 05/20/11
Mike Hale, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "The first hour is charming, before the balance shifts from romance to melodrama to, in the final minutes, the kind of maudlin crescendo that Asian audiences are accustomed to."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 396 words, 05/20/11
12.9 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
A Beautiful Life (China, 2011)'s reviews are separated by an average 12.9 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
A Beautiful Life (China, 2011) (8 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:A Beautiful Life (China, 2011)'s reviews cover 9.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 2,797 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 350 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
A Beautiful Life (China, 2011) Coverage, Volume & Length (8 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 6.9 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
A Beautiful Life (China, 2011)'s reviews on average broke 6.9 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is A Beautiful Life (China, 2011)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
A Beautiful Life (China, 2011) (8 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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