RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Children of Huang Shi
The Children of Huang Shi

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Children of Huang Shi (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
31 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:72

Fresh:22

Rotten:50

Average Rating:4.6/10

Consensus: This beautifully photographed but dramatically flat war drama recounts an important chapter in history with little cinematic freshness.

Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Based on real events, The Children of Huang Shi is a story set against war-torn China in the 1930’s. The film centers on a young English journalist (JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS), an American nurse (RADHA... Based on real events, The Children of Huang Shi is a story set against war-torn China in the 1930’s. The film centers on a young English journalist (JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS), an American nurse (RADHA MITCHELL) and the leader of a Chinese parti- san group (CHOW YUN FAT) who meet in desperate and unexpected circumstances. Together they rescue 60-orphaned, children leading them on an extraordinary journey, across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain, through snow-covered mountains and an unforgiving desert. Along the way they discover the true meaning of love, responsibility and courage. --© Sony Pictures Classics [More]

Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh

Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, David Wenham, Guang Li

Director: Roger Spottiswoode

Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Screenwriter: James MacManus, Jane Hawksley
Producer: Arthur Cohn, Wieland Schulz-Keil, Peter Loehr, Jonathan Shteinman, Martin Hagemann
Composer: David Hirschfelder
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
    Scene: Hold This
    >
1 - 2 of 2

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Children of Huang Shi

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

The real test of endurance is on the shoulders of an audience challenged to sit through more than two hours of predictable plot turns and recycled sentimentality.

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
10/18/08
David D'Arcy
David D'Arcy
Screen International

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
09/18/09
Joe Neumaier
Joe Neumaier
New York Daily News
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Gerald Peary
Gerald Peary
Boston Phoenix

...the film falls flat under the weight of its period-drama conventions and three performances that epitomize paycheck joylessness.

Full Review Source: H Magazine | comment Comment
02/13/09
Todd Gilchrist
Todd Gilchrist
H Magazine

Cynicism for another true story of a reckless white adventurer finding redemption and purpose helping 3rd World unfortunates evaporates with stunning and moving WWII scenes.

Full Review Source: Film-Forward.com | comment Comment
12/07/08
Nora Lee Mandel
Nora Lee Mandel
Film-Forward.com

It radiates intelligence. Of how many historical epics can that be said these days?

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
10/18/08
Peter Rainer
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
10/18/08
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

It is, however, such a spectacular-looking movie, as shot by cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding that it is, to use that old cliche, worth the price of admission.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
10/18/08
John Anderson
John Anderson
Newsday

Though there are some powerful performances, notably those of Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-Fat, and some sweeping visuals, the movie feels melodramatic and overheated.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
10/18/08
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today

Very pretty but very stiffly written, The Children of Huang Shi strives for epic canvases relaying an intimate story.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
10/18/08
Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune

If you can get past the Eurocentric focus, there are worse ways to pass the time than to see The Children of Huang Shi, if only because the glimpse into the time and place are captivating and the images are gorgeous.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
10/18/08
Carina Chocano
Carina Chocano
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
10/01/08
Hollywood.com

Nothing in this film is subtle or unexpected, and even the hero's several near-death experiences create no real tension

Full Review Source: Playback:stl | comment Comment
09/19/08
Sarah Boslaugh
Sarah Boslaugh
Playback:stl

...an inspiring tale of a man answering a call to greatness even if he doesn't fully understand why it's fallen to him.

Full Review Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette | comment Comment
09/12/08
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Xiaoding Zhao’s cinematography is splendid, Roger Spottiswoode’s direction is workmanlike.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

Perhaps it would have been wise for the director, Roger Spottiswoode, to make more efficient use of Chow Yun-fat, who shows up now and then as a resistance fighter.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
07/16/08
V.A. Musetto
V.A. Musetto
New York Post

It is missing conviction.

Full Review Source: The Australian | comment Comment
07/10/08
David Stratton
David Stratton
The Australian

Its anti-cynical faith in the value of altruism is encouraging.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
07/07/08
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

History is never easy to capture in a fiction film, especially with a war in the background. But you have to at least try to embrace the whole of it, not just tear off a convenient chunk. Real life is inconvenient; great movies still deal with it.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
07/04/08
Paul Byrnes
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald

Unfortunately, like so many movies that celebrate a historical hero, Children is plagued by an overblown sense of its own importance.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
07/03/08
Josh Rosenblatt
Josh Rosenblatt
Austin Chronicle
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Children of Huang Shi

January 17, 2009: Breathtaking photography, but Hollywood's view of history as usual, no matter where on the planet, as mere backdrop for the personal lives of glamorous white people. Casablanca meets the white man's burden, and doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Opens in new window
More...

January 13, 2009: Breathtaking photography, but Hollywood's view of history as usual, no matter where on the planet, as mere backdrop for the personal lives of glamorous white people. Casablanca meets the white man's burden, and doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Opens in new window
More...

April 21, 2008: Trailer & Poster review Opens in new window
More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
15% 15% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
68% 68% Funny People
25% 25% Four Christmases
45% 45% Shorts

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia

Your first look at the swashbuckler.

Vampires

Vampires

We rank cinema's bloodsuckers.

Avatar

Avatar

The full trailer for Cameron's epic.

2012

2012

12 facts about Emmerich's disaster flick.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
4
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
102
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
64
  • Forbes Names Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors Source: Forbes
20
  • Chris Weitz Says He's (Almost) Done with Directing Source: Film School Rejects
26
  • Spider-Man 4 Casting Rumors Multiply Like Rabbits Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
51
  • McTeigue Says Superman Is "In a Weird Place" Source: MTV
204
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
150
  • Critics Consensus: New Moon Wanes
129
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Twilight's New Moon Dazzle?
97
  • Total Recall: Star-Crossed Lovers
74
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
51
  • Five Favorite Films with Werner Herzog
50
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
31
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
9
  • Ho, ho, ho! It's RT's Great Big Gift Guide!
0
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
8
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
19
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
6
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
16
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
  • Emma Stone talks Zombieland - RT Interview
41
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Children of Huang Shi at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Children of Huang Shi at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.