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City of Life and Death Reviews

2009

70
from 1177 members

Within the scope of Asian history, few events carry the ugly and sickening connotations of the Rape of Nanking. Japanese forces invaded that Chinese city on December 9, 1937, and in the six weeks to follow, soldiers raped thousands of women and annihilated hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. Director Lu Chuan directs .. Read more

Starring	Ye Liu, Yuanyuan Gao, Hideo Nakaizumi
Director	Chuan Lu
Genres	Action/Adventure, Drama, World Cinema

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Most helpful member's review of City of Life and Death
View all members' reviews (39)
- - 21
  - 2
  A Balanced Portrail of a Terrible Event
  
  Usually with any wartime film or docudrama you only get a one sided view, however with this excellent piece of work you are able to witness the terrible events ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 900343
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  
  [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Bluesman
  - 61 reviews
  - Derbys
  - 21 Jun 2010 at 12:39
Most recent members' reviews of City of Life and Death
View all members' reviews (39)
- - 0
  - 0
  Could not watch it
  
  The victory march by the Japanese soldiers was the best of the bits that I managed to watch. A bit gruesome otherwise.
  
  Report this review
- 1117380
- - Paul Dillon
  - Hove
  - 07 May 2012 at 20:15
- - 0
  - 0
  good film, bad encoding
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Beautifully shot in monochrome,the cameraman definitely made his focus puller work hard, very shallow depth of field, not to high contrast. Some dodgy CGI at ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1096104
- - a customer
  - 24 Feb 2012 at 14:11
- - 0
  - 0
  The grim reality of war
  
  A shocking indictment of the Japanese past and a shocking indictment of human beings in general this brutal telling of the Nanking massacres and invasion is an ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1095783
- - LeehamPeeders
  - 12 reviews
  - 23 Feb 2012 at 12:48
- - 0
  - 0
  Good, accurate documentary - not so good as a film
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Having heard about the event now known as the rape of nanking and learning it is somewhat of a taboo subject amongst both the Japanese and the Chinese I was ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1084907
- - Hello_Im_Awesome
  - 18 reviews
  - Watford
  - 23 Jan 2012 at 22:00
- - 0
  - 0
  Grim stuff. But then it should be.
  
  This Chinese account of the appalling Rape of Nanking in 1937, when Japanese forces laid waste to the then Chinese capital, brutalising its population with some... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1077588
- - RJNeb2
  - 772 reviews
  - London
  - 01 Jan 2012 at 23:42
- - 2
  - 0
  Unbelievable cruelty.
  
  After one hour and thirty minutes I just couldn't watch anymore of this. It's a good movie if you've got a very strong stomach, and the events of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1069601
- - mac1958
  - 1 review
  - Preston
  - 02 Dec 2011 at 21:14
- - 0
  - 0
  a brilliant anti-war movie.
  
  What a brilliant movie. The most effective anti-war film I have seen. No blood and gore, no lingering shots of gruesome dead bodies. But so brutal nonetheless. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1058646
- - a customer
  - 04 Nov 2011 at 12:41
- - 1
  - 0
  Unmissable classic
  
  Chinese cinema at its best. Unmissable.
  
  Not for the faint-hearted. Plays like a documentary of a brutal occupation that the we in the West know ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1025755
- - Ballintleave
  - 3 reviews
  - 05 Aug 2011 at 21:03
- - 2
  - 0
  Brutal, emotional and brave.
  
  In a world of Hollywood films that re-tell World War 2 as America would like the world to believe it happened, this film is a brave, brutal and emotional tale ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1014766
- - EdwardMitchell
  - 31 reviews
  - Reigate
  - 08 Jul 2011 at 21:34
- - 1
  - 0
  Amazing, heartbreaking film
  
  Amazing, poignant, heartbreaking film. Never sensationalises or moralises and doesn't take sides. The events portrayed are brutal and heartbreaking. It'... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1013107
- - Filmlover
  - 17 reviews
  - London
  - 04 Jul 2011 at 22:06
View all members' reviews (39)

- - 21
  - 2
  A Balanced Portrail of a Terrible Event
  
  Usually with any wartime film or docudrama you only get a one sided view, however with this excellent piece of work you are able to witness the terrible events ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 900343
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  
  [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Bluesman
  - 61 reviews
  - Derbys
  - 21 Jun 2010 at 12:39
- - 6
  - 0
  beautiful yet brutal
  
  Lu has directed a magnificent masterpiece here, directed and shot with pristine thought and beauty, it is a work of art. Subject wise however this is very ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 919940
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Koppert
  - 257 reviews
  - Scarborough
  - 01 Sep 2010 at 21:17
- - 4
  - 0
  Disturbing but very good
  
  This is an amazing film. I say this film is a oriantal version of 'Schindler's List'. We all know that what German's did to Jews but I never ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 941588
- - a customer
  - nw11
  - 22 Nov 2010 at 14:43
- - 4
  - 0
  Shocking and thoughtful
  
  A masterpiece in my opinion. A very frank, gritty portrail of the Japanese massacre and torture of the Chinese in Nanking in 1938. Shocking in places, and no-... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 957946
- - Fordmondeo
  - 4 reviews
  - Romford
  - 27 Jan 2011 at 21:00
- - 4
  - 0
  Better than Schindlers List!
  
  This is a very good portrayal of what happens when human life is looked down upon. When one race believes it is higher than the other and the dangers this ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 958257
- - Coileyboy
  - 10 reviews
  - U.K
  - 28 Jan 2011 at 17:37
- - 3
  - 0
  Wonderful yet disturbing
  
  This is a tremendous work.
  
  From its opening sequence I found myself riveted to the screen. This film is beautifully shot and manages to capture the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 938784
- - a customer
  - Newcastle
  - 11 Nov 2010 at 10:27
- - 3
  - 0
  wipe out
  
  A very harrowing and gruelling watch but if you stick with it and sit back for the ride, you will see some incredible sights. It lacks some focus as with most ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 942328
- - druski
  - 100 reviews
  - Leeds
  - 25 Nov 2010 at 13:39
- - 2
  - 0
  Stunning film on the Rape of Nanking
  
  The opening 30 minutes surpass Saving Private Ryan... The story as touching as Schindlers list.. The acting and black and white cinematography brings the true ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 930000
- - Jimarchy
  - 2 reviews
  - North Lincs
  - 08 Oct 2010 at 18:43
- - 2
  - 0
  Simply unbelievable
  
  This is one of the most incredible films i have ever seen, chronicling some of the most incredible scenes ever seen. Unbelievable.
  
  Report this review
- 935952
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - preechay
  - 24 reviews
  - london
  - 31 Oct 2010 at 10:10
- - 2
  - 0
  Brutal, emotional and brave.
  
  In a world of Hollywood films that re-tell World War 2 as America would like the world to believe it happened, this film is a brave, brutal and emotional tale ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1014766
- - EdwardMitchell
  - 31 reviews
  - Reigate
  - 08 Jul 2011 at 21:34

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- - Buy
- City Of Life And Death - Blu-ray
  
  Within the scope of Asian history, few events carry the ugly and sickening connotations of the Rape of Nanking. Japanese forces invaded that Chinese city on December 9, 1937, and in the six weeks to follow, soldiers raped thousands of women and annihilated hundreds of thousands of innocent ...

- - Buy
- City of Life and Death
  
  Within the scope of Asian history, few events carry the ugly and sickening connotations of the Rape of Nanking. Japanese forces invaded that Chinese city on December 9, 1937, and in the six weeks to follow, soldiers raped thousands of women and annihilated hundreds of thousands of innocent ...