THR:
The historical epic, directed by Zhang Yimou, has earned nearly $70 million in China since opening two weeks ago.
Zhang Yimou's The Flowers of War, with Christian Bale headlining, is doing big business in its home country, where it's already become the top grossing Chinese film of 2011.
Through Dec. 29, the movie has grossed $66 million (400 million yuan) at the Chinese box office, where it's competing with Jet Li action pic Flying Swords of Dragon Gate. Flowers of War, about the Japanese invasion of Nanjing, opened Dec. 16.
www.ges-sa.co.za | Set in the time of war against Japan and China we find a man with only one goal and a convent of girl with another. John (Christian Bale) is a mortician who came to china to bury the priest who ran the British established Catholic Church and convent. Being there for no other reason but to bury the priest and get his money he is stuck in the middle of a war zone with a bunch of girls from the convent. All these girls want is to get out to a safe place and all John wants is to get paid and go home but that does not happen.
Jeremy of We Got This Covered wrote, "Yimou Zhang‘s The Flowers of War is currently the most expensive Chinese film ever made, starring Christian Bale and gathering numerous awards nominations, including a Golden Globe nomination in 2011. You’d think all of this praise and attention would mean that movie is at the very least a dramatic war film with a gripping story and intense performances. The Flowers of War is dramatic and does contain one notable performance, but aside from that performance and some expertly shot battle sequences, it’s merely just another lengthy Chinese war epic that could use a trimming in the editing room and a little more flavor in the casting department."
Nicholas of Movies Hate You Too writes:
Last week’s Blu-ray releases were on the paltry side with the holiday but this week’s schedule is packed mostly thanks to Warner Brothers releasing a large amount of catalog titles.
Nick’s Blu-ray Pick of the Week: This week I have two because couldn’t make up my mind. First up we have...
It doesn't say when it comes to the US.
"Hollywood tentpoles are the top two earners overall -- Paramount's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen grossed a massive $145.5 million in China(...)"
Revenge of the Fallen. Cool.
Isn't that something!