Zhang Ziyi!

[Sparky]

I'm sorry, but I did not think ZZY was very good in Memoirs of a Geisha. She concentrated too much on the language aspect...as for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, people apparently liked her a lot in it, but I thought she was pretty vase-like in the whole movie.

That's all I've seen of her...who knows, maybe she was good in other movies. Many actors have one or a couple of movies they were a bit flat in.

[applemartini]

incomparable? most definitely not. no offense to southern crane (i'm sure you're a HUGE fan), but imo she's one of the worst Chinese actresses today. She is not versatile at all and has very few expressions. I've tried to watch her movies, really, but everytime her "acting" puts me straight to sleep.

[TamNuong]

incomparable? most definitely not. no offense to southern crane (i'm sure you're a HUGE fan), but imo she's one of the worst Chinese actresses today. She is not versatile at all and has very few expressions. I've tried to watch her movies, really, but everytime her "acting" puts me straight to sleep.

hahahaa manz ...... but guess wut ... She got a BIG spot for an asian actress in ''HOLLYWOOD''

[shellie]

Does anybody have pics of Zhang Ziyi in cannes 2003? She had bangs and left her hair unbundled,was wearing a black du dou with skirt.I know wireimage has those,but Im not a member so I can't have full access to the wonderful pics..if anybody has please share!! Thanks so much

you might try here:

http://www.ziyifilms.com/zboard/show...&threadid=2991

it's a thread on zzy at the cannes.

[dogwood457]

I'm sorry, but I did not think ZZY was very good in Memoirs of a Geisha. She concentrated too much on the language aspect...as for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, people apparently liked her a lot in it, but I thought she was pretty vase-like in the whole movie.

That's all I've seen of her...who knows, maybe she was good in other movies. Many actors have one or a couple of movies they were a bit flat in.

As a fan of ZZY who has collected most of her films, I agree her performance in CTHD is not one of her best. I believe her best performance was The Road Home simply because you can concentrate on her acting ability rather than her looks (she's all bundled up). In House of Flying Daggers she gives a credible performance and looks absolutely magnificient in her green attire. I would follow this with Purple Butterfly. In 2046 my attention was on Faye Wong, my favorite all time singer. In Rush Hour 2 she gives us a taste of what her temper is really like---and I fo one believe it.

[Southern Crane]

The pictures in that link are from the recent Cannes festival in May 2006, not May 2003. In 2003, Ziyi was in Cannes to promote the screening of her then most recent film Purple Butterfly.

This is her from May 2003 at a photo op for the film...



Ziyi and costar Liu Ye (Jasmine Women, The Promise, Curse of the Golden Flower) at the festival in May 2003...




Many more pictures of Ziyi, cast and crew of Purple Butterfly from Cannes 2003:

- http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/2003-05-23/0731150885.html
- http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2003-05-23/1002150928.html

[Serynsatina]

I like Ziyi. She's pretty, she's talented, and she's a really good dancer. If you've ever seen House of Flying Daggers, you'll see what I mean...

As for Memoirs, I think she did all right; she seemed a bit distracted at times, but I dunno-maybe it was the script or something.

[Nefertari]

I like Ziyi. She's pretty, she's talented, and she's a really good dancer. If you've ever seen House of Flying Daggers, you'll see what I mean...

As for Memoirs, I think she did all right; she seemed a bit distracted at times, but I dunno-maybe it was the script or something.

I thought Ziyi was a great dancer until I saw Li Bing Bing danced in The Eight Heroes, then I saw some unknown actress dance in Legend of Yin Sheng, then Ziyi's dancing doesn't seem so magnificent after all. It seemed China is capable of producing very versatile and talented actresses.

I don't really think the story for Memoirs is that good, after reading Geisha of Gion. It was a bit stereotyped and the characters are a bit one-dimensional. Nobu was my favourite character in the book. The movie was worse, doesn't portray geisha and the Japanese culture that well and they cut out the part of the general who's supposed to be the danna, which was a crucial part of the story.

[*aLySsA4eVa*]

I've noticed that there's a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding here about arguably the greatest and most beautiful actress in the world, the incomparable Zhang Ziyi.

If you have any question, recent news, pictures, etc about Ziyi, please post them here for discussion.

All you haters are welcomed too.

I dun really hate her, but nor do i like her. To me, she's definitely isn't the greatest nor the most beautiful actress, thought you might argue that she's made it into Hollywood and acted in a leading role in Memoirs Of A Geisha. I noticed many people, especially in China, hates her now as she seems so DESPERATE to get in to Hollywood.

[*aLySsA4eVa*]

No offence meant in my previous post..

[Sparky]

I dun really hate her, but nor do i like her. To me, she's definitely isn't the greatest nor the most beautiful actress, thought you might argue that she's made it into Hollywood and acted in a leading role in Memoirs Of A Geisha. I noticed many people, especially in China, hates her now as she seems so DESPERATE to get in to Hollywood.

I have pretty much the same opinions as you. She does seem a little desperate, but then again, I guess you could admire how much effort she's put into learning English. Also, in my opinion, she CAN act, but she's had her weaker performances. She has a lot of grace too...is she a bit overrated here in the states? In my opinion, yes. However, I still support Ziyi to a certain extent because if she makes it big in Hollywood it might open the doors for other Chinese actresses.

[Surferket]

Yah, Chinese pretending to be Japanese. Lots of doors of opportunity there. Hollywood has never made any show with any Chinese acting in it w/o failing to stereotype these Chinese into Fu Manchus. Now Gong Li sold her Chinese soul to act as a Cuban-Chinese crime boss in Miami Vice. ZZY was also a crime boss in Rush Hour2. That's what Chinese are good for in Hollywood? Helping to perpetuate the Bush neocons' propaganda that China is the new evil empire that US must spend 1 trillion $ for new toys to defend the world against.

However, I still support Ziyi to a certain extent because if she makes it big in Hollywood it might open the doors for other Chinese actresses.

[kiropuppy]

it seems that the chinese think she has made it really big in hollywood. she really isn't that big in hollywood. she's just one of those more respected actresses. if you asked anyone in my school if they knew who she was, they would say no, unless they were someone chinese who was obsessed with china entertainment. most of my friends don't even know who she is, except the ones, as i said, obessesed with asian ent. (like me )

[Sparky]

Yah, Chinese pretending to be Japanese. Lots of doors of opportunity there.

Well, that's a little harsh...the whole point is that she's an ACTRESS. So ACTING is basically putting yourself in a situation that is ficitonal, making yourself a character you are not. Why does everyone seem to think that to play a part well, you have to have the exact same personality and look as the character? Then you're just being yourself; you're not acting.

I'm not saying that Ziyi was a good choice for Memoirs...believe me, I think esp. in Memoirs, the cultural aspect is really important, and the time period is controversial. But still, Ziyi seems to take all the...hate. Like some people were definitely upset with Gong Li and Michelle Yeoh, but Ziyi gets the most negative publicity.

Finally, it's not like things happen in one day. But before CTHD, no Chinese actresses even got nominated for Golden Globes...I think that Hollywood still stereotypes a lot, but at least they know the Chinese exist.

[Serynsatina]

I thought Ziyi was a great dancer until I saw Li Bing Bing danced in The Eight Heroes, then I saw some unknown actress dance in Legend of Yin Sheng, then Ziyi's dancing doesn't seem so magnificent after all. It seemed China is capable of producing very versatile and talented actresses.
.

Eight Heroes? I'm still waiting to see that, I heard it's pretty good.
I also agree with you that China's capable of producing talented actresses. I think that Zhang Zi Yi is one of them.

[sunnydayz3]

Eh...... she's way overrated.

Vicki Zhao, Gong Li, and Maggie Cheung are so much more talented.

Blech!

[Southern Crane]

I noticed many people, especially in China, hates her now as she seems so DESPERATE to get in to Hollywood.

Maybe they're confusing words like 'ambitious', 'hard-working' and 'motivated' with 'desperation'. I think so. Considering that Zhang Ziyi is regularly inundated with Hollywood scripts and offers, and considering that of all her movies, 10 are Chinese (mainland, HK, Taiwan) productions while only 2 are Hollywood, Zhang Ziyi's hardly "DESPERATE to get in to Hollywood".


But she is motivated to improve as an actress and ambitious enough to make a success of herself at her craft within China and beyond. And it's not just Zhang Ziyi. I've just never understood the mentality of trashing those who are making a success of themselves beyond our own community. Instead of us being like a bucket of crabs pulling one another back into the bucket, we should be encouraging Zhang Ziyi and others who want to succeed to reach for more. But that's my opinion...


Maybe I DO wanna be a french fry!

[kiropuppy]

Maybe they're confusing words like 'ambitious', 'hard-working' and 'motivated' with 'desperation'. I think so. Considering that Zhang Ziyi is regularly inundated with Hollywood scripts and offers, and considering that of all her movies, 10 are Chinese (mainland, HK, Taiwan) productions while only 2 are Hollywood, Zhang Ziyi's hardly "DESPERATE to get in to Hollywood".


But she is motivated to improve as an actress and ambitious enough to make a success of herself at her craft within China and beyond. And it's not just Zhang Ziyi. I've just never understood the mentality of trashing those who are making a success of themselves beyond our own community. Instead of us being like a bucket of crabs pulling one another back into the bucket, we should be encouraging Zhang Ziyi and others who want to succeed to reach for more. But that's my opinion...


Maybe I DO wanna be a french fry!

i think we should be encouraging her too. she made it bigger than other asian actresses.

[Sparky]

I don't really think Zhang Ziyi's that big yet...in fact, she's returned to China to shoot Ye Yan (The Banquet), while Gong Li seems to be the one off doing Miami Vice etc.

Anyway, those who like Ziyi will always find something to praise about her actions, those who don't like her will always find something negative about her actions. That's just how it is.

[Southern Crane]

I don't really think Zhang Ziyi's that big yet...in fact, she's returned to China to shoot Ye Yan (The Banquet), while Gong Li seems to be the one off doing Miami Vice etc.

Anyway, those who like Ziyi will always find something to praise about her actions, those who don't like her will always find something negative about her actions. That's just how it is.

True. True. I'd agree with that.


As for The Banquet, it's already finished production and just premiered at Venice.

Press Conference Pictures, Videos:

http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2006-09-03/18281229106.html
http://ent.sina.com.cn/s/m/p/2006-09...181231725.html
http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2006-09-03/22111229263.html
http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2006-09-03/22131229264.html

Red Carpet Pictures, Video:

http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/f/p/2006-09...101229644.html
http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/p/2006-09...471230404.html
http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/f/2006-09-05/09221231422.html
http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/p/2006-09...171229614.html


Venice Film Festival Director Marco Muller kneels when Ziyi appears on red carpet!