Friday, June 30, 2017

"1911" (2011) Movie Review

Grade: A/A+

"1911" attempts to accurately depict the end of 2,000 years of monarchy and the rise of the Republic of China.  Heroes Huang, Sun and fellow revolutionaries manifest the virtues of patriotism and laying down one's life in the face of overwhelming odds.

Sun keeps his word as a modern statesman by eventually resigning his presidency.  Huang settles to raise a family.  Both characters experience character development through the movie and grow; however, the audience should have seen character development in ordinary people like the father who died and left a note for his unborn son and the woman at the beginning and end of the movie who was beheaded as a heroine figure.  Also, Huang's love needed deeper interweaving into the plot as a heroine.  All these are needed for a higher grade rating.  The European investment bankers should be commended for their actions, albeit with economic motives, and with econmic motives mutually beneficial for those involved.

Finally, a non-politically savvy audience could have easily mixed this revolution with the Communist revolution in China in 1949(?), so clarity is needed there.  At the end of the movie, it was stated that the Communist Party was inspired by the 1911 Revolution.  These two revolutions are not to be confused!  The rise of the Republic was inspired by freedom and principles of democracy, but the rise of Communist (the People's Republic) is built on violent Marxism and centralized dominance.

On an unrelated note, the acting was excellent, and this was the first time I've seen Jackie Chan perform a more serious role.  The fight scene onboard the ship was definitely a tip of the hat to Jackie's martial arts background but with just the right tone.

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