Click to read the article
Comment
09/18/09
The Children of Huang Shi (2008)
25
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:20
Fresh:5
Rotten:15
Average Rating:4.5/10
Consensus: This beautifully photographed but dramatically flat war drama recounts an important chapter in history with little cinematic freshness.
Theatrical Release:May 23, 2008 Limited
Box Office: $652,604
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... [More]
Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Get This Movie
Reviews for The Children of Huang Shi
1 - 19 (sorted by date)
Top CriticIt 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.
10/18/08
Top CriticThough there are some powerful performances, notably those of Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-Fat, and some sweeping visuals, the movie feels melodramatic and overheated.
10/18/08
Top CriticVery pretty but very stiffly written, The Children of Huang Shi strives for epic canvases relaying an intimate story.
10/18/08
Top CriticIf 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.
10/18/08
Top CriticPerhaps 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.
07/16/08
Top CriticIt's a sturdy film, vivid if utterly workmanlike, that builds to a crescendo of personal sacrifice and misty noble uplift.
06/20/08
Top CriticAudiences tolerant of clichéd uplift may dab their eyes, but demanding moviegoers will look elsewhere.
06/13/08
Top CriticIt's a compelling story, with only a few jarring notes.
06/06/08
Top CriticAs predictable as it is picturesque, The Children of Huang Shi is one of those international co-productions full of good intentions and blandly polished results.
06/06/08
Top CriticDirector Roger Spottiswoode uses the children and action sequences to good effect, but a lack of chemistry between Rhys Meyers and Mitchell makes the love story fizzle.
06/06/08
Top CriticTells an engrossing story of a remarkable man, but nevertheless it's underwhelming.
06/06/08
Top CriticThe best thing about Children is the cinematography by Zhao Xiaoding (Hero, House of Flying Daggers), which is so distracting because it so out-classes the rest of the movie.
06/05/08
Top CriticYou can be 100 percent in favor of rescuing adorable orphans from war-torn zones and still find The Children of Huang Shi a tough haul.
05/30/08
Top CriticIn alternating between an epic remove and a pro forma romance, The Children of Huang Shi stints on the messy middle ground, where the unscripted human element resides.
05/30/08
Top CriticThere’s a documentary on this very subject that’s much better.
05/27/08
Top CriticPeriod tale of real-life heroism doesn’t fully come to life.
05/26/08
Top CriticIt's like Schindler's List crossed with The Sound of Music, and Roger Spottiswoode directs it in a stiff, lifeless, utterly dated style of international squareness.
05/23/08
Top CriticRoger Spottiswoode directs with old-fashioned style, avoiding the saccharine with realistic depictions of a war-ravaged China (where he filmed) and a cast well versed in stiff-upper-lip.
05/23/08
Top CriticDirector Roger Spottiswoode’s skills for physical production outpace his ability to generate vitality and bring out the best in his actors.
05/05/08
Top Critic1 - 19 (sorted by date)
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. 
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.
More...
April 21, 2008:
Trailer & Poster review
More...
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
MSN's Year in Review
Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.
Moviefone's Year End Poll
What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!
Tarantino's Characters
Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.
Top 10 Movies of 2009
TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.
Top 20 of the Decade
Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds