Film Review

Curse of the Golden Flower (See it for free click here)

‘Beautiful tale of a bloodily dysfunctional family’

Sunday Mirror

 

‘Epic battle scenes, gripping storyline…a visual masterpiece’

Mail on Sunday

 

‘Spectacular follow-up to House of Flying Daggers’

The Daily Telegraph

 

“A sumptuous, blood soaked saga of intrigue”

Daily Express

UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS THE OSCAR NOMINATED

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER

 

STARRING CHOW YUN FAT AND GONG LI

 

AVAILABLE TO OWN & RENT ON DVD AND DOWNLOAD-TO-OWN FROM 3RD SEPTEMBER 2007

 

 

Universal Pictures is delighted to announce the DVD release of the highly acclaimed, Oscar nominated Curse of the Golden Flower, available to own & rent on DVD and download-to-own from Monday 3^rd September 2007. Starring Chow Yun Fat (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End; Crouching Tiger; Bulletproof Monk), Gong Li (Hannibal Rising; Memoirs of a Geisha; Miami Vice) and directed by Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers; Hero, Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles; Happy Times), this martial arts action epic includes some of the biggest battles scenes ever filmed and jaw dropping martial arts sequences.

 

China AD928 and on the eve of the Chong Yang Festival, golden flowers fill the Imperial Palace. The Emperor (Chow Yun Fat) returns home along with his second son, Prince Jai (Jay Chou) to celebrate the holiday with his family, but frosty relations between him and the unwell Empress (Gong Li), suggest celebrating may not be on the menu. For many years, the Empress and her stepson Crown Prince Wan (Liu Ye) have been involved in an illicit affair but now feeling trapped, he wishes to escape the palace with his secret love Chan (Li Man) - the Imperial Doctor's daughter.

Meanwhile, Prince Jai, the ever faithful son, grows worried over the Empress's health and her obsession with golden chrysanthemums. The Emperor hides secret plans, with the Imperial Doctor (Ni Dahong) being the only person aware of his plotting. When the Emperor senses a looming threat, he relocates the doctor's family from the Palace to a remote area but while en route they are attacked by a group of mysterious assassins.

When Chan and her mother, Jiang Shi (Chen Jin) are forced back to the palace, their return sets off a tumultuous sequence of dark surprises and amid the glamour and grandeur of the festival, ugly secrets are revealed.

As the Royal Family continues its elaborate charade in a palatial setting, thousands of golden armored warriors suddenly charge the palace in one of the most spectacular battle sequences ever filmed. Who is behind this brutal rebellion? Where do Prince Jai's loyalties lie? Between love and desire, is there a final winner?

 

This spectacular martial arts action epic has been nominated for 23 awards (including an Oscar for Achievement in Costume Design) and subsequently won 7 of the nominations. The sumptuous costumes and incredible martial arts sequences make this a must have for your DVD collection.

CAST & CREW
Chow Yun Fat - Emperor Ping                                Director - Zhang Yimou
Gong Li - Empress Phoenix                         Producer – William Kong
Jay Chou - Prince Jai                                              Producer - Weiping Zhang
Ye Liu - Crown Prince Wan                                    Producer - Yimou Zhang
Dahong Ni - Imperial Physician Jiang                  Music - Shigeru Umebayashi
Junjie Qin - Prince Yu                                               Cinematography - Xiaoding Zhao
Man Li - Jiang Chan                                                Costume Design - Chung Man Yee
Jin Chen - Mrs. Jiang

FEATURE TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD

Release Date:                       3^rd September 2007

Copyright:                 Film © 2007 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Packaging Design © 2007 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Price:                                      RRP: £19.99

Running Time:                        109 mins

Rating:                                   15       

Language:                Mandarin language with English subtitles

                       

CONTACTS

For further information including review and competition copies please contact Lucy Unwin at marketME on 020 7636 6444 or email lucy@market-me.co.uk   

 

Universal Pictures International is part of NBC Universal - one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.