Movie review: ‘Red Cliff’ – washingtonpost.com

Posted by Matt in November 27th, 2009 | no comment

Published in China, Cao Cao, Chiling Lin, Chinese Audiences, Emperor, Endless Fascination, Helen Of Troy, John Woo, Liu, Modern China, Motive, Movie Review, Poetic Romance, Sun Quan, Tony Leung, Viceroy, Warlords, Washingtonpost, Xiao Qiao, Zhang Fengyi, Zhou Yu

Epic is a triumph for John Woo
Into each Chinese auteur’s life, it seems, a feudal epic will eventually fall, and this one is John Woo’s. Set in the third century, “Red Cliff” is about the birth of a modern China, a subject of endless fascination to Chinese audiences, if recent film history is any indication. [...]

China at the Crossroads

Posted by Matt in May 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in China, Bloggers, China At The Crossroads, China Economy, China Politics, Deserts, Economic Reform, Environmental Protection, Factories, Foremost Commentators, Gansu, Guardian Series, Hopes And Fears, International Relations, Marriage, Migrant Workers, Modern China, Modern Marriage, Patriotic Pride, Shenzhen

A week-long Guardian series offering a unique portrait of modern China – its politics, economy, society, environment and international relations – through the eyes of migrant workers, business people, bloggers and officials. We follow them from the factories of Shenzhen to the deserts of Gansu, and explore their views on everything from modern marriage to [...]

China’s weapons — Part 1

Posted by Matt in June 23rd, 2008 | no comment

Published in China, Military, 1950s, Air Force, Airlift Force, Armed Forces, Army Air, Artillery, China Air, Combat Aircraft, Decades, Military Aircraft, Military Hardware, Military Spending, Military Transport Aircraft, Modern China, Soviet War, Successes, War Planes, weapons

Despite successes in the last few decades, China’s armed forces are still rather backward, which is another incentive for increasing military spending. Its ground forces are relatively numerous, but it does not have enough modern military hardware; its army air defense system is weak, and its artillery is insufficiently mobile. The same is true of [...]

Making sense of modern China

Posted by Matt in June 2nd, 2008 | no comment

Published in China, Economic Growth, Excitement, Games, Hosts, Modern China, Neighbours, Olympics, Ring Roads, Sports Stadiums, Three Decades, Underground Stations, Unease

Winning and then staging what are sure to be spectacular and successful games will help justify the party’s continued rigid authority, and let it bask in most Chinese people’s excitement to be hosts.
But the games will also be seen as one of history’s most expensive, and well-orchestrated, coming-out parties.
After three decades of breakneck economic growth, [...]