Nice effects though.

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

It's 1937. Japan has conquered much of northern China leaving alone the foreign quarters of Shanghai. Japanese forces attack Nanjing, several hours west of Shanghai. British reporter George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) arrives in Shanghai and sneaks into Nanjing. He starts documenting massacres committed by the Japanese. He is almost executed when he's rescued by communist Chen Hansheng (Chow Yun-fat) and his men. He is directed to an orphanage by nurse Lee Pearson (Radha Mitchell). Mrs. Wang (Michelle Yeoh) is a local trader. As the war approaches, they lead some sixty orphaned boys on a long journey to safety in the desert.It's a sincere adaptation of a true story but the drama struggles to come out. There are many interesting instances along the way. There are some big scenes. However none of them really rises in terms of tension and the whole movie is unable to pull all of the disparate pieces together. JRM is good and so is the rest of the cast. There isn't much tension or emotional coherence.

This is like a Schindler's List for the Chinese. It's a war story that focuses not on the terror and pain and atrocities, but on the good a person can do and it is based on a true story. Something that needs to be told and remembered.That being said, was it a well told story? Yes and no. It seemed terribly fragmented to me, moving from one scene to the other with the speed of a bullet. It is hard to "feel" the individual character changes because it all happens so fast. Of course, I couldn't expect a two hour movie to slowly tell a story that spanned many months in real life, but still. You can't show two friends entering China, then one dying and completely omit him from the story from then on because you don't have time. On the other hand, I hardly see the subject as appropriate for a mini series.Bottom line: good story, good acting, watch it if you feel the need for a good war time drama that inspires.

There already have been more than a few films about China & the peoples straggles in the 1930's & in WW 2. There also have been a few about a dedicated person helping children escaping from wars horrors. So what makes this film so much better.First, this was made in China in actual locations. The scenery is breathtaking.It is based on a real person Charles Hogg a journalist in his 20's,who reluctantly became head of a school of orphans,who with the help of a young nurse leads these young children 700 miles across China to a safer area.There was a similar film many years ago with Ingrid Bergman, Inn of the Sixth Happinness; which in itself was an excellent movie.Jonathan Rhyss-Meyer who is under 30 is Hogg & fits the role perfectly. Radha Mitchell is the Aunstralian nurse ,she has a difficult role to play, she does have personal problems.She too, fits here role perfectly.Ynn Fat Chow (AKA Chow Yun Fat)is a soldier & Hogg's friend. This fine actor has yet to give a bad performance. Michelle Yeoh also has a major role & is greatIn fact all the acting & all the production values are first rate.This film is based on fact,I cannot & will not say how accurate it is. I only know I felt watching it, I saw a wonderful well made film.As one would expect there are some clichés, Very few if any films escape from having themIt was excellently directed by Roger Spottiswoode. It did have a theatrical run in the USA, playing in small handful of theatres.WHY OH WHY do they do this is beyond me. Granted there are few exciting action packed scenes, this is NOT that type of film.. Ratings; **** (out of 4) 98 points (out of 100) IMDb 10 (out of 10)

This is a top quality movie; it is inspirational. Jonathan Rhys Meyers' acting was superb. The scenery was beautiful and the children were touching. I highly recommend this movie. Here was a true hero in every sense of the word. George Hogg risked his life to save the lives of innocent children. He also risked his life to publicize the truth. His parents were courageous pacifists. He struggled with the dilemma of when pacifism is appropriate and when fighting back is appropriate. Yun-Fat Chow and Michelle Yeoh were also outstanding in their roles. It was interesting and informative regarding a period of history and location that is not that widely known about in the West.