Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Product Description
From the team that brought you the acclaimed 'Brotherhood' comes the epic, record-breaking box office smash. Based on a true story, ASSEMBLY follows one man s journey in search of truth and honour during a Civil War where China saw one of its bloodiest battles. Winter 1948: Captain Guzidi leads an infantry unit consisting of just 46 men on a sniping mission to defend the south bank of the Wen River. Their orders are to fight until the retreat assembly call is charged. That call never comes. After many long hours of defence and with ammunition running out, men are falling hard and fast. The realisation dawns on Guzidi that the call might have been missed in the heat of battle, contributing to the deaths of those under his command. Waking in hospital after a brutal campaign Guzidi believes the last of his men sacrificed themselves during the deadly engagement. But he is shocked to discover they have been deemed missing or worse, deserters. He returns to the site of the battle, determined to prove the existence the 46 heroes he fought with and honour their glorious deaths. Featuring some of the most intense battle scenes ever captured on film, 'Assembly' is a cinematic experience like no other.
About the Director
The Nobles (2008) (pre-production) Assembly (2007) The Banquet (2006) A World Without Thieves (2004) Cell Phone (2003) Big Shot's Funeral (2001) A Sigh (2000) Sorry Baby (1999)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
The first half of this movie is Zulu meets Saving Private Ryan but with even more over the top pyrotechnics and the sort of stunt choreography you'd get in a Chinese Kung Fu epic, though nowhere near as fantastical. There's something about it that takes me back to the war movies from the 60s and 70s like The Big Red One or Cross of Iron. The film is set against the background of the Chinese civil war between the Chinese Nationalist Party and the Chinese Communist Party, whose side our protaganists are on. Unsurprisingly the politics of the situation isn't really explored at all. You're not really left with the impression of good guys and bad guys, just two different sides who're killing each other however they can.
Half an hour in I thought I had the measure of this movie and was settling in for, and cheering on, two hours of gory mindless violence. Then at the halfway mark it turned into a very different type of film.
I was a little surprised by the second half but suffice to say that the last few moments of the film, while not exactly reducing me to tears, were very effective and did a good job of capping off what I thought was an extremely enjoyable film. In fact one of the better films I've seen in the last few months.
Cons for what is a quite dramatic change of pace, some slightly clichéd translation and subtitles that aren't always clear against the action on screen - though the only alternative to that is the ugly box background for the text and that would be even worse. There are also some plot "conveniences" but nothing that made me throw my popcorn at the TV.
Recommended for war movie fans everywhere but sensitive souls should note it's pretty gory but nothing as harrowing as you'd get in a modern Hollywood horror movie (torture porn). Special mentions for the Chinese scenery, as usual, which can really take your breath away.
Half an hour in I thought I had the measure of this movie and was settling in for, and cheering on, two hours of gory mindless violence. Then at the halfway mark it turned into a very different type of film.
I was a little surprised by the second half but suffice to say that the last few moments of the film, while not exactly reducing me to tears, were very effective and did a good job of capping off what I thought was an extremely enjoyable film. In fact one of the better films I've seen in the last few months.
Cons for what is a quite dramatic change of pace, some slightly clichéd translation and subtitles that aren't always clear against the action on screen - though the only alternative to that is the ugly box background for the text and that would be even worse. There are also some plot "conveniences" but nothing that made me throw my popcorn at the TV.
Recommended for war movie fans everywhere but sensitive souls should note it's pretty gory but nothing as harrowing as you'd get in a modern Hollywood horror movie (torture porn). Special mentions for the Chinese scenery, as usual, which can really take your breath away.
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
A movie in two halves, this Chinese film does a nifty job of both emulating the style that made Ryan such a hit, and providing enough of a soul to go along with it to be interesting on its own merit.
Based on a novel, which itself was based on a true story, the movie is set in the late 40's during the Chinese Civil War and goes on into the following decade. The first half sees the Captain ordered with his company into a desolate war zone in 1948, to hold and fight to the last man until he hears the bugle cry of assembly. It never comes... scenes of carnage in greyed out colours in very shaky camerawork (as patented my Spielberg) ensue... all fairly effectively done. However, it is in the second half, that the film finds its heart.. The Captain, now scarred both physically and emotionally, realizes his company are listed as missing, affording them no honour, and so he makes it his goal to find proof of their story and restore their name.
It is surprising to see a movie like this, after a decade or more of brightly coloured highly choreographed wushu epics made China more of an international movie force.. this is quite the opposite, with its realism, grim tone and very human heart. In taking so many cues from Western films like Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan, there is perhaps an element of disappointment in what at first seems a lack of originality. In fact, during some of the battle scenes the shaky camera work just seems a fraction too much, as if they have not quite developed the skill set yet. The script and the music both feel almost self consciously Western in origin. In addition, while the journey in the latter half to redemption is effective, the time and location shifts are clunky in places and serve to distract rather than build development of the story.
Having said that, this is a uniquely Chinese story, during a period of history that is close to Chinese hearts, and why not tell it? The latter half, the all important journey to redemption, is handled deftly, and the end result should move even the toughest hearts just a little, with themes of honour, loyalty and brotherhood unhindered by jingoism or propaganda.
A recommended watch then, and yet more signs that China is showing no end to its high quality movie output.
Extras include around an hour of in depth analysis of all aspects of the moviemaking, from story through cast to details such as effects and costumes.
Based on a novel, which itself was based on a true story, the movie is set in the late 40's during the Chinese Civil War and goes on into the following decade. The first half sees the Captain ordered with his company into a desolate war zone in 1948, to hold and fight to the last man until he hears the bugle cry of assembly. It never comes... scenes of carnage in greyed out colours in very shaky camerawork (as patented my Spielberg) ensue... all fairly effectively done. However, it is in the second half, that the film finds its heart.. The Captain, now scarred both physically and emotionally, realizes his company are listed as missing, affording them no honour, and so he makes it his goal to find proof of their story and restore their name.
It is surprising to see a movie like this, after a decade or more of brightly coloured highly choreographed wushu epics made China more of an international movie force.. this is quite the opposite, with its realism, grim tone and very human heart. In taking so many cues from Western films like Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan, there is perhaps an element of disappointment in what at first seems a lack of originality. In fact, during some of the battle scenes the shaky camera work just seems a fraction too much, as if they have not quite developed the skill set yet. The script and the music both feel almost self consciously Western in origin. In addition, while the journey in the latter half to redemption is effective, the time and location shifts are clunky in places and serve to distract rather than build development of the story.
Having said that, this is a uniquely Chinese story, during a period of history that is close to Chinese hearts, and why not tell it? The latter half, the all important journey to redemption, is handled deftly, and the end result should move even the toughest hearts just a little, with themes of honour, loyalty and brotherhood unhindered by jingoism or propaganda.
A recommended watch then, and yet more signs that China is showing no end to its high quality movie output.
Extras include around an hour of in depth analysis of all aspects of the moviemaking, from story through cast to details such as effects and costumes.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A true story, gritty and honest and brilliant. Based on a true event about a small force of soldiers holding out to quite literally the last man, and then being forgotten. The only survivor then spending years trying to prove they existed and were not deserters. Sound simple but is beautifully and shot, incredibly violent and bloody, but uplifting too. It is Chinese, has subtitles, but it is brilliant, one of the best war films I have ever seen!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gut punch combat and slow, slower and slowest civilian life
Assembly is hard to watch, but in a good way. The combat is just so brutal and shocking. Even for jaded eyes that has seen pretty much all the war films worth seeing, the way the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Robo
OK but DVD version has 4-5 minutes of trailers to sit through
The film is OK - first half has a lot of gory action; second half doesn't - but what stood out for me was the number of trailers I had to sit through before the film would start... Read more
Published 4 months ago by SoursopTree
Gripping and thought provoking.
I have to admit watching this film merely on the strength of its trailer. I was a little worried that it would be full of Chinese propaganda. I needn't have had such concerns. Read more
Published 8 months ago by NELMES316
A true warrior's tale
Well-balanced, beautifully shot and very well acted "Assembly" shocks you from the first moment and keeps you fixated all the way through until the beautiful, moving end. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Nikaki
The best war movie in years, from East or West
Feng Xiaogang's Assembly has drawn several comparisons, not least of which is Saving Private Ryan. However, due to the cultural vantage point one often views Chinese Cinema... Read more
Published 15 months ago by A. J. Smith
A Film of Two Halves
I found myself changing my mind about the film, early on whilst the battle scenes are very well put together I did find the now compulsory shaky camera shots quite irritating and I... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Peter Thomas
Initially just a gore fest
But after the battles are gone done and over it changes drastically to one of the frailties of an old soldier, though this drags on slightly, it feels raw and compelling even tear... Read more
Published 23 months ago by B Murphy
Gore Fest
This is a shallow gore fest and if that's your thing go for it at the current price but the plot is simplistic and propagandist. The characters are two dimensional. Read more
Published on 28 April 2010 by Mr. M. R. MOORE
One for both those who like explosions *and* those who like stories
Set during and in the decade after the Chinese civil war, the film is based on the true story of a war hero fighting for the honour of his company, who despite fighting to the last... Read more
Published on 20 April 2010 by D. R. Cantrell
Assembly
Hi well having watched this movie three times I can say that its very good for those who do not mind bloodshed. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2010 by Mr. F. R. Aplin
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
