The Painted Veil [2007]

Product Details

Director : John Curran
Actor : Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schrieber, Diana Rigg, Toby Jones
Format : PAL
Aspect Ratio : 1.77:1
Binding : DVD
EAN : 5060116721300
Product Group : DVD
Region Code : 2
Release Date : 2007-09-03
Running Time : 120minutes
Studio : Momentum Pictures

ASIN : B000R342RC

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Customer Reviews

Beautiful adaptation (2008-09-26)

For some reason this film bypassed me on its first release, but eventually I caught up with it at the cinema and on dvd. If you like intelligent, beautifully acted literary adaptations, if you like beautiful scenery, and if you like real emotional content in your films, I heartily recommend The Painted Veil.It's set in China during the rise of the Nationalist movement (1920s), and really benefits from actually being filmed there. It revolves around the relationship of a married couple Walter and Kitty Fane - brilliantly portrayed by Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.Kitty marries Walter to escape from her mother, despite not being in love with him. They begin married life in Shanghai, where they are soon in the middle of the ex-pat British community where Kitty meets a government official and begins an affair. When Walter discovers her infidelity he exacts a fairly nasty revenge: accepting a post in an rural area called Mei Tan Fu with a cholera epidemic and insisting Kitty accompanies him. The main part of the story unfolds here, and is where you really get to know the characters and see them discovering each other.At first there is anger and bitterness (he for her betrayal and his own foolishness in marrying her, she for his revenge but more for her lover's betrayal), but in the difficult environment they are forced onto their own resources. This is particularly enlightening for Kitty who has previously led a fairly shallow and frivolous life.As Kitty and Walter discover there is more to respect in each other, they gradually fall in love against a backdrop of both Nationalist unrest and the local politics of trying to keep the cholera at bay.The excellent leads are superbly supported by Liev Schrieber as the faithless lover, Toby Jones as a cynical neighbour, and Diana Rigg as the Mother Superior of the convent which provides the nursing support to Doctor Fane and his assistant, and a fantastic Chinese cast.It's a film you can watch again and again because it works on so many levels.

The scenery and Diana Rigg saves it. (2008-06-17)

This is one of those films which offers so much, and delivers it with the scenery and fine detail. The down side being the two leading actors, Naomi Watts and Edward Norton, who dominate every scene to the detriment to all the minor parts. Diana Rigg shines through, and a lessor actor would try to steal scenes, (the two leads do enough of that). All in all, not the best film I have ever seen, and not one which I will race to watch again. The pace is rather plodding and the plot all too obvious.

Saved by the scenery (2008-06-15)

The plot is rather dull & predictable but the overall viewing experience is made enjoyable by the spectacular Chinese scenery & commendable performances by the lead characters.Not recommended however

FILM OF THE YEAR FOR ME (2008-06-13)

It has been so long since I actually watched a film that really touched me. Usually I'm the type of person who spends hours on Amazon choosing films however, recently nothing I have seen has really provoked any sort of real emotion in me. This film however, took my breath away. I knew as soon as I saw the trailer I had to get it and I can safely say that it did not disappoint. Although some may say it can be slow at times I felt the 120min flew in and wish there had been more. I have had the dvd for only 2days and already I have watched it four times over! I just can't get enough of it. I had never thought of Edward Norton as being an actor who would fit the tall dark hansome leading man role but he was absolutely brilliant in this film and visually the pair were spectacular to watch. Always rather upsetting to discover that the on screen romance doesn't exist outside the film. Nevertheless, this only proves to show tjust how amazingly talents both actors are. I was somewhat disappointed by the ending though, as I had predicted it's outcome from the trailer! Though obviously that is more the writer's disappointing choice of ending than the fault of the people who created the film! I dare any woman, or man, to watch this film and not fall for one of the leading actors as they are both so attractive and watchable. I felt like they convey every emotion of how they are feeling to the viewer and found myself crying when they cried etc. I just forced my mum to watch it and she loved it just as much as I so definitely a film for any age. If you are going to buy any film this year you should make it this one. I can't believe I missed this gem when it was showing at the cinema!

MOVING AND SCARY AT TIMES (2008-05-24)

The background music is wonderful and provides the ambience for this very moving film of love and revenge. Edward Norton and Naiomie Watts are perfect in this film. The chemistry is there!! Shows what can happen when someone is so in love they are entrapped by feelings (very dangerous). I would recommend this film to anyone who is a hopeless romantic..

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