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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Zhang Ziyi: Major Talent or Lucky Starlet?
or some she was the most memorable part of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. They were mesmerized by the dark energy she brings to her portrayal of a freespirited young adventuress. For others she was one more annoying thing about a glacial, poorly edited sword-fight flick. They were left cold by the hard, souless gleam of her obsidian eyes and her puckish face.
Regardless of your opinion of Zhang Ziyi, one fact is indisputable: since the release of CTHD in late 2000, the media has lionized the gamin-faced actress. Virtually every glossy and tabloid has hailed her as the hot new Asian female actor and/or great new beauty. In the heat of CTHD's surprise success Zhang was signed to several projects, including Rush Hour 2, The Legend of Zu, 2046 (a science fiction flick), Hero (a Jet Li kung-fu flick) and Musa (a Corean film set during the wars between the Yuan and Ming Dynasties).
Luck is essential to every success, but Zhang Ziyi appears to have enjoyed more than her share during her brief acting career.
She was born February 9, 1979 in Beijing to an economist father and a kindergarten teacher mother. At the age of 11 she enrolled in a dance school. Four years later she decided to switch to acting despite some promise as a dancer. She went for a shampoo commercial audition and was picked out by the legendary director Zhang Yimou to play a schoolgirl who falls in love with her teacher.
When The Road Home was released in China in 1999, the young actress was promptly dubbed "Little Gong Li" on the popular suspicion that she had followed the great actress into Zhang Yimou's bed. (Zhang Yimou had discovered Gong Li in 1987 and lost her in 1994 when she left him to marry Singaporean businessman Ooi Hoe Siong.)
The Road Home received no attention in the U.S. but won the 2000 Jury Grand Prix Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. It also caught the eye of Ang Lee who was casting Crouching Tiger. No one suspected that the low-budget film he was planning to shoot in China would go on to become the next year's most profitable film, ultimately grossing $150 million worldwide. It turned Zhang Ziyi into an international superstar in one fell, elaborately-wired swoop.
Is Zhang Ziyi really a great beauty and first-rate actor? Or is she a second-rater whose fame is as un-credible as her CTHD fight sequences?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:50:03 PM)
Based on her performance in CTHD Zhang Ziyi is undoubtedly of of the most charismatic actresses in the world today. She has beauty charm and mystery and excellent acting skills. She is well trained in dance and acting. With these attributes she has the potential to one of the worlds great actresses. Hopefully she can handle her instant success and use it help her find good rolls in good flicks that will help her to advance her skills.
These opinions may be slightly biased because I absolutly adore Zhang Ziyi!!
Paul
Tuesday, January 15, 2002 at 11:11:47 (PST)
She's beautiful in every aspect except one:
HER EARS STICK OUT LIKE FREAKING ROSS PEROT!!!
Superficial Asian Guy
Tuesday, January 15, 2002 at 10:46:56 (PST)
Crouching tiger : she was great
Rush Hour 2 : that was embarrasing
.........but I'm sure it payed well.
She did her dragon lady role and cashed her big check. Lets hope she doesn't make a habit of it. She can't speak English so she has no real hope of being an American movie star. She should stick to solid directors and good scripts in Hong Kong
Makadu
Tuesday, January 15, 2002 at 09:21:14 (PST)
I think Z.Z. has an electrifying presence on-screen. She is the definition of "movie star." And her performance in "The Road Home" and some of her subtle work in "Crouching Tiger" shows she's an actress with incredible promise and skill. We can get hung-up upon the movie was exciting enough for fans of the genre, but Z.Z. has burst out from the success of that film and will continue her rise. Oh, and yes, she's a "great beauty." You'd have to be blind not to notice it.
Townshend
Tuesday, January 15, 2002 at 08:22:59 (PST)
Yeah she's HOT! But does she have the talent, drive and charisma to continue on as an international superstar actress? Hollywood has chewed up and spit out many promising individuals. Only time will tell.
Asianite
Asianite
Tuesday, January 15, 2002 at 04:03:42 (PST)
CTHD is the only movie I've seen with her in it. (I never went to see Rush Hour 2). But she is a definite beauty! I admired her performace in the one movie I had seen.
zz fan
Tuesday, January 15, 2002 at 03:17:08 (PST)
Zhang Ziyi, is highly over-rated.
She was at the right place at the right time and things happen to fall together. If it wasn't for Su Qi's stupid manager, Su Qi, would have been in CTHD. Not to mention, Zhang Ziyi, has such an annoying voice.
Chinese21
Chinese21
Tuesday, January 15, 2002 at 00:22:34 (PST)
I prefer the elagance and sophistication of Gong Li, she is the ultimate Chinese goddess. I don't like Zhang, she just another pretty face, saw her in rush hour and find her facial expression annoying.
Snooks
Monday, January 14, 2002 at 23:44:37 (PST)
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