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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, 05:49:56 PM)
I am an American Male who thinks
Zhang Ziyi is cute but I have been to mainland china and seen/met Chinese women who TOTALLY blow her away.
Lets see what Zhang Ziyi looks like when she matures. If she looks like COCO LEE then maybe Ill take back my statement
JING CHA
Monday, June 10, 2002 at 15:08:08 (PDT)
Very little acting? I think you were the one watching the wrong acting. Anyone who knows anything about acting knows it is about two things, 1)displaying the right range of emotion and 2) portaying a character. Of course, Ziyi's character in CTHD was one of the most complex of all to play. A multi dimensional character with a good and bad side. A character likely different from Z's real character. Go back and watch it and see for yourself how convincing it was. She did more than just fight. She should have at least got a nomination. A number of critics have also said that. How the hell does Julia Roberts keep getting her nominations for these one sided, one dimensional dreamy eyed characters when Zhang Ziyi gives performances like that?? also, there was some good acting and emotional display in the middle half and toward the end from Z when her character got given more screen time
And Halle Berry isn't that good either.
Hidden Dragon
Thursday, May 23, 2002 at 04:03:37 (PDT)
An Oscar?? Are you joking??? What movie were you watching? That role required very little actual acting and character, just mostly martial arts. It was a good movie but not Oscar worthy.
me
Thursday, May 16, 2002 at 08:18:20 (PDT)
To an extent she already is. Just wait for Zhang Yimou's 'Hero'. It's gonna be bigger than Crouching Tiger.
Oh - and Zhang Ziyi should have won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Another rip-off.
Zhang Ziyi Lover
Tuesday, May 14, 2002 at 12:25:07 (PDT)
The girl has shown great screen presence for one so young and amazing talent in her film's thus far. Add that to her flawless beauty and she has the potential to become a huge international star.
speedy g
Friday, May 10, 2002 at 15:47:00 (PDT)
Zhang Ziyi is a masterpiece sent from God!
She should be worshipped accordingly . I am at your feet (yum)!
Hidden Dragon
Wednesday, April 24, 2002 at 09:40:39 (PDT)
Zhang Ziyi is a gorgeous azn female...i think it's good that more azns are making their way into hollywood, although i don't like how hollywood doesn't accept azns except for kung fu movies....the only azn i can think of that's more noted for dramas is that guy from the fast and the furious...but yeah, i think zhang ziyi is more than just "the crazy chinese girl" from croutching tiger.
Funk Seoul Azn
Monday, April 22, 2002 at 20:01:47 (PDT)
I don't think anyone is trying to undermine Zhang, but all we are saying is that there are other Asian actresses who are just as good. Zhang rode the popular tide with CTHD and we all wish her well, but she is not, as some Zhang fans would want us to believe, the be-all and end-all of Asian movies in the West. Anyway I am off to read the Kelly Hu feature, she is so incredibly beautiful. Those eyes! That mouth! Not to mention the body of a goddess! Thank you Ed.
IMO
Monday, April 22, 2002 at 01:45:18 (PDT)
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