Article 20 is a 2024 Chinese comedy drama film directed by Zhang Yimou and written by Li Meng and Wang Tianyi. It stars Lei Jiayin, Ma Li, Zhao Liying, Gao Ye and Liu Yaowen. It has so far grossed $323.6 million, becoming the 6th-highest-grossing film of 2024 so far. The following are the 10 Internet Movie Database reviews for the film.
WatchFilmWatchLife 20 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
As the title says, in my opinion this kinds of movie is on the average line.
About the plot. Plot is quite straight. Here straight means you can mostly guess what will happen next, and the ongoing plot will not go far away from your expectation. It’s just a story of chasing justice under the law. And as you guys know, this film appeared on the screen in Mainland China, means it must be a happy ending. (Otherwise you will never be able to watch this film lol). Anyway, average plot.
And the performance also just in avg level. Too much dialog, I mean, nearly about 70% of the time is the dialog: at home, in car, in school, in court etc. Of course you could think this could be the intentional tactic by the movie director, but anyway I don’t consider this as a good idea in a 2-hour long movie. It also have some good effects for example add to the realism of this movie.
It’s this movie moving? Yes, I think, but it’s a little bit melodramatic. It a deliberate and unnatural feels to it.
zhilimeirong 16 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
There are too many logical injuries, which is too idealistic. The director can consider going home to retire. First of all, why should the teaching director withdraw the prosecution, and secondly, why should the crime of my child be investigated? In the end, the gangster dared to beat the nephew of the police station director. Finally, I want to ask, can’t the girl solve the case without jumping off the building? Everything depends on jumping off the building? The last ppt is also very perfunctory. I have nothing else to say. Now it’s time to start to make up the number of words. This movie is not worth saying so much.
A movie that combines laughter and tears
wzwywin 24 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is positioned as a comedy, but in reality it tells a very serious topic. Although I am not familiar with Chinese law, the theme of “legitimate defense” should be universal worldwide. They do not have a jury, so when trying cases, more factors need to be considered. I was shocked by the humanistic care portrayed in the movie. China cares about their lower class people, and Zhang Yimou is an excellent director, The actors Lei Jiayin, Yu Hewei, Zhao Liying, etc. In the film are all excellent actors. This film not only has a high level of technology, but also has profound significance. It is shown in the Chinese Lunar the Year of the Loong, which fits their theme very well. I hope everything in China will be fine.
baihe-39464 20 February 2024
The procurator’s determination that Wang Yongqiang was acting in self-defense only meant that he did not have to go to prison, not that he could got benefits or receive compensation from government treasury.
Wang Yongqiang owed a lot of high interest loans. At the same time ,his wife Hao Xiumei committed suicide . Hao Xiumei being rescued by doctors at the hospital, and then she is not in severe condition ,but she still stayed in a single special ward. The movie in this scene is not realistic in poor family.
Han Ming’s son storyline is strange. Just look like in order to add one character for someone. School bully storyline is not harmoniously in movie.
CinemaSerf 4 March 2024
The topic here is quite an interesting one. A CCTV camera captures a man being attacked and stabbed multiple times. The police apprehend the perpetrator, but as the hastily partnered prosecutors – “Han Ming” (Jiayin Lei) and “Liu Lingling” (Ye Gao) start to investigate, they discover that the victim was actually quite an odious creature who probably deserved his fate – despite the vocal protestations of his family. Meantime, the former is also having some family drama after is son “Yuchen” (Liu Yaowen) intervenes in a school bullying incident and finds himself faced with making an humiliating apology or a court-ordered detention. Poor old “Han” is now under mounting pressure from his bosses, his partner and from his rather strong-willed wife “Li Maojuan” (Li Ma). Juggling plates isn’t really his forte, and for most of the drama we vacillate between the increasingly hysterical and bickering marital relationship that starts off quite funny but ends up quite grating, and a police investigation that ultimately has a political point to make about the voracity of Chinese justice to the audience. It does have it’s moments, and at times I did feel a bit sorry for “Han” as his problems accumulate with no obvious solution for a man who just wants to get to his retirement in one piece. Otherwise, though, it’s all a bit messy. The narrative doesn’t really flow and it becomes just a but too much of a soap for me as it begins to run out of steam. It is watchable, and at times does raise a smile – but the stories are all just a bit too thin.
A Serious Legal Drama Meets Absurd Situation Comedy
kluseba 19 March 2024
Di er shi tiao, internationally known as Article Twenty, is a Chinese courtroom drama directed by renowned veteran Zhang Yimou. This is the first legal-themed Chinese movie that focuses on the issue of justifiable defence. The movie aims to prove the righteousness of Chinese justice, law and politics as it can thus be considered a contemporary propaganda film.
Three stories are told throughout the film. The most important one focuses on a desperate man who gravely injured the bully of a village who had been insulting him and raping his wife for several months. The second case focuses on a courageous bus driver who protected a young woman from two louts but was accused as an assailant and now files petitions in the capital to clear his name. The third and final case focuses on a stubborn high-school student who intervened against a vicious group of intimidators targeting a sole victim in a restroom.
This film convinces on several levels. First and foremost, the movie intertwines emotional, intense and realistic dramatic elements with entertaining, quirky and surprising situation comedy in an overall balanced way. Up next, viewers will easily roots for the brave heroines and heroes of this film and against the selfish villainesses and villains of this movie. The acting performances are particularly strong throughout. The movie has been filmed with calm, focus and precision which makes it a joy to watch on the big screen.
On the negative side, that movie clocks in at one hundred forty-one minutes which is at least half an hour too long. Especially the film’s middle section drags on and loses the promising momentum of the exposition before picking pace up again towards the resolution. Sometimes, the combination of comedy and drama elements is slightly inappropriate, unpleasant and wooden. For instance, the movie sometimes establishes a dramatic atmosphere dealing with a relevant topic involving traumatized characters before a joke is suddenly brought up to break the ice. While many viewers at my local cinema were cheering and laughing, such cases rather made me wince and question the audience’s judgements.
At the end of the day, the movie’s memorable resolution pardons for several flaws in its middle section. Article Twenty thus qualifies as propagandistic but nonetheless relevant legal drama with a few elements of situation comedy that should please Chinese viewers as well as international audiences who care about justice, law and politics. This film might not be Zhang Yimou’s finest hour but it underlines the consistent quality of his cinematography in recent years.
forced punchlines and storyline
iamzhzhang 21 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The punchlines were still quite dense, fitting the characteristics of a Chinese New Year movie release.
It also very obviously conveyed what the movie wanted to portray and express. Also, this is a movie for a family to watch, which could make us laugh and cry.
Anyway, I would probably have given it a 8/10 a few years ago. But now, I seem to have become more indifferent and cold-hearted. The “emotional” parts felt excessive to me, to the point of making me feel awkward.
It didn’t feel like storytelling but rather a boring lecture; whether it was the prosecutor Lingling’s unwavering “fair and just” character image, the mother’s desperate silence, or the male lead’s solemn speech at the end.
I wished it could have been more subtle and understated – just one line that could make me cry would have been enough.
Combination of tears and laughter
jjaylynjj 25 February 2024
IT FINALLY RELEASED!!! I’ve been anticipating this movie for a very long time. This movie is a need-to-watch. All the actors were spectacular in their performance and I enjoyed the plot. The movie reviews humanity’s laws and educates about self defense. The movie’s main character, Mr. Han has a very high EQ, his wife is a very reasonable protector, and their son is a mix of the two of them–literally perfect. I wish there were more scenes of the protagonist’s family though, I was very invested in the story there. The movie was amazingly directed. The director, Zhang Yi Mo is very famous in China, and all his products are always a big hit, including this movie.
sczfgssp 25 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
A film that takes its title from the 20th Article of the People’s Republic of China’s Criminal Law, which pertains to the legal provision of self-defense. I watched this movie specifically on Valentine’s Day and was deeply moved by its compelling narrative and satisfying resolution. The film successfully emphasizes the principle that “law should not yield to illegality” while educating its audience about the relevant legal knowledge.
Despite the gratifying outcome, I found myself feeling heavy and oppressed after the movie. The film explores three cases – a bus driver case, a village bully case, and a school bullying case. All of which led me to ponder three questions: Is justice still justice if it comes late? Why is the price for achieving fairness and justice borne by the victim? And how can one wield the weapon of law to best protect oneself and those around them?
The film suggests that “Law must be believed in, or else it is as good as non-existent.” But how can the law be believed in? It must resonate with the most fundamental emotional expectations of the public, and it should be a law that is engraved in the hearts of citizens. When it comes to specific cases, especially criminal cases involving crime and punishment, the authorities should not merely rely on experience. They should “get involved personally,” viewing the case from the perspectives of the suspect, the victim, and the general public. If the law is applied and executed mechanically, it will become increasingly out of touch and distant from the public.
The film is grounded in reality, with a rigorous plot and clear storyline. The casting is appropriate, and the performances are on point.
“Article 20” – A Disappointing Movie
b-64440-45958 11 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
“Article 20” is a major disappointment. From the plot, logic to character development, there are serious problems.
In the first half, the endless quarrels between the couple make the audience irritable, which seriously affects the viewing experience. A movie should attract the audience with exciting plots, not rely on quarrels . The development of the character relationship lacks depth, making the whole story appear shallow and powerless.
The speech in the second half is even more ridiculous. In reality, it is hard to imagine that a speech can easily change the judge’s verdict. Such a plot setting not only lacks logic, but is also too idealistic. The screenwriter’s level is also poor, and there are too many flaws in the script. In the movie, Prosecutor Han Ming actually took over the lawyer’s job, which is completely unreasonable! Life is not like this!
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