Weather Afternoon: 14°c Light showers Tonight: 9°c Light showers

Five of the Best...Films
1. Tulpan
Remarkable romantic comedy set among a nomadic tribe in Kazakhstan.
2. An Education
Nick Hornby's sensitive adaptation of journlaist Lynn Barber's excellent memoir of her first boyfriend.
3. The White Ribbon
Michael Hameke's Palme d'Or winner at Cannes is set in a German village just before the start of the First World War.
4. 2012
Roland Emmerich's thrilling apocalypse movie with John Cusack as the hero.
5. Fantastic Mr Fox
Wes Anderson’s take on Roald Dahl is full of quirky magic — with a sly George Clooney voicing Mr Fox.

Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quoteNew Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of itquote

Andrew O'Hagan The Twilight Saga: New Moon Theatre

Henry Hitchings

quoteA smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusionquote

Henry Hitchings Cock Restaurants

David Sexton

quoteKitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave quote

David Sexton Kitchen W8

Reader reviews

Film

Adam, Harrow

quoteToo long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effectsquote

2012 Theatre

Rob, London

quoteThis is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flawsquote

The Habit Of Art Music

Bernard, London

quoteAlex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factorquote

Alexandra Burke

Film news and reviews London,

Assembly

Your rating
one startwo starthree starfour starfive star
Click on a star to rate
Cert: 15

Evening Standard rating Derek Malcolm's rating
Evening Standard rating Reader rating
 Add your review

Dir: Feng Xiaogang. Cast: Zhang Hanyu, Yuan Wenkang, Hu Jun, Deng Chao

 

Description: Captain Gu Zidi, commanding officer of the Ninth Company, is at the forefront of the Huaihai Campaign of the Chinese Civil War, leading 46 men in a daring mission to defend the south bank of the Wen River. Gu Zidi and his troops must hold their position until the retreat bugle call, ensuring the delicate balance of power between The People's Liberation Army and the KMT Army. As hours pass and ammunition becomes increasingly scarce, Gu Zidi begins to wonder whether he has missed the retreat signal and consigned his men to their grim fate.

Country: CHI. 2007. 123mins
Please wait the page is loading extra content
  • Show details
  • Hide details
  • Showing at

The East's answer to Spielberg

By Derek Malcolm, Evening Standard  06.03.08
 
Assembly

Strength: Assembly lavishly shows us the terrors of war

Look here too

If Feng Xiaogang, one of China's most successful directors, is the East's answer to Spielberg, then this war film is his Saving Private Ryan.

Written by Liu Heng, who collaborated with Zhang Yimou in classics Ju Dou and Raise the Red Lantern, it lavishly shows us not only the terrors of war, but the essential humanity of the soldiers involved.

Its central character is Guzidi (Zhang Hanyu), Captain of the Ninth Company of the People's Liberation Army, fighting the US-backed KMT. Ordered to retreat after a bloody pitched battle he fails to do so and loses all his men.

Blinded by guilt, he marches straight into the enemy trenches but is saved by the PLA and, though badly wounded, dedicates his life to finding and honouring the graves of the 46 men he caused to be killed.

The film has a naïve strength that makes it much more than just an expensive and expansive action movie, and in Hanyu a dignified hero who does what he has to do.

Related articles

More


Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

 

Reader reviews (0)

 Add your review

No comments have so far been submitted.


Add your comment

 

Your email address will not be published

Terms and conditions make text area bigger You have  characters left.


 
 
 
London's Weather
Afternoon
Light showers
14°c
Tonight
Light showers
9°c
5 day forecast
 
 

Daily Mail Mail on Sunday Travel Mail This is Money Metro

Loot | Jobsite | Homes & property | London jobs | FindaProperty.com | Primelocation.com | Educate London | Holiday Villas