Liu Lin Movies

Plucky soldiers struggle to defy the odds in this action-packed drama of men at war. In 1937, Chen Xilian (Wang Yongming) commands a battalion of the Eighth Route Army as China battles Japan and communist and nationalist forces vie for China's political future. As Xilian and his men make their way through the hilly forests of Northern China, a female newspaper reporter (He Dandan) travels with them, covering the fighting for a nationalist paper and unwittingly throwing the soldiers off their stride. While on patrol, Xilian discovers that Japanese troops have set up a secret airfield in the hills, and despite the fact they're poorly equipped and greatly outnumbered, he and his men begin mapping out a plan to take on the enemy. Also known as Night Attack, Ye Xi (aka Night Raid) was the first feature film from director An Lan. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In this drama, a woman seeks reconciliation with her family after an act of shocking violence, though forgiveness may not be forthcoming. Two divorced single parents (Liang Song and Le Yeping) marry, each bringing with them a teenage daughter. Xiaoqin (Li Jun), Mother's daughter, is strong-willed and proudly working-class, intending to get a job in a factory when she finishes school. Xiaolan (Liu Lin), a bit younger and Father's child, is more intellectual and hopes to go on to college. One day, a petty argument between the step-sisters over some change turns ugly; Xiaolan hits Xiaoqiun over the head with a stick, and to the shock of everyone Xiaoqiun dies. Xiaolan is convicted of murder and sentenced to a long stay in prison; after 17 years, a handful of prisoners are released on furlough for New Years, including Xiaolan. When Xiaolan's parents don't arrive to pick her up, she's left stranded; a guard, Chen Jie (Li Bingbing), takes pity on Xiaolan and offers to give her a ride home. However, they soon discover Xiaolan's home has been torn down and her folks have moved. Chen Jie is determined Xiaolan will spend New Year with her family, though Xiaolan herself starts to wonder if they have any desire to see her. Guonian Huijia marked something of a comeback for director Zhang Yuan after several projects that caused him run-ins with the Chinese government; this film was released concurrently with his documentary feature Crazy English. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The third filmization of the Chinese version of Phantom of the Opera, this Hong Kong operatic melodrama is set in the fatastical burned-out husk of a once glorious opera house located near 1937 Beijing. The tale begins as a homeless theater troupe arrives there and listens to the caretaker describe the theater's demise. It happened a decade ago when the enemies of former famous actor Song Danping, who built the place, torched it for revenge after his affair with the already betrothed Yunyan was discovered. Unfortunately, Song was in the theater at the time and his body was never found. The troupe makes the theater their new home and as they rehearse, actress Wei Quing makes the acquaintance of a ghostly figure who turns out to be Song. He shares with her his plan for vengeance. Those plans involve a brilliant restaging of Romeo and Juliet designed to help him bring back his beloved Yunyan and restore the sanity she lost after he was murdered. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi