One of China's first landmark directors, who has managed to successfully reinvent himself a couple of times since he started making films. A master of visual epics, but also someone who finds his way around social dramas. Essential viewing.
Rare treats
Hero
Even though it was one of the first, Hero remains one of the best epic wire-fu films ever produced.
The good stuff
Shadow
A true master of color, Yimou Zhang surprises with this near black and white martial arts drama. It's amazing what he accomplishes with almost no colors to work with, Shadow is a true feast for the eyes. The story is amusing, the action spectacular, but this is above all a visual marvel like only Zhang can make them.
The Flowers of War
The Flowers Of War borders on sentimentality and poses as a very epic endeavor. It's Zhang's magnificent direction that erases any major critiques, turning the film into a proper epic spectacle.
House of Flying Daggers
Not quite as majestic as Zhang's Hero, but still an overwhelmingly beautiful martial arts drama with a few memorable scenes. The drum dance and the bamboo forest fight are amongst the best the genre has on offer. And apart from some sketchy CG near the end, it hasn't aged a bit.
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles
Shanghai Triad
Solid pieces
The Love of the Hawthorn Tree
A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop
Curse of the Golden Flower
Happy Times
The Road Home
Keep Cool
To Live
Raise the Red Lantern
Ju Dou: Secret Love, Hidden Faces
The inoffensive
The Great Wall
Chacun Son Cinéma
Not One Less
The Story of Qiu Ju
Red Sorghum
Worthy but flawed
Coming Home
Big nopes
Lumière and Company
Codename Cougar
