Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #342 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-03
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

Synopsis
The third film version of Somerset Maugham’s 1925 novel--directed by John Curran--is ripe with stunning Chinese locales and a smart turn from Naomi Watts as Kitty Fane, the aging English socialite who must put herself in strange and turbulent surroundings before she finds her true self. A complex and beautiful international production, this adaptation benefits greatly from the lack restrictions that inhibited it’s previous incarnations in 1925 (with Greta Garbo) and in 1957 (as THE SEVENTH SIN). After pressure from her wealthy parents to settle down, Kitty (Naomi Watts) marries mild-mannered bacteriologist Walter (Edward Norton), despite her lack of love for him. Shortly after their vows, he takes her to Shanghai, where she immediately has an affair with Charles Townsend (Liev Shrieber), an English Vice Consul. Walter becomes aware of Kitty’s indiscretion and promptly whisks her away to the mountain village of Mei-tan-fu, where they befriend another English expat, the secretly decadent Deputy Commissioner Waddington (Toby Jones, in an extremely likeable performance). Walter begins working to hold an encroaching cholera epidemic at bay---leaving Kitty to ponder her role in the situation as death looms over the village like a spectre. A labour of love that took the better part of a decade for producer Norton and screenwriter Ron Nyswaner, THE PAINTED VEIL is a large, complex, and visually sumptuous production that employed a primarily Chinese crew on its intense location shoots. Norton’s passion for the material is on full display, as he turns in another solid performance. Watts, however, who portrayed another unfaithful wife in Curran’s previous film WE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (2004), is the heart of the film, all bee-stung lips and sweat on porcelain skin. Romantic, escapist entertainment in the best sense, THE PAINTED VEIL is yet more proof that there is an endless pool of silver screen potential in the classics of literature.

Customer Reviews

The scenery and Diana Rigg saves it.
This is one of those films which offers so much, and delivers it with the scenery and fine detail. The down side being the two leading actors, Naomi Watts and Edward Norton, who dominate every scene to the detriment to all the minor parts. Diana Rigg shines through, and a lessor actor would try to steal scenes, (the two leads do enough of that). All in all, not the best film I have ever seen, and not one which I will race to watch again. The pace is rather plodding and the plot all too obvious.

Saved by the scenery
The plot is rather dull & predictable but the overall viewing experience is made enjoyable by the spectacular Chinese scenery & commendable performances by the lead characters.

Not recommended however

FILM OF THE YEAR FOR ME
It has been so long since I actually watched a film that really touched me. Usually I'm the type of person who spends hours on Amazon choosing films however, recently nothing I have seen has really provoked any sort of real emotion in me. This film however, took my breath away. I knew as soon as I saw the trailer I had to get it and I can safely say that it did not disappoint. Although some may say it can be slow at times I felt the 120min flew in and wish there had been more. I have had the dvd for only 2days and already I have watched it four times over! I just can't get enough of it. I had never thought of Edward Norton as being an actor who would fit the tall dark hansome leading man role but he was absolutely brilliant in this film and visually the pair were spectacular to watch. Always rather upsetting to discover that the on screen romance doesn't exist outside the film. Nevertheless, this only proves to show tjust how amazingly talents both actors are. I was somewhat disappointed by the ending though, as I had predicted it's outcome from the trailer! Though obviously that is more the writer's disappointing choice of ending than the fault of the people who created the film! I dare any woman, or man, to watch this film and not fall for one of the leading actors as they are both so attractive and watchable. I felt like they convey every emotion of how they are feeling to the viewer and found myself crying when they cried etc. I just forced my mum to watch it and she loved it just as much as I so definitely a film for any age. If you are going to buy any film this year you should make it this one. I can't believe I missed this gem when it was showing at the cinema!