FilmCriticLalitRao One careful look at maverick sixth generation Chinese film director Wang Xiaoshuai's filmography will easily suggest that "Beijing Bicycle" is one of the best commercial films he has directed in his decade and a half old career.This is a film which has tremendously huge mass appeal as people all over the world prefer bicycles as environmental friendly means of transport.This has perhaps been a reason why this film was banned by Chinese authorities upon its initial release in 2001.A lot has changed in China ever since this film came out but it is still easy to comprehend natural fascination of Chinese people for bicycles.It is a different matter that this craze for bicycles is getting lost into oblivion as world's major car manufacturers are busy eying Chinese automobile market."Beijing Bicycle" has succeeded in revealing behavioral traits of young Chinese boys who are capable of outsmarting their western counterparts as far as bad,irresponsible,illogical behavior is concerned.There is absolutely no point in comparing "Beijing Bicycle" with Italian Neorealist classic "Ladri Di Biciclette" directed by Italian master Vittorio De Sica as both films are set in quite different cultural contexts.It is a mere coincidence that they have a bicycle as a common element.

Andy (film-critic) I remember my first bike. It was a Huffy. It didn't have a name and I believe my excitement for it only lasted one summer, but it did get me from point A to point B, and I will always remember it for those solid memories. What would be my actions if during that one summer of joy my illustrious bike were to be stolen? Would I bring about wrath and vengeance upon anyone that dared cross my path? Probably not, but it would have been fun to have an adventure like the two boys in this film.To make it simple. Boy is trained to be a courier. Bike is given, but needs to be paid off. Bike is nearly paid for when it is stolen. Boy goes bonkers. Change story. New boy finds love with new (stolen) bike. He makes more friends. He is the rooster of the farm. Then, these two boys meet. Violence begets violence. Boy looses girl. Boy continues to loose job. Violence ensues. Cut to visionary ending about the life of a bike.Was this a documentary? "Beijing Bicycle" kept my attention, but left me utterly confused as to who to root for. For the first hour of the film, I found myself on the original boy's side, but somehow changed midstream, but then changed back, only to find myself apathetic towards the end. This is not the consistency that I like my oatmeal. A lumpy camera gave us a sympathetic eye towards both of our characters, leaving us with nobody to love or to hate. I needed a definition with this film. I wanted to root for one character and only one character. By giving me passion for both I didn't really have any emotion towards the ending, which could have been quite dramatic.I loved the music.I loved the cinematography.I loved that it promoted smoking.I loved the characters – individually, but I needed a defined bad guy and a defined good guy. Don't get me wrong, when Vader picks up the Emperor at the end of "Jedi", I felt sympathy for the bad guy – but think of what the film would have been like if the Emperor kissed Vader right before he fell. That is the emotion happening with "Beijing Bicycle".Could I watch this film again? Absolutely, but I could not sit still. I would know what was going to happen with our characters, I would know what feelings I would have for both of them by the end, and I would still find myself apathetic to any of their causes. One is strong, while the other is weak. It was like black vs. gray instead of black vs. white. I would call this film a "Study of Cinema's Gray Zone".I will suggest this film to friends and family as a one time viewing. It was a decent outing for a film about a bicycle, and would have no problems buying this DVD for my old Huffy that is still rotting away in the garage. I think he would like it.What are my thoughts? I give this film an "Ehhhhhhhhhggggggggggggggaaaaaaaaaaaaa", as I feel weight on my shoulders as I thumb the edge of this DVD's box.

jotix100 "Beijing Bicycle" the interesting Chinese film directed by Xiaoshuai Wang, has been compared with Vittorio DeSica's masterpiece of the Italian cinema, "Bicycle Thief". In fact, we suspect this director is telling a story that seems to mirror the other film, but it's Chinese to the core.Young Guo, who has arrived in Beijing from a rural area, is hired as a messenger for an agency that delivers important packages and mail throughout the city. Part of the deal is a shiny new bicycle that will be paid by the new hires after being in the job for a while. The bicycle for Guo means the improvement of his lot in life, as well as freedom to go everywhere and be his own master.Jian, on the other hand, is a student that is seen hanging out with a rough bunch of school mates. Jian is excelling academically, but in order to fit, he must have a bicycle. The film doesn't make clear if Jian himself steals the bicycle, or as he claims, he bought it at the second hand market, with the money he stole from his father, which seems to be the case. He views the bicycle as a sign of status and of belonging; a means to have been accepted by his peers. Young Guo shows a stubbornness that seems to be a trait with people from the area where he comes from. Instead of accepting the fact that his bicycle has been stolen, he decides to investigate on his own, something that must be a super human task given the millions of bicycles one sees in that city, and a mode of transport for the masses. One can't follow Guo's logic in not going to the police, or when he realizes who has stolen his bicycle, he never challenges the thief. In fact, Jian and his friends show a cruelty for the newly arrived country bumpkin that is scary. In fact, Jian shows a stubbornness himself that is unusual for a city boy that should have known better and who should have realized the plight of Guo."Beijing Bicycle" shows a side of city living in a city that is crowded and can be cruel to anyone trying to make a life in a decent way. We watch at the end a defeated Guo walking with his mangled bicycle on his way back home, perhaps.The film will not disappoint, in spite of some repetitious sequences thanks to the strength of the two principals and the direction by Xiaoshuai Wang.

s13racer With an IMDb rating of 7.4 I was expecting a better movie. Sure, it showed poverty in Beijing that most of us have never seen before, but just because of this, should it deserve a better rating? Some how showing poverty and suffering apparently gets people thinking it was a great movie. It's almost as if they feel sorry for the characters in it, so they feel sorry for a movie that was just OK.The story was OK, the directing was OK, the acting was OK, so I'm still wondering what is it that's making people vote a high rating for this movie? The movies that I list below are somewhat random but rank lower than this movie which I disagree: Higher Learning (6.3) Appleseed 2004 (7.1) Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (7.1) This movie ties with Better Tomorrow (7.4) and can you tell me where's the talent in this movie that compares with John Woo and Chow Yun Fat?As I write this, I came to a revelation.. Females are bringing down my movies.. It would be great if IMDb could split its ratings gender-wise!In conclusion, this movie was just OK. Even if you aren't into racing compacts, you'll find better movie production in Initial D 2005 (5.9).. but then again that's coming from a guy.