Pavilion of Women
Universal Focus | Release Date: May 4, 2001 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
26
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
0
Mixed:
4
Negative:
10
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
50
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
Introduces American audiences to Luo Yan, a charismatic Chinese-born actress now living in Los Angeles. She single-handedly nurtured this project to fruition, serving as producer, co-writer and star. Read full review
50
USA TodayMike Clark
It saves its clunkiest scene for the finale. No fair telling, but the key words are "political," "propaganda," "outdoors" and "orphans." Read full review
40
New Times (L.A.)Andy Klein
Has an awkwardness that defeats whatever emotional involvement it tries to achieve. Read full review
40
L.A. WeeklyPaul Malcolm
So many romantic cliches it's laughable. Read full review
30
The New York TimesDana Stevens
It might have been a satisfying if not terribly original piece of historical melodrama, but its clumsiness turns it, against its best intentions, into half-baked operatic kitsch. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
Can never rise above the melodrama of a past era, despite a splendid, impassioned portrayal by Willem Dafoe and an affecting one by Luo Yan. Read full review
30
Washington PostMark Jenkins
A film that was made in China but has the soul of a '50s Hollywood melodrama. Read full review
30
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
The locations and production design are breathtakingly beautiful. But though cast largely with Chinese actors, it was shot in English, which no doubt made business sense but almost certainly accounts for many truly awful performances. Read full review
30
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
Yim's film is kneecapped by its soundtrack twice over. Read full review
25
New York PostLou Lumenick
It's loaded with -- scenery-chewing melodrama, cornball pidgin dialogue and syrupy music.
25
San Francisco ChronicleWesley Morris
This version is a well-meant but corny distillation -- a whole lot of bombast and phony exaltation in the name of entertaining enrichment. Read full review
20
VarietyRobert Koehler
Fails to stir the emotions despite its heavily melodramatic drive. Read full review
20
Washington PostRita Kempley
Bland as a fortune cookie and as trite as the message inside. Read full review
20
Mr. ShowbizKevin Maynard
The backdrop of exotic pagodas and wartime woe isn't nearly potent enough to buoy the feeble drama that plays out in the foreground.
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