The Flowers of War (金陵十三钗) (2011)

Zhang Yimou steals Casablanca and sets it in China during the 2nd Sino-Japanese war.

Christian Bale is the cynical American who must help a few convent girls escape before the Japanese annex Nanking.

We cannot recommend the film for non-PRC audiences; either the source material is coarsely written, purple, and jingoistic to boot or Zhang Yimou has a severe case of "let's beat up the demonic Japs".

Even 55 days at Peking is less obnoxious.

Read my full review at Fridae, first published on 28 March 2012.