More depth than dash needed in Chinese film

There's no need for a promotional introduction to this next movie heroine. The classic story of Mulan is coming to the big screen on Friday. The film is directed by Hong Kong's Jingle Ma and features a transnational cast including Chinese actors Zhao Wei and Chen Kun, and Russian singer Vitas. But like many other Chinese productions, the film seems to rely on star power to attract its audience.

Throughout the entire film, Zhao Wei wears the female apparel only twice, before she enlists, and after she retires from the army. Most of the sequences feature Zhao in army uniforms, fighting amid enemy troops.

Zhao Wei, actress of Mulan, said, "There could be ten or thirty scripts, but Mulan is the only one. When I was in the film, I thought constantly about how Mulan, now disguised as a man, would think and act."

The film reunited Zhao Wei and her college classmate Chen Kun again, after their collective presence in "Painted Skin" of last year. Since their college years at the Beijing Film Academy, the two have shared the screen many times.

With every new year movie season, Chinese stars have made repeated appearances on the big screen. Hong Kong's Jay Chow, for example, has starred in both "The Treasure Hunter" and "Su Qi'er." The two films were screened only one month apart. And Mainland's Hu Jun starred in four films.

Despite the celebrity draw, many audience members have found these old faces a bit tiresome. And quality productions that contain depth and insight are in urgent need to truly arrest the eye.