Batman in Nanking

Hat-tip to Hollywood-Elsewhere

Below, the trailer for Zhang Yimou's "Flowers of War," innevitably to be less-pleasantly known as "The Rape of Nanking Movie." The most expensively-mounted film in mainland Chinese history; it's a historical epic about the Japanese occupation of Nanking during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. The main story focuses on a group of Chinese prostitutes who volunteer to swap-places with schoolgirls who've been selected to be sex slaves for the occupying Japanese army. Christian Bale has the ostensible lead as a Priest organizing refugee support efforts and, of perhaps equal importance, existing as an English-speaking white guy to help hold the hands of Western audiences potentially frightened away by all the funny words and dark faces...



Seriously, this looks REALLY good and the material has never really been done this big and attention-getting before... but it's JUST a little bit depressing that even a Chinese-made film from Yimou feels the need to do the Edward Zwick "White hero" thing - yes, even if the character in question was a real guy.

In any case, "Flowers" is now officially China's entry in this year's "Best Foriegn Language" Oscar category, though it won't open in China until December with a U.S. run yet to be determined.