Search - China Moon on DVD

A Mini Classic Detective/Woman Thriller

Joseph L Burke | 02/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ed Harris is always better than his material. Madeleine Stowe's sexy performance would get a rise out of a stone idol. This movie reminds me of "Casablanca" inasmuch as it was done as a low budget not-well-advertised film. But with this cast and excellent direction it crackles and cooks on-screen. Once in a while you find a movie that kind of "got lost" in distribution but turns out to be a surprisingly good experience. Harris goes for Stowe in a big way and I believe, so would any other man. Watching Stowe is easily the equal of a double-Viagra dose; trust me."

Very solid 4 stars

Vlad | russianwriter.net | 09/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Very good movie . I have to worn you - if you expecting regular , happy ending Hollywood cheapy , you are in wrong place .
Ed Harris playing a police homoside detective . His character is street smart , talanted , but very lonly . His partner is young and kind of laisy .One evening , Harris meet a beatifull woman ( Madelein Stowe ), and we fell in love with her character right away : smart , very attractive , intellegent and funny . So did the detective . She dissapears that evening , but Harris find her , of cause . The relationship developes and getting more and more interesting every scene . But everything goes not that easy for tham - she is married . Producers made an exellent selection of an actor for the role of her husband ( we dislike him right away ). He ownes a big Florida bank chain , cheating on his beatifull wife and pushing her around constantly . We know right away - something will happen , somebody going to get killed . And most likely , this someone will be her husband .
What I like in this movie , is the love story between Harris and Stowe . Both actors perform on such high level , that keeps your attention from begining all the way to the end . We want them to be together . And when Stowe get in big troubles , we want Harris to help her .
At same time we have to think ,That she is just seting him up , but we want to belive her . We WANT to belive that she loves Harris character . And at the last moments of the movie , insted of being sad about the ending , we feal relief - this was a true love .
Highly recomended."

Commit a crime and the world is made of glass

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 06/13/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This devasting Emerson's statement works out in this modern film noir with stunning accuracy.
Ed Harris falls in love with a femme fatale (the seductive Madeleine Stowe) . She is a married woman and obviosuly all the consequences derivated from this affair will be a real elevator to the gallow.
The surrounding atmosphere is dark and the dramatic nucleus of the picture with the rain as a background seems anticipate the demons that will get out from the Pandora box.
Ed Harris is superb like the policeman who slow but progressively watchs how his efforts for avoid to be discovered as the cover woman become ashes.
The somber role of this double face cop played by Benicio del Toro was a hit for him.
Madeleine Stowe is perfect. She is still one of the most beatiful actress in the cinema , but her shame gaze shines with amazing realism. She reminds me too much to a spanish actress called Ana Torrent (Thesis) .
It's hard to forget the long tradition of the film noir in the american cinema . The two most remarkable triumphs given in the
eighties were Body Heat and The Black Widow.
However, the director John Bailey assumed the challenge and won the match with this film.
Excelent atmosphere though I feel too much enlightment in certain sequences. If not for that detail, I would give this film five stars."

CULT MOVIES 41

Hiram Gomez Pardo | 02/02/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"41. CHINA MOON (thriller, 1994) Homicide Detective Kyle Bodine (Ed Harris) is a veteran of the force who knows the ins and outs of every crime scene. His partner, Lamar (Benicio del Toro) is a young rookie who's under Kyle's tutelage and like everyone else, admires his good record. Kyle meets Rachel (Madeline Stowe); a beautiful woman who's sensual charms he falls under. They begin a steamy relationship and Kyle falls in love. But then he finds out she's married to a violent, wealthy man. His constant harassment leads Rachel to kill him in self-defense. Kyle now has to decide whether to bring her to justice or help the woman he loves.Critique: Nifty little thriller borrows from the film-noir tradition. The solid screenplay by Roy Karlson introduces many elements of the genre. Theirs the honest cop whom falls in love with the 'femme fatale' and the violent husband as 'middle-man' who ends up dead. But just when you think things are headed into conventional plotting, there's a twist. Good direction by first-timer John Bailey elicits excellent acting all round. Ed Harris gives another powerhouse performance, Madeline Stowe plays victim-victimizer beautifully, and Benicio del Toro (a much underrated actor who reminds me of James Dean) lends an interesting menace. Great ending too.QUOTE: Kyle: "You were just ******* me weren't you?! I was loving you and you were ******* me!""