Chinese war movie The Eight Hundred a hit with film-goers, but critics say it is sensationalist and distorts history
- The film, whose release was delayed apparently because of its focus on Nationalist Chinese soldiers, depicts events during the Battle of Shanghai in 1937
- Critics say the film, about outnumbered soldiers who hold up Japanese invaders for four days, is corny and distorts history, but fans have flocked to see it
China-produced World War II film The Eight Hundred has taken more than 1.2 billion yuan (US$175 million) at the box office since its release in China on August 21.
That’s despite the mixed reviews for The Eight Hundred, with critics panning it for sensationalism, distorting historical facts, and its loose plot.
The first Chinese film to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras, and with a production budget of over US$80 million, The Eight Hundred is directed by Guan Hu, whose previous efforts include Cow (2009), about a villager seeking to protect a milk cow during the Japanese invasion of China.
The film is based on a chapter in the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, during the second Sino-Japanese war, in which around 400 Chinese soldiers defended the Sihang Warehouse against the invading Japanese army. The only soldiers to hold out in Shanghai after the other Nationalist forces withdrew from the city, the 400 soldiers received orders to defend the warehouse until the end.