Thierry Rignol

NEWS 1/17/12 6:00pm

The Flowers of War revisits Nanking

By Thierry Rignol

Arguably the most anticipated Chinese production this year, The Flowers of War is a poignant retelling of the Nanking Massacre that fails to convey genuine pathos. Praised for its depiction of a pivotal point in Chinese history – the Rape of Nanking – the film has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards and received a nomination for the 69th Golden Globe Awards. With a budget of $94 million, the movie is the most expensive Chinese production to date. The film stars Christian Bale (The Dark Knight), newcomer Ni Ni and Tong Dawei (Lost in Beijing).

NEWS 1/17/12 6:00pm

Rondelet Canceled

By Thierry Rignol

For the third time in the last four years, Rondelet has been canceled. The Rice Program Council announced the decision last Friday at the Rice Memorial Center and through Facebook.

NEWS 1/10/12 6:00pm

Mission: Accomplished

By Thierry Rignol

Six years after Mission: Impossible III, director Brad Bird (Ratatouille) picks up the Mission: Impossible franchise for a successful fourth installment, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Tom Cruise returns as Impossible Missions Force agent Ethan Hunt. His mission, should he choose to accept it, is to stop maniacal nuclear terrorist Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist, Millennium) from creating a new world order after the United States and Russia blow up the planet in nuclear warfare.