Shadow Magic (2000)
75%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 11 nominations
Shadow Magic is a film that takes us back to a time when cinema was still in its infancy, and the magic of moving pictures was still a novelty. Director Ann Hu creates a world that is both beautiful and charming, with strong characters that are both relatable and endearing. While the film may occasionally be corny, it is also low-key and charming enough to make you forget about its flaws. Shadow Magic is a sweet and charming story that is perfect for anyone looking to escape into another place and time.
Shadow Magic is a movie that takes us back to the early days of cinema in China. Critics have praised the film for its humane touch, charming story, and beautiful world. Roger Ebert, however, thinks that the subject matter could have been trusted more instead of being shaped to fit a formula. Despite this, the movie is a sweet evocation of a world on the verge of change. It’s a film about film, and Hu’s love of the medium’s storytelling power shines through every frame. So, if you’re looking for a movie that will transport you to another place and time, Shadow Magic is the perfect escape. Plus, it’s so low-key and charming that you might not even care about its occasional corniness.
Production Company(ies)
Jigsaw Productions, Wider Film Projects Below The Radar Entertainment,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for brief mild language
Year of Release
2001
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 55m
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Language(s):English, Mandarin
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 2001 Wide
Genre(s)
History/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Jared Harris, Yu Xia, Peiqi Liu, Liping Lu, Yufei Xing, Jingming Wang, Raymond Wallace, directed by Ann Hu, written by Ann Hu, Dan Huang, Bob McAndrew, Kate Raisz, Louyi Tang, History, Drama, PG, $149.3K box office, reviewed by Roger Ebert, Charles Ealy, Loren King, Marjorie Baumgarten, Curtis Morgan, Michael O’Sullivan, Betsy Bozdech, Emanuel Levy, Philip Martin, Eric D Snider, produced by Ann Hu, Sony Pictures Classics, MPAA rating, Chinese, Feng Tai Photo Shop, Peking, Lord Tan, Madame Ren, Ling, Old Liu, Master Ren, Victrola, Western novelties, traditional Chinese society, cinema, moving pictures, turn of the century China, Englishman, movie projector, Hollywood films, Chinese films, culture
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $149,258
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $251,543
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,497
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Yu Xia – Liu Jinglun (Liu Zhonglun)
Peiqi Liu – Master Ren (Ren JingFeng)
Liping Lu – Madame Ren
Yufei Xing – Ling
Jingming Wang – Old Liu
Director(s)
Ann Hu
Writer(s)
Ann Hu, Dan Huang, Bob McAndrew, Kate Raisz, Louyi Tang
Producer(s)
Ann Hu
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (14)
Why not trust the subject matter instead of shaping it all to fit a formula?
May 18, 2001 | Rating: 2/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
Makes us appreciate what today’s audiences take for granted: the miracle of the cinema.
May 17, 2001
Charles Ealy
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Gives us a glimpse of what it must have been like to be mesmerized and seduced by images that still convey magic and mystery.
May 17, 2001
Loren King
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
A sweet evocation of a world on the verge of change.
May 7, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
There is a humane touch here missing from so many modern movies.
April 27, 2001
Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
It’s a film about film, and Hu’s love of the medium’s storytelling power shines through every frame.
April 20, 2001 | Rating: 4/5
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A sweet, charming story based on the real-life story of the advent of moving pictures in China at the turn of the century, it’s the perfect escape into another place and time.
October 21, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com
June 12, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
April 22, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
September 18, 2002 | Rating: C
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com
In her debut film, director and producer Ann Hu creates a beautiful world with strong characters, both main and supporting.
September 17, 2001 | Rating: 76/100
Ryan Cracknell
Apollo Guide
Despite the fact that it’s occasionally corny, Shadow Magic is also so low-key and so charming that you might not care.
June 29, 2001
Jeff Vice
Deseret News (Salt Lake City)…
Plot
In 1902 Peking, a chief photographer at a photo shop becomes fascinated with Western novelties, including the newly introduced motion pictures, and must navigate the clash between traditional Chinese society and the rapidly changing world around him in “Shadow Magic.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Shadow Magic on Fresh Kernels.
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