China Moon

China Moon is solid ’90s thriller with a high-quality screenplay. With no chance to reveal the point in advance, confusing interpolations and characters driven into a corner more than you would expect. And with an ending that is (unfortunately) no longer very much in fashion. What prevents it from getting a higher rating is “only” the lack of value added of more creative directing, which would have turned mere high-quality craftsmanship into a distinctive work with reach. That melancholic jazz soundtrack by George Fenton is literally asking for as much. For Polanski, for example. (14.04.2020)

A brilliant genre film that in some aspects (the main femme fatale, the music, the rain) evokes modern noirs like Basic Instinct. The performances are undeniably excellent, and the script is also very good. The dialogues are unusually sharp and incisive, especially coming from the charismatic Ed Harris. The screenplay is well-crafted and the plot is solid – occasionally slightly confusing, but manageable. The actions of the main characters are believable, which is the most essential aspect considering the film's context. The ending is unexpectedly brutal, but definitely worth it. A surprisingly little-known, yet exceptionally well-executed piece that outshines many more famous peers in terms of quality. (25.12.2006)

This isn’t great. It's quite awkward in terms of the plot and you know how it's going to turn out, even if the film thinks it's screwing with you. However, because of the actors, it's quite entertaining and good to watch, even if some of the screenwriting moves may downright bother you. Plus, it has the right retro touch. How time flies... (25.01.2018)