"The 1937-38 massacres and rapes in conquered Nanking are dramatized with flawed but unflinching horror in this grim, epic lament." - Bill Weber

Great cinematography and effective.

Lavishly produced and very aesthetic, but I don't know if that's what I look for in war cinema.

In black and white, because... well Schindler's List was in black and white! It's artistic! A passable war dramatization, not helped by the melodramatic acting reminiscent of early sound films of the 30s. Characters could have been developed more, too. The main villain doesn't get his comeuppance. Meh.

Beautifully shot, aptly structured and on the whole cinematically sound, but 1) cotinues to aestheticise war, 2) exploit unpleasant sights, 3) dissovle into various tropes. As images and sound alone, an exemplary film, but as cinema and as a transmitter of ideology, neither insightful nor interesting. (http://nouvellesvague.tumblr.com/post/280033398/city-of-life-and-death)

Emotionally draining.