Don't listen to the negative reviews

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I came across this movie on Hulu last night by accident, after failing to stream two other movies, and am overall glad I decided to "settle" for it. It definitely could have been better in several ways, but the historical/legal aspect of it, set in transitional 90's Communist China is actually pretty outstanding and memorable. As one other user commented, the Chinese acting is perfectly convincing and even frightening in how realistic it is, but unfortunately Richard Gere's character is a little too...I don't know, idiotic? for my liking. Still, I wouldn't say he single-handedly ruined the movie.Reading the production notes and trivia on here is interesting to me because it shows how the producers really did capture the reality of what goes on in Red China. I visited all over China and Lhasa, Tibet, right after the olympics and can vouch that the same legal situation still exists there today. In Beijing, we drove by a large, concrete and windowless court-building with the CCP emblem (seen many times in the film, and omnipresent in China in general) and when asked what the building was, my tour guide just responded plainly, "That's where you go to die." For a foreigner, yeah, it might take a murder or espionage charge to keep you imprisoned indefinitely over there, but for Chinese citizens, many crimes are still punishable by execution without a fair trial, just as the film accurately portrays.So, if you're into Chinese history or culture, then this is definitely worth watching, even more than once. If not, then don't watch it.

Jack Moore, a high-profile international lawyer, is in China for business. Moore sleeps with a young woman, and wakes up to find her dead in his bed.Falsely accused of murder, Moore's only chance is his Chinese advocate Yuelin.The rules and laws are different, and Moore must convince Yuelin of his innocence and unravel the chain of events that entrapped him...One cannot deny that Gere is very good in this movie, it's one of his best roles without Julia Roberts being involved, but the whole thing is a little overlong, and very boring.It's not Geres fault, it's the script and the narrative just plods on and focuses too much on him alone and complaining that his earphone/telephone isn't working.But it wouldn't hurt to just have a couple of exciting scenes? The one scenes with him running toward the embassy is a little too late, another case of a deceptive trailer.so all in all, Gere is good, film isn't, and it all has a 'Rising Sun' feel to it

this is a great murder mystery/psychological suspense thriller.this time it's Richard Gere who owns film.just a year earlier,Gere was in a movie called "primal fear,in which he played opposite Edward Norton.Norton owned that film,with his performance,and Gere does the same with this film.the film takes place in China,where an America lawyer(Gere) is on business.one morning,his world is turned upside down,as he finds himself accused of murder,with what seems an ironclad case against him. him.he must fight to free his name,all the while battling the corrupt Chinese government and justice system.this movie,like "Primal Fear,will have you on the edge of your seat,right to the end.Gere is brilliant in this here.i highly recommend it.for me,"Red Corner is mesmerizing.as a result,i give it 9/10

This film was interesting for me because I had been in China last year. I must say I was surprised to learn that most of it actually was done on a California set. (Maybe that explains why there was no smog. Bejing is seldom free of it.) I also like Richard Gere. But come on guys... The plot is pretty far fetched. I know nothing about Chinese courts. But it's unlikely there is much in the way of Perry Mason law or that a Chinese judge would be intimidated by or even allow American style courtroom histrionics. The mandatory Hollywood "humping scene" is about ten minutes into the film. But it serves a purpose inasmuch it anchors the subsequent plot. Interesting? Yes. Exciting? It has its moments and you just know that in addition to the mandatory "humping scene" there would be a mandatory "high speed chase." There is... With a bike and with a sprint across the roofs. It's an okay movie. But there are too many holes in the plot, too many stereotyped Chinese characters and too little understanding of Chinese culture in which losing one's temper is an unforgivable loss of face.