Editing Zhang Yimou (section)

==== 2000&ndash;present ====
[[File:ZhangYimou-Hawaii.JPG|thumb|Zhang Yimou at the [[Hawaii International Film Festival]] in 2005]]
''[[Happy Times (2000 film)|Happy Times]]'', a relatively unknown film by Zhang, was based loosely on the short story ''[[Shifu: You'll Do Anything for a Laugh]]'', by [[Mo Yan]]. Starring popular Chinese actor [[Zhao Benshan]] and actress [[Dong Jie]], it was an official selection for the [[Berlin International Film Festival]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/26/movies/film-review-where-happiness-comes-in-small-dollops.html|title=FILM REVIEW: Where Happiness Comes in Small Dollops|first=A.O.|last=Scott|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=26 July 2002|access-date=15 April 2024|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411000000/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/26/movies/film-review-where-happiness-comes-in-small-dollops.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Zhang's next major project was the ambitious [[wuxia]] drama ''[[Hero (2002 film)|Hero]]'', released in China in 2002. With an impressive lineup of Asian stars, including [[Jet Li]], [[Maggie Cheung]], [[Tony Leung Chiu-Wai]], [[Zhang Ziyi]], and [[Donnie Yen]], ''Hero'' told a fictional tale about Ying Zheng, the King of the [[State of Qin]] (later to become the first [[Qin Shi Huang|Emperor of China]]), and his would-be assassins. The film was released in North America in 2004, two years after its Chinese release, by American distributor [[Miramax Films]], and became a huge international hit. ''Hero'' was one of the few foreign-language films to debut at number 1 at the U.S. box office,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E4DA1F3EF933A0575BC0A9629C8B63|title= Kung Fu Power for 'Hero' at Box Office|newspaper = [[The New York Times]] |date= 30 August 2004| access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref> and was one of the nominees for Best Foreign Language Film at the [[75th Academy Awards|2003 Academy Awards]].

Zhang followed up the huge success of ''Hero'' with another martial arts epic, ''[[House of Flying Daggers]]'', in 2004.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501040419-610119,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814221731/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501040419-610119,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2007|title=Zhang Yimou Interview| magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |author = Gough, Neil| date =12 April 2004|access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref> Set in the [[Tang dynasty]], it starred [[Zhang Ziyi]], [[Andy Lau]], and [[Takeshi Kaneshiro]] as characters caught in a dangerous love triangle. ''House of Flying Daggers'' received acclaim from critics, who noted the use of colour that harked back to some of Zhang's earlier works.<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/houseofflyingdaggers|title=House of Flying Daggers|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=14 January 2009}}</ref>

Released in [[China]] in 2005, ''[[Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles]]'' was a return to the more low-key drama that characterized much of Zhang's middle period pieces. The film stars [[Japanese people|Japanese]] actor [[Ken Takakura]], as a father who wishes to repair relations with his alienated son, and is eventually led by circumstance to set out on a journey to [[China]]. Zhang had been an admirer of Takakura for over thirty years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/18/content_504306.htm|title= Zhang Yimou's new film makes domestic debut| newspaper = [[China Daily]] |date=18 December 2005| access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref>

2006's ''[[Curse of the Golden Flower]]'' saw him reunited with leading actress [[Gong Li]]. Taiwanese singer [[Jay Chou]] and Hong Kong star [[Chow Yun-fat]] also starred in the period epic based on a play by [[Cao Yu (playwright)|Cao Yu]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/movies/21flow.html|title=Curse of the Golden Flower - Movie - Review| author = Catsoulis, Jeannette |newspaper =[[The New York Times]] |date=21 December 2006 |access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref>

Zhang's recent films, and his involvement with the 2008 Olympic ceremonies, have not been without controversy. Some critics claim that his recent works, contrary to his earlier films, have received approval from the Chinese government. However, in interviews, Zhang has said that he is not interested in politics, and that it was an honour for him to direct the Olympic ceremonies because it was "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".<ref name=nytimescrit>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/sports/olympics/08guru.html| title= Gritty Renegade Now Directs China's Close-Up|author=Barboza, David| newspaper = The New York Times|date=7 August 2008|access-date=1 January 2009}}</ref> In 2008, he won a [[Peabody Award]] "for creating a spell-binding, unforgettable celebration of the Olympic promise, featuring a cast of thousands" at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.<ref>[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/beijing-olympics-opening-ceremony-and-zhang-yimou 68th Annual Peabody Awards], May 2009.</ref> On 24 May 2010, Zhang was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree by [[Yale University]], and was described as "a genius with camera and choreography".<ref>[http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=7589 Citations for Recipients of Honorary Degrees at Yale University 2010] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609063247/http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=7589 |date=9 June 2010 }}</ref>

Zhang's 2011 ''[[The Flowers of War]]'' was his most expensive film to date, budgeting for $90.2 million,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?big_expectations_for_zhang_yimous_the_13_women_of_nanjing_16652.aspx | title = Big expectations for Zhang Yimou's The 13 Women of Nanjing | publisher = Asia Pacific Arts | date = 18 April 2011}}</ref> until his 2016 [[The Great Wall (film)|''The Great Wall'']] surpassed it with a budget of $150 million.<ref name="budget">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/great-wall-why-stakes-are-sky-high-matt-damons-150m-chinese-epic-956396 |title='The Great Wall': Why the Stakes Are Sky-High for Matt Damon's $150M Chinese Epic |author=Patrick Brzeski |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=15 December 2016|access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref> After the mixed reception and financial disappointment of ''The Great Wall'', Zhang returned in 2018 with the critically acclaimed ''[[Shadow (2018 film)|Shadow]]'',<ref>{{Citation|title=Shadow (2019)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shadow_2018|language=en|access-date=14 March 2019}}</ref> which received 12 nominations at the 55th Golden Horse Awards and won four, including Best Director.<ref>{{Cite web |title=台北金馬影展 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival |url=https://www.goldenhorse.org.tw/awards/nw/?serach_type=award&sc=10&search_regist_year=2018&ins=50 |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=www.goldenhorse.org.tw |language=zh-TW}}</ref>