WKW

[The 8 Ball]

The thread to my second favorite director, Wong Kar-wai.

Favorite WKW Film: Ashes of Time
Favorite male performance in a WKW film: Leslie Cheung, Ashes of Time
Favorite femal performance in a WKW film: Maggie Cheung, In The Mood For Love
Favorite character in a WKW film: The Killer's Agent (Michelle Reis)

[laurus]

I also like Wong Kar-Wai. After I saw In The Mood For Love, I went to my video store and rented everything they had by him. I can't wait till 2046 comes out (d@mn him for taking two years to finish each film! He would work on a film forever if he could, changing this, perfecting that...:) ) I guess I'll follow your lead.

Favorite WKW Film: It changes...but right now...Happy Together
Favorite male performance in a WKW film: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in ChungKing Express, Jacky Cheung in As Tears Go By
Favorite female performance in a WKW film: Maggie Cheung in In The Mood For Love
Favorite character in a WKW film: Both cops in ChungKing Express

And the music in his films is always great.

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by laurus
And the music in his films is always great.

Couldn't have said it better myself! I listen to the soundtrack of In The Mood For Love daily. It has become my favorite movie soundtrack ever.

Okay, well I came here aiming to start a Wong Kar-Wai thread but a quick search revealed one already exists.

In The Mood For Love is my third favorite movie of all time (note the avatar :D). It's a wonderfully poetic, realistic and moving love story that EVERYONE should see. I watched it again the other night (I've seen it quite a few times) and every time I see it I discover something new.

Kar-Wai's directing style in this film has the ability to reveal more in a single shot or sequence than 10 pages of dialogue could ever manifest.

http://www.chinesecinemas.org/images/itmfl1.jpg

Anyway, that's enough about ITMFL for now, I'm sure I'll have time in the future to post more of my thoughts on it. For the moment I'm trying to go through all of his filmography.

Tonight, it will be Chungking Express. :)

I'll post my thoughts on the film tomorrow.

[Lynn Minmei]

I haven't watched a single WKW film yet...But I plan on watching ITMFL very soon.

[Hannibal21]

My dad is a big fan of Wong Kar-Wai and I hope to see more films of him.....but right now, what I've seen I've simply ADORED.

In the Mood for Love, Fallen Angels, Ashes of Time, and Chungking Express are all fabulous, beautiful movies. Especially In the Mood for Love, it took me a couple of viewings to get used to the film but once I did, I realized the greatness to it. With it's haunting score, beautiful costumes, great atmosphere, flawless acting and great chemistry between the two leads, it truly is a magnificent piece of work. His film scores are just GREAT to listen to, somewhat haunting but extremely beautiful. I love the guy.

[Indiana Sev]

Wow!

I honestly thought the rest of Kar-Wai's films wouldn't compare to In The Mood For Love, but Chungking Express, which I saw last night, comes pretty goddam close!!

Tony Leung once again amazed me (the man is supercool) and Faye Wong (in her first film role) completely blew me away. Quentin Tarantino comments about the film in the extra features and he states that he doesn't know of anyone who didn't develop a crush on her after seeing this film; I understand why. She is completely mesmerizing.

Kar-Wai is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors, his quick, stylised directing in Chungking Express is a complete 180 from the style used in In The Mood For Love, he's obviously got a very wide range and a great imagination and I expect most of his films to be just as unique in style and substance.

I also liked how he once again dealt with themes of love in this film but he explored them in a totally different manner from ITMFL. I cannot recommend this film enough, it was yet another beautiful, original and exciting film from Wong Kar-Wai.

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/images/directors/02/chung2.jpg

On to the next WKW flick...

Oh, I almost forgot, Faye Wong's Chinese (or Cantonese? :confused: ) version of The Cranberries "Dreams" is amazing!

[Indiana Sev]

There is a possibility that his latest "2046" will be an official entry at Cannes this year. With Tarantino being head of the jury this year (and huge Wong Kar-Wai fan) there is a good chance it will win the Palme D'or.

2046 is easily my most anticipated movie of this year. I've already waited way too long for this...

[Cosimo]

Brilliant director, Fallen Angels is one of my favourite flicks and In The Mood For Love and Chungking Express are both very impressive, im also in love with a girl from Hong Kong.

[JCPhoenix]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev
There is a possibility that his latest "2046" will be an official entry at Cannes this year. With Tarantino being head of the jury this year (and huge Wong Kar-Wai fan) there is a good chance it will win the Palme D'or.

2046 is easily my most anticipated movie of this year. I've already waited way too long for this...

well now that it's out it seems that reactions to the premiere were positive but didn't seem overly so.

then again, i'm guessing it's the type of film that grows on a person, or that a person needs time to think about?

in any case, I'm excited for 2046. it looks really good, and the storyline sounds interesting. i guess i have to go back and actually watch some of wong kar wai's films lol.

does anyone know just how much of a sequel 2046 is to in the mood for love? do i need to see that do you think to appreciate 2046?

in any case, i'm going to try and rent in the mood for love in the next couple days...i was veyr near renting it a couple years ago but then i think amores perros caught my eye instead. (which was a good thing anyway cuz i love that movie)

[Moosem216]

Originally posted by JCPhoenix
i guess i have to go back and actually watch some of wong kar wai's films lol.

does anyone know just how much of a sequel 2046 is to in the mood for love? do i need to see that do you think to appreciate 2046?
I think you'll be fine without it. In the Mood for Love was pretty good, but was definitely not his best. If you get a chance, check out Chungking Express and Fallen Angels. They're sort of sister-movies by him, and both incredible. Happy Together is brilliant as well. Actually, everything by him is amazing; he is one of my favorite directors of all time. In the Mood for Love isn't his best though; I would definitely recommend checking out his older stuff instead.

[Lynn Minmei]

2046 premeired at Cannes.

From what I've heard, like most of WKW's films, it's beautiful, moody, and full of emotions.

Unfortunately, most critics can't decipher the plot, making repeat viewings very helpful.

But, the real clincher is that few of the reviews I've read seem to be bothered by the incoherent nature of the movie, as the emotional factor is the vertebrae of the movie.

It's already getting early Palme D'or buzz.

[Indiana Sev]

Anyone have a clue as to when the North American release will be for 2046?

[fevers]

I'm really interested in seeing 2046 myself. Though I have no idea when it would be released in the US.

As for his other films, I've only seen Chong qing sen lin (Chungking Express) and Fa yeung nin wa (In the Mood for Love) and they are both AMAZING.

I hope to get a chance to see more of his work, he's definitely one of my favorite foreign directors.

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by La Motta
Brilliant director, Fallen Angels is one of my favourite flicks

http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/~jwang/wkw/fallen_angels.jpg

Saw it for the first time last night, a very good romantic drama but not quite great, in my opinion. Some incredibly inventive camerawork once again by Kar-wai, but I just didn't think the screenplay/story was up to par with the other two films of his I've seen so far. I can see myself possibly liking it more on future viewings though...

WKW films so far...

In The Mood For Love (2000) - 10/10

Fallen Angels (1995) - 7/10

Chungking Express (1994) - 8/10

[BlueBilby]

My favorite director.

My ratings for his movies that I have seen are:

In the Mood for Love: 8/10
Chungking Express: 10/10
Fallen Angels: 9/10
Mongkok Carmen (aka As Tears Go By): 7/10
Ashes of Time: (6/10)

Chinese Odyssey (Prod. by WKW): 6/10
First Love: the Litter on the Breeze (Prod. by WKW): 7/10 (definitely weird)
Hire: The Follow (BMW short): 7/10

I usually rate harsh, but Chungking Express really blew my mind, and has the same effect on me everytime I watch it. It's in my top 5.

I've been meaning to watch Happy Together and Days of Being Wild. I even have the DVDs at home, but have never been in the mood to watch them...

Maybe this weekend. Maybe tonight...

PS: One question do you consider WKW to be a "cult" director, like Tarantino?

[HanasaMO]

In the Mood for Love was my first movie that was directed by WKW. I thought in the mood for love was amazing which made me eager to find every moive WKW directed.
My favorite film of his is Chungking Express , I give it a 10/10.
I'm looking forward to his 2046.

[Hannibal21]

Whoo! 2046 opened here at China a few days ago and today I finally got the chance to see it for the very first time.....

.....I'm still confused, and hypnotized, and stunned, at the same time......I don't know how to rate it, I don't even know that I love it, but I can say that it will be a really great treat to anyone who's a WKW fan. It's got all the ingredients that makes his style so identiable.......BEAUTIFUL music, imaginitive design and art direction, hypnotic cinematography, the man delivers! And we've got some of Asia's finest actors that includes Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Gong Li, and Maggie Cheung (but she's only in the movie for like, say, less than 2 minutes) delivering accomplished performances. However, I'm still very stuck on the storyline, and although entertaining, about one hour and fifteen minutes into the movie (it's exactly 2 hours) I simply got lost as to what Wong is actually trying to convey. It's way more confusing and complicated than his previous movies IMO (and at some parts, it's slightly pretentious), and one that'll need countless watches from me if I can make up my mind on what grade I would give it. I simply can't decide now. My intial reaction to the movie was most audiences' initial reaction to films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Mulholland Drive.

So far, my favorite WKW film is still In the Mood For Love.

[JCPhoenix]

sounds awesome hannibal21...i'm excited for 2046, it looks awesome. I'm actually going to watch In the Mood for Love in about 5 minutes :)

[JCPhoenix]

just finished it...wow that was a ...beautiful movie.

i'm not sure i get the last part in the temple (actually i got lost durign parts of the last 15-20 minutes, mainly because the subs didn'ts how up at the title cards that were shown several times during the last part so i didn't realize that time had passed, etc) but all in all the movie is amazing. the direction is - wow, just amazing (some of those shots are incredible) and the chemistry between tony leung and maggie cheung...what a pair of great performances. The best parts of the movie for me were easily the parts where they played out what their spouses might've done...the tension there was just so authentic.

it's a beautiful movie that does move a bit slowly but that was fine by me as it was still incredible to watch. For now I'd give it an 8/10 until I have some more time to think about the movie.

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by Hannibal21
Whoo! 2046 opened here at China a few days ago and today I finally got the chance to see it for the very first time.....

.....I'm still confused, and hypnotized, and stunned, at the same time......I don't know how to rate it, I don't even know that I love it, but I can say that it will be a really great treat to anyone who's a WKW fan. It's got all the ingredients that makes his style so identiable.......BEAUTIFUL music, imaginitive design and art direction, hypnotic cinematography, the man delivers! And we've got some of Asia's finest actors that includes Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Gong Li, and Maggie Cheung (but she's only in the movie for like, say, less than 2 minutes) delivering accomplished performances. However, I'm still very stuck on the storyline, and although entertaining, about one hour and fifteen minutes into the movie (it's exactly 2 hours) I simply got lost as to what Wong is actually trying to convey. It's way more confusing and complicated than his previous movies IMO (and at some parts, it's slightly pretentious), and one that'll need countless watches from me if I can make up my mind on what grade I would give it. I simply can't decide now. My intial reaction to the movie was most audiences' initial reaction to films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Mulholland Drive.

So far, my favorite WKW film is still In the Mood For Love.

Great review, thanks for including it here. If I don't get a release date for 2046 in North America soon, I'm going to self-implode.

In the meantime, I'll try and see a few of his films that I haven't seen yet. Happy Together will be the next one I try...

[The 8 Ball]

I got the mainland Chinese DVD of 2046... which you can buy at www.monkeypeaches.com

It's really Wong Kar-wai's best film. It's his masterpiece. It's his best constructed film. It's his epic. It's only a little better than Ashes of Time. Great performance from Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Faye Wong.

10/10

I'm expecting Oscar consideration for this in 2005

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by The 8 Ball
I got the mainland Chinese DVD of 2046... which you can buy at www.monkeypeaches.com


What's its region number? Will it play on a North American DVD player?

[Cosimo]

Wong Kar Wai's style is beautifu, Fallen Angles is a masterpiece in my opinion and l cant wait for 2046

[KLash]

wow now theres a film that makes you think. just finished watched Wong Kai Wai's 2046 and its quite a strain on the old brainbox to try and comprehend exactly what the director is trying to portray within this picture.......as has been mentioned previously in this thread, numerous repeat viewings will be necessary.

** SPOILERS BELOW**








Chow Mo Wan (Tony Leung) is a newspaper writer in the early 1960's who in the beginning of the film moves from Singapore to Hong Kong to pursue a furtherment in his writing career. He is in love with a woman named Su Lizhen (who reappears later in the film as another woman but chancing to have the same name), and asks her to go with him to Hong Kong with him, they play the card game 'High-Low' ......he loses, therefore his boat trip is a single ticket.

Upon setting up in a hotel within Hong Kong he begins a good relationship with his hotel landlord Mr.Wang who has two daughters, the eldest of which Wang Jing Wen (played by the wonderfully cast and very beautiful Faye Wong) is in a relationship with a Japanese man, much to her father's absolute disgust.

Already it becomes clear that Chow is quite the ladies man. Forced to move into room 2047 as 2046 needs tidying up, due to an attack on a singer Lulu (Carina Lau), he spies a new resident in 2046 once the room is tidied Bai Ling (Zhang Ziyi). Bai Ling as one of many women in Chow's life, perhaps steals the most limelight, perhaps because it is the one he truly loves? perhaps because it is the only one within the film he forms a sexual relationship with? She plays a prostitute, which in my opinion only keeps increasing Chow's PlayBoyish attitude towards women.

Their relationship continues for some time, but eventually with some protanganistic remarks from Chow not helping the situation, Bay Ling achieves her dream of moving to Singapore. This sees the re-enterance of Wang Jin Wen, and this is where the story finally beginnings to get down the nitty gritty of "2046". Here Chow sits and writes the story, after reading some of Wang's amateur works, basing his characters on the women he has met in his life. The book for some reason decidedly called "2047" by Chow :/ ? describes a train journey, to a place where you can live in forgotten memories........and a place where nobody ever returns......apart from one man (a futuristic alter ego of Chow himself). I feel this is most likely Chow looking at his own life as a train journey, one which for the moment is lasting forever and his destination if he ever finds it, is the love of his life. [However i was kindof confused as to the true meaning, so as said before repeat viewings will be needed].

His writing gives inspiration to Wang Jin Wen, Chow even allows her to finish some of his writings, and she eventually faces up to her father and goes to the man from Japan........another woman lost from Chow's life.......one more returns in Bay Ling. This time for a short rendevous with Chow, whom she has been supposedly missing greatly......despite having gained $5000 from an elder client of hers the night previous to their meeting which she intended on repaying Chow with. Chow again seems to toy with her and ends their meeting back at the hotel........another woman lost from Chow's life.........one more returns in Su Lizhen, this time however played by Li Gong. As a mysterious gambling expert she intrigues Chow and helps him back out of debt so he can return to Hong Kong (having left a couple of years before) and once more she falls for him as he does for her....and then for some reason, one which i am unable to assertain he leaves her too....i think it was due to the fact she would not journey with him, so he asks her to search him out when she changes her mind.

The ending of the film is pretty melodramatic, ending as it begun with the ritual saying of what happening on train 2046, this time however not set within Chow's futuristic novel but with Wang himself lying prone and pensive on a real train.




..........so i was left impressed but confused. The acting is absolutely stunning all round, Tony Leung is immaculate as Chow, although his character does get a little uptight for my liking by the end. Of the ladies my favourite Faye Wong as Wang, she was just so innocent and believeable, i truly felt for her plight to be with her Japanese lover! she in fact shouldve been used more in this film IMHO. Zhang Ziyi as Bay is also very well portrayed, although frankly a little annoying and whiney, a defiante step in Zhang's ever bettering career though!

the scenes created and the atmosphere are what held me to this film the most though. i cannot think of a superlative to sum them up better than superb, truly breathtaking. WKW creates ambience in almost every moment, he ahs the ability to tell a 1000words in just one scene. Stunning lighting and use of prop all create a very real environment.

My overall thoughts on this film are definately positive, but with a few minor let downs. It is a truly remarkable piece of filming deserving on the acclaim it is gaining, however i slightly feel that WKW is the reason for the film slight failing, he tries to be almost too creative, leaving the viewer (at least me anyway lol) confused.......however still intrigued to want to learn more. The acting is excellent as is the scenes set but i feel some change in how much scene time each of the main women get may have helped to improve things, for instance more of Faye Wong's story.

It was a long journey getting to 2046, one that has left me a little confused. So i will have to be one of those few people that does return from this place only to ride this mystical train ride of life again, to try and better comphrehend its true meaning :D

9/10

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev
In The Mood For Love (2000) - 10/10

Fallen Angels (1995) - 7/10

Chungking Express (1994) - 8/10

Well, I can finally add my rating for 2046 to the mix.

2046 (2004) - 9/10

I just saw it once the other day and it'll take repeated viewings but it definitely left a strong impression on me, much like Kar-Wai's other films. With the casting of Li, Wong and Ziyi, Kar-Wai must have set a record for the most beautiful trio of actresses ever cast in a movie.

Add to that another haunting and memorable score.

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=2046/v=2/SID=e/l=IVI/SIG=12e5npos1/EXP=1111074198/*-http%3A//filmbrain.typepad.com/filmbrain/images/2046_wkw.jpg

[bob]

2046 is my most anticipated film right now, period. If America ever sees its release, I'll be first in line. Just the sentence Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi, and Maggie Cheung makes me slightly aroused, and Tony Leung is a fantastic actor as well.

In The Mood For Love has slowly itched towards 10/10 for me ever since I bought it over Christmas. The film is literally perfect, its only flaw is that a couple scenes MIGHT be too long.

If the new film is half of what In The Mood For Love was, it'll easily be the best film of the year.


**Wong Kar-Wai fan for life**

[Fisting Ackbar]

Only seen IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE and 2046, though both were great. I do feel the need to give them repeated viewings just to let them sink in better, but that won't be much of a problem since I own both.

My videostore has CHUNGKING EXPRESS, will try to check that one out at some point. I'm also curious what Kar-Wei's segment of EROS is all about.

[Greenaway]

Nice to see that Wong gets some recognition here, too.

I've seen all of his films, and own all of his films, including 2046, and have not yet found none which I wouldn't like. Even though some are less important (like Happy Together) than the others, in my books they are still better than most films poured in by most film-makers. In fact, only Peter Greenaway and Béla Tarr come close from the active directors, and when considering that Tarr has made two full-feature films in the past 9 years, the third being in the works, and Greenaway is absurdily unknown for the mainstream, it's great that someone I appreciate gets attention they deserve.

By the way, what is in the name, as it appears to be immensely difficult to most foreigners (that is people outside of Asia) that it is Wong that is the last name? Not that it would be wrong to call him Wong Kar-Wai, as in China they do write, and if I'm correct, pronounce the last name first, but it is rather humorous when people refer to him as Mr Kar-Wai. It doesn't sound as polite as intended, as wouldn't most of us find it quite strange to call Peter Greenaway as Mr Peter?

[bob]

Originally posted by bob


If the new film is half of what In The Mood For Love was, it'll easily be the best film of the year.


And it is.

Not quite as good as In The Mood For Love, but, like Sev, I'd give them a 10-9 on the scale. Tony Leung is great again, but I was really blown away by Ziyi Zhang. She's always been one of my favorite actresses, but in this film she takes her craft to a whole new level. Her rapport with Leung is easily the best part of the film.

I loved how WKW expanded on In The Mood For Love in this flick, but he may have expanded on it a little too much, making for a somewhat confusing film, but I think I picked up on most of the broadstrokes.

I see...a repeat viewing.

9/10

[Fisting Ackbar]

Originally posted by Greenaway
but it is rather humorous when people refer to him as Mr Kar-Wai.

I just noticed that I was guilty of that in my previous post in this thread, and that while I was aware of the fact that Wong is his last name. http://www.joblo.com/forums/images/icons/icon4.gif

Guess I won't be doing that again

[Gian-Sergio]

Favorite WKW Films:Chungking Express and Happy Together
Favorite Male Performance In A WKW Film:Tony Leung in Happy Together
Favorite Female Performance In A WKW Film:Faye Wong in Chungking Express
Favorite Character In A WKW Film:Lai Yiu-Fai(Tony Leung) in Happy Together

Chungking Express, Happy Together, and In The Mood For Love are excellent films.

Days Of Being Wild is a good film.

I havn't seen Fallen Angels and As tears Go By, but I own them on DVD. The Wong Kar Wai Collection