I've never seen so much memorable touching quotes in a single movie.
The most beautifully incomprehensible thing I have ever seen. An act of wuxia meditation. The inaction of action in martial arts. Melodrama painted large. I loved it... I think.
I have yet to see a Sirk film, but I can't imagine his films to get more melodramatic than Ashes of Time. We all know that Wong Kar Wai is a visual master - this film doesn't disprove that. The story, however, is a complete mess and the editing doesn't help it. While many elements of the plot connected with me, I felt that the film was too disjointed to leave any lasting thoughts or feelings. A rare miss from Wong.
can we not compare this to godard pls it's nothing like his movies
It was a bit hard to get a grip on what this film and it's narrative were really about, but it didn't matter as I liked it just as a dreamlike abstract wash of scenes, characters and gorgeous colours. I enjoyed it very much.
The landscape as a mirror, reflecting the characters' inner turmoil, solitude and grief. No conventional plot to speak of, but fragments of memories scattered across the fields, the play of light, and the poetic voiceover create a two-way confessional between protagonist and viewer. Faint traces of Godard - the voice on the landscape: mournful, tragic, contemplative - but anchored by Wong's whirling melodrama.
Wong Kar-Wai lost me here. If some thought his other films were slow, then this films pacing is set at the lowest it could possibly be. I found it's images and plot frustrating and confusing. Maybe I'll have to re-watch it but I think its one of his weakest efforts.
The Cinematography in this film is amazing. The insane colors create an almost surreal atmosphere. This one sucked me in from ther start and kept me thinking. I loved it!
The past is not forgotten
Ou-yang Feng: "People say, when you can't have what you want, the best you can do is not to forget. "
"...the root to Man's problems is memory. Without a past everyday would be a new beginning."
Probably the best Wuxia ever made. Visually stunning and amazingly deep, I found this film both enjoyable and beautifully conceived. It has instantly become one of my all time favourites!
this is probably the most visually beautiful film i've ever seen...but honestly, what the hell just happened?
Gorgeous film that looks back at a genre but still seems about 15 years ahead of its time visually.
The visuals were incredible but the story didn't grab me like WKW's other films have. Overall an enjoyable experience 4/5.
Very beautiful to took at. Deeply thought-provoking.
If only half of the films made were half as good as this one!.....Amazing martial arts battles reflect the battles of the characters with their inner demons.
the most hypnotic, colorful, musical, fluid and cult like for Wuxia films. WKW speaks his own amazing language on every style of films he makes.
the Redux is even more amazing..
Only seen it once, but this was the only Kar-Wai Wong film I didn't enjoy at all, I found it boring.
this is not the typical WKW's work, melodramatic heady subtle romance type. being one of his earlier work during a time before who he is now known as, an AUTEUR. Martial arts being the mainstay of chinese cinema, I thought WKW did a great job in redefining not only the look but the purpose of the martial arts film-typology in that it is not a good triumph over evil film. excellent film.
I think it's a terrible film. The fight scenes are so ugly that I can't fathom it. Shaky camerawork combined with jerky slow motion equals ugly and blurry images- you can't see what's going on. WKW or is it KWW? who I admire, should stick to what he does best: existentiel mood pieces.
