I have the Rolling Thunder Pictures edition of this DVD is there another edition?
is that the kino dvd?
The criterion blu ray :) favorite dvd in my collecion
This film is to Asian cinema as Pulp Fiction is to American cinema
Completely Overrated and not representational of the great films being made by other, better artists from the same time and place.
“This film is to Asian cinema as Pulp Fiction is to American cinema”
uncalled for and quite an innacurate statement. I am perfectly fine with that film being the gateway for many people into Wong’s oeuvre, and Chinese cinema in general. Its a great film. Now “Asian cinema” is such a broad generalization I dont know how anyone can pick one film to represent the entire continent as you did.
and WKW is arguably one of the better artists of the 90s :/
The best film I have ever seen, yet it is so hard to put its brilliance and its effect on me in to words. It’s a tale of the people we almost get to know, the encounters that almost occur, the way someone who you meet only for a short while can have the hugest effect on your life, on your outlook, on who you are. It combines a certain realism – the looks at chance, the story often being built on tiny moments rather than huge arcs, the sublimely beautiful camerawork in the first half that lights the film entirely by neon signs – with a certain escapism. The emotions feel real, and yet the characters yearn so much as to take us with them on their flights of fancy. Wong’s incredible usage of style only emphasises this and is genuinely exciting with the kineticism he brings to the film. And meanwhile there’s a delightful sense of humour throughout (the film is funnier than a lot of good comedies) and a wonderful ability to enchant.
Berjuan, I would heavily recommend getting the Criterion edition, though not so much for the picture quality as for its subtitles. Criterion went out of their way to add another layer of clarity to the translations that was previously missing, making much of the dialogue not only smoother but also more enjoyable.
Jason, I can see your angle, but would argue that Pulp Fiction (which I’m not a big fan of) is more groundbreaking in structure and style while Chungking Express is a film based on mood and emotion. The latter receives its praise from those who enjoy it for its passion, while the former, I believe, enjoys an artificial aura of being important.
That being said, I prefer both In the Mood for Love and Days of Being Wild over Chungking Express.
Nice review, Cecil.
@Deq
Thanks for the information about the subtitles in the new criterion edition. I think this was my least favorite of WKW’s films—although it was almost my first (and I didn’t really have a good grasp of his aesthetic). But your comments motivate me to seek this out and watch it again.
I’ve been a little hesitant to make the move to Blue-ray but this is making me change my mind.
Thanks Deq and Sek.
Cecil
I like youre review too.
“This film is to Asian cinema as Pulp Fiction is to American cinema”
worthless statement. Asia is not a country, and CE is great.
I love this movie, absolutely. I’ve watched it once a month for every month this year so far, and I plan to continue to do so. It is just that magical, that delightful, that impressive. I don’t think it’ll get old for me (here’s hoping!). Especially after seeing more Wong films – for some reason, the more I see of his, even if they’re very similar stylistically, the more I feel this is truly original (although that is not to discredit every other of his films!).
Savvy
solaphides
I have seen the film a number of times but it seems to me that every time I watch this film it brings a sense that I am seeing it for the first time again. I always wanted to believe that the woman in blonde wig is Faye (although I knew she’s not) and that the original May is the stewardess. Has anyone ever experienced this too?