lacking something
Added 8/31/2009
Nice music,nice performing, nice -yeah, beautiful actors- and a feature lacks of something anyway as "Additional scenes" in DVD Extras testify to.
Up till date, Happy Togetheris the best work of Kar Wai-Wong, believe it or not to!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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I'm definitely in the mood for more of this movie...
Added 4/2/2009
There are few films that can match internal beauty with visual splendor quite like Wong Kar-Wai marvelous `Fa Yeung Nin Wa'; a film that is intoxicatingly rich in character development as it is in the vast array of color splashed across each of Maggie Cheung delicately designed garments.
The film tells of Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan, two neighboring tenants in an apartment building in Hong Kong, circa 1962. Though they only meet and or converse in passing they soon uncover that they have a terrible reality in common; their spouses are engaged in an affair. Determined not to fall into the same trap of infidelity, they form a close platonic bond with one another, frequenting the same restaurants and spending a lot of time talking and confiding in one another. There is an apparent chemistry, and it becomes obvious that there is a longing for one another, but they remain at a distance so as not to disrespect their own dignity.
What we are left with then, is a breathtaking look at restrained affections.
I want to just take a minute to talk about director Wong Kar-Wai. I've made statements before in my reviews of `Chung Hing Sam Lam' and `My Blueberry Nights' that I didn't understand what the draw was to this director, and that my experiences with those two particular films made me question whether I should look into his work anymore. This film alone is so incredibly good (seriously, one of the top twenty films I've EVER SEEN) that it makes up for any previous concerns and or notions I've had towards this director and compels me to watch everything he's made. I don't see how he could ever top this (or how any director could really top this) but I am more than willing to give the rest of his films a go.
Why, you ask.
What Wong Kar-Wai does here is effortless transference of emotional connection. In other words; he paints such a vividly captivating picture that he evokes in us an immediate reaction, playing on our own internal feelings and drawing out of us a personal connection to the events unfolding on the screen. With images that linger on the screen for long periods of time; symbolic clouds of smoke lifting to the ceiling; rich expressions of color gracing a dimly lit room and that constant emotional tenseness that just captures the ultimate meaning in it all; `Fa Yeung Nin Wa' is so incredibly detailed that one could watch it multiple times and still catch something new with each sitting (case and point; I've seen in four times this past week and I still feel it has so much more to tell me).
The material is elegantly handled by its two stars, Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung. Both actors have proven themselves time and time again, but this may be their most committed and ultimately most rewarding performances. They each understand their characters, the pain of betrayal, the fear of loneliness, the desire to be complete. They just `get it' and so each scene is elevated by their emotional connection to the material. Cheung is especially captivating, delivering one of the best performances of the year with her smoldering internal struggle to fulfill herself.
I recommend this film without any hesitation and plead with you to see it. There are few films that can achieve what `Fa Yeung Nin Wa' has achieved. This is an emotionally stimulating visual feast that is as thought provoking and intelligent as it is beautiful.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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gorgeous movie
Added 12/28/2008
You will not be able to take your eyes off the screen. This movie is breathtakingly beautiful and it showcases some of the best acting on earth. Much of the story is told with body language and facial expression rather than with words, and the direction and cinematography are brilliant. In my opinion, this is one of the all time greatest movies ever filmed.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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another great move
Added 10/15/2008
This movie is one of my favorites, the look, the music the wardrobe,the love story, great all round and i'm sure you will agree
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Best movie ever !!!
Added 9/2/2008
If you're a real movie fan, this is one of the movies that you must see. This criterion collection edition of this classic is incredible, excelent extras and great package.
The only problem was that it arrived 2 weeks later than the date it was supposed to.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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lacking something
Added 8/31/2009
Nice music,nice performing, nice -yeah, beautiful actors- and a feature lacks of something anyway as "Additional scenes" in DVD Extras testify to.
Up till date, Happy Togetheris the best work of Kar Wai-Wong, believe it or not to!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
I'm definitely in the mood for more of this movie...
Added 4/2/2009
There are few films that can match internal beauty with visual splendor quite like Wong Kar-Wai marvelous `Fa Yeung Nin Wa'; a film that is intoxicatingly rich in character development as it is in the vast array of color splashed across each of Maggie Cheung delicately designed garments.
The film tells of Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan, two neighboring tenants in an apartment building in Hong Kong, circa 1962. Though they only meet and or converse in passing they soon uncover that they have a terrible reality in common; their spouses are engaged in an affair. Determined not to fall into the same trap of infidelity, they form a close platonic bond with one another, frequenting the same restaurants and spending a lot of time talking and confiding in one another. There is an apparent chemistry, and it becomes obvious that there is a longing for one another, but they remain at a distance so as not to disrespect their own dignity.
What we are left with then, is a breathtaking look at restrained affections.
I want to just take a minute to talk about director Wong Kar-Wai. I've made statements before in my reviews of `Chung Hing Sam Lam' and `My Blueberry Nights' that I didn't understand what the draw was to this director, and that my experiences with those two particular films made me question whether I should look into his work anymore. This film alone is so incredibly good (seriously, one of the top twenty films I've EVER SEEN) that it makes up for any previous concerns and or notions I've had towards this director and compels me to watch everything he's made. I don't see how he could ever top this (or how any director could really top this) but I am more than willing to give the rest of his films a go.
Why, you ask.
What Wong Kar-Wai does here is effortless transference of emotional connection. In other words; he paints such a vividly captivating picture that he evokes in us an immediate reaction, playing on our own internal feelings and drawing out of us a personal connection to the events unfolding on the screen. With images that linger on the screen for long periods of time; symbolic clouds of smoke lifting to the ceiling; rich expressions of color gracing a dimly lit room and that constant emotional tenseness that just captures the ultimate meaning in it all; `Fa Yeung Nin Wa' is so incredibly detailed that one could watch it multiple times and still catch something new with each sitting (case and point; I've seen in four times this past week and I still feel it has so much more to tell me).
The material is elegantly handled by its two stars, Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung. Both actors have proven themselves time and time again, but this may be their most committed and ultimately most rewarding performances. They each understand their characters, the pain of betrayal, the fear of loneliness, the desire to be complete. They just `get it' and so each scene is elevated by their emotional connection to the material. Cheung is especially captivating, delivering one of the best performances of the year with her smoldering internal struggle to fulfill herself.
I recommend this film without any hesitation and plead with you to see it. There are few films that can achieve what `Fa Yeung Nin Wa' has achieved. This is an emotionally stimulating visual feast that is as thought provoking and intelligent as it is beautiful.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
gorgeous movie
Added 12/28/2008
You will not be able to take your eyes off the screen. This movie is breathtakingly beautiful and it showcases some of the best acting on earth. Much of the story is told with body language and facial expression rather than with words, and the direction and cinematography are brilliant. In my opinion, this is one of the all time greatest movies ever filmed.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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