Short Reviews of Wong Kar Wai Films

As Tears Go By, 1988

Wong Kar Wai showed his rebellious intention of unwilling to compromise to commercialized HK film industry with this feature debut wrapped up cleverly in an audience favorite gangster-themed subject. Though the filmmaking was very rough, you can still tell that this is a very unconventional HK movie. Even Maggie Cheung once said it was Wong who enlightened her acting talent. But I believe it was Jacky Cheung who got the showiest role. The repeating Cantonese cover of "Take My Breath Away" by Sandy Lam still sounds so classic in the film.

Days of Being Wild, 1990

A massive leap for Wong from "As Tears Go By," he proved himself the most daring and worthy HK director with this deeply nostalgic piece about people can never find a substitute comfort if they never had a root where they feel belonging to in the first place. Even so, they would still be obsessed with finding that root which they may never find. The film was so beautifully made with the big name cast to celebrate the born of a new master together. A great first chapter of what I call the "Nostalgia for the 60's" trilogy.

Chungking Express, 1994

The most stylish modern urban tale ever made, and Wong only took a very short time to make it. It contains two parts, the first part is an opposite-attraction story with a double meaning, the second part is a hide-and-seek, lost-and-found story. The characters from different parts passed by each other which I think responded to Kieslowski's chance theme. It seems like borrowing from "The Double Life of Veronique," but this is what makes it even more interesting to me. Faye Wong's film acting debut was unforgettable with her cool Cantonese cover of the Cranberries's "Dreams."

Ashes of Time, 1994

After so many years, it hasn't gone with the wind like its title. Instead, the film gradually became a cult's favorite. Wong was probably the only director who insisted to film a martial art piece in actual locations instead of in the studios. He was notorious for the endless spending and delaying, but he is ironically esteemed now for his insistence, especially after the huge success of Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger." Even it's loosely based on the favorite wuxia novel "The Eagle Shooting Heroes" by Louis Cha, the film continues Wong's constant theme of the regrets and loss of love.

Fallen Angels, 1995

The originally-planned third act of "Chungking Express" is actually very far from the delightful tone. This more experimental piece by Wong is a daring mix of film-noir and black comedy. It also can be seen as a modern extension of "Ashes of Time" with a contract killer, a killer's agent, a woman who seeks revenge and a deaf guy who tries to get attentions. All of them found nowhere out tragically, but after the depressing and self-destructing process, Wong still gave us a brighter ending.

Happy Together, 1997

Wong made this film with a multiple meaning. As HK people tried to get away to the other side of the world because of the return to China in '97, Wong took them there with two gay characters who were inspired by Rainer Werner Fassbinder's themes of loneliness and isolation. "Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves" which was composed by Peer Raben in Fassbinder's "Querelle" can be used to describe the relationship of the leading roles perfectly. But instead of actually leading them to death as originally planned, he gave them a chance to be reborn or to regret and atone which everyone should get as well.

In the Mood for Love, 2000

The long anticipated Wong Kar Wai film didn't fail everyone's expectation. It continues the simple two-character act of "Happy Together" and surrounds them through out the entire film. This following chapter of the "Nostalgia for the 60's" trilogy arrived 10 years later with the character who showed up at the very end of "Days of Being Wild" and finally became a real part. To me, it inherits the suspenseful atmosphere in Michelangelo Antonioni's "Eclipse" which keeps the audience hanging and craving for more after the end.

2046, 2004

The final chapter of the "Nostalgia for the 60's" trilogy is Wong's most ambitious work to date. It went back to the multiple storyline of "Days of Being Wild" and "Ashes of Time" with a big name cast again. Though it was nothing like "In the Mood for Love" which everyone anticipated, it's still very fascinating and full of Wong's trademark signatures. To many people, it shows Wong's self-indulgence. To me, it proves that Wong is still the same person who is unwilling to compromise as he was when he released his debut back in the 80's.

Eros, 2004

This whole project was to celebrate Antonioni, but his part was ironically the least favorite of all three parts. But the collaboration by three of the most celebrated filmmakers alive is still very much worth to celebrate. Wong's part is acknowledged as the best with a simple story surrounds a young tailer and a high-class prostitute which has rich metaphors. Soderbergh's part is very experimental and playfully interesting. The master's part is mostly about the presentation of the erotic images, but it either shows it all or nothing depends on different perspectives.

My Blueberry Nights, 2007

Wong's first English feature returned to the delightful with a slightly sentimental tone of "Chungking Express." Regrets, loss and heartbreaking characters, Wong mixed all his old materials and make it into a collaged road film as a homage to the classical American genre. Norah Jones feels like an extension of Faye Wong without the mysterious and careless. David Strathairn and Rachel Weisz's part was a reprise of "Happy Together." Natalie Portman's gambler responds to Gong Li in "2046." As for Jude Law, he's the delicious blueberry pie that no one orders except for Jones.

To Each His Own Cinema, 2007

Another collection of short films which gathered the 33 distinguished directors/co-directors in the world to express each of their point of views about their passion, cinema. It is a feast for movie buffs but too few of the segments can actually impress the audience. Wong Kar Wai's part was poetic as always but not as memorable as his other short films. The most impressive ones were still from the provoking directors such as Cronenberg, Polanski and von Trier. Lynch strangely became an Easter egg in the DVD.

Ashes of Time Redux, 2008

The martial art classic was finally restored which it definitely deserves to be. Instead of made only for a new DVD/Blu-ray release, Wong decided to re-edit and re-score it to make it a re-release to the theaters. But Wong's director's cut is even shorter without ever picking up the footages on the editing room floor. The quality is for sure enhanced, but the presentation of this redux apparently doesn't satisfy all the die-hard cult fans.