dotinthesky: (Default)
[personal profile] dotinthesky
What a nice surprise it was to discover last night that Ziyi Zhang had a role in 2046. She's not only an amazing actress but also one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen on screen. She reminds me of a young Kate Moss, but with more refinement -- perhaps a little like Audrey Hepburn. Yet, there's something about her that is all her own, that cannot be compared to any other actress or beautiful woman.

It was hard getting into 2046's pace, but once the story became clear it turned into a great film to watch. I loved how the main character (a pulp author) lived in Wanchai, a place still renowned for its seedy hotels and prostitutes (oh, how I miss Hong Kong sometimes!) I kept waiting for scenes on streets that I knew as a teenager, but there were none; Hong Kong has changed so much since 1967 (the time in which the film is set) that I can see how difficult it would have been to have exterior shoots that captured that lost period. Instead, the director concentrated the story in the rooms 2046 & 2047 of the hotel, and in the memories of the writer. The soundtrack was brilliant; it made me think of my mother and whether she listened to the same music at the time (she was 22 in 1967 and she collected classical records just like the owner of the hotel.) And how brilliant was it to have a science-fiction story whithin a story set in the 60s? It reminded me of the novel Cloud Atlas, specially with reference to the android lovers.

I need to see 2046 again and pay closer attention to the story's chronology (the jumps back & forward were slightly confusing). In the end, I wasn't sure if the pulp writer's return to Singapore was a search for the young prostitute or the Black Widow. Perhaps it didn't matter, or was left as ambiguous as possible since the writer himself didn't seem to know who he loved.

on 2006-01-30 08:21 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com
Have you seen "In The Mood For Love"? If not, watch it and watch "2046" again, as the chronology makes more sense.

There are also characters from "Chungking Express" and "Days of Being Wild" that pop up in "2046". As with all Wong Kar-Wai films, the more you watch, the more you enjoy. He's a fucking genius.

on 2006-01-30 09:12 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
The only other film of his I've seen is "Happy Together". Yet again, I feel as if I should see it again because although I enjoyed the film, it seemed like a second viewing would shed more light on the story. I enjoyed his use of colour, his melodrama, and his very sensuous take on the characters. It's different from what other Hong Kong directors do, which I appreciate a lot. I'll definetly keep an eye out for the movies you mentioned, maybe even check the libraries near me for them. They have a reasonable selection of Asian movies, so I might be lucky.

on 2006-01-30 11:00 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com
Wong Kar-Wai is amazing. One of my favourite directors. His films are like having some kind of wonderful dream that you want to stay in but you know, even when you're having it, that you can't. There's always such an aching melancholy within the lusciousness. You should really see "In The Mood For Love" as "2046" is a continuation of it (of sorts), with Tony Leung playing the same character... I have it on DVD if you ever want to borrow it, although I'd probably recommend getting the proper version as mine is the Region 3 HK DVD with some very peculiar 'Engrish' subtitles.

on 2006-01-30 11:27 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
Oh, I love those "Engrish" subtitles: couldn't escape from them when I lived in Singapore and Hong Kong. ;-)

Well, if I can't find them anywhere, I might take up your offer. :-) Cheers!

on 2006-01-31 05:44 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] idioticpoet.livejournal.com
You're absolutely right...that was a good movie.

on 2006-01-31 10:41 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
Glad you liked it too. :-)

Kung hei fat choi, Ollie!!!

on 2006-01-31 05:11 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] la-mascherina.livejournal.com
Oh oh oh! I could wax lyrical all day about Wong Kar Wai and all his films, but don't worry I won't, I haven't had my breakfast yet.
I agree with naturalbornkaos above, the film will flow more coherently if you have seen "In the mood for love".
You will appreciate that soundtrack as well.
I saw 2046 before Christmas here in NY, I left the cinema quite homesick, even though like you say you don't see much of the city. For me it's the whole mood, style and how he shows the inner stillness and heartache in the hustle and bustle. Plus two of my friends/mentors worked on the costumes for it, so I miss them and the bombsite that was our workshop.
Give "ChungKing Express" a look if you can get a copy, you may squeal when you recognise more of the places.
Right breakfast time.

p.s Thank you for the nudge. : )

Re: Kung hei fat choi, Ollie!!!

on 2006-01-31 05:25 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
You are welcome (for that nudge); good to hear from you.

I could imagine that you would also feel homesick after seeing his movies. Makes me wonder when will I ever have the chance to visit Hong Kong again, walk through the old streets I knew well, even go to my old high school, or the places I used to go in the weekends as a teenager.

on 2006-02-04 10:26 am (UTC)
izzybees: (Default)
Posted by [personal profile] izzybees
Kar Wai is wonderful. See In The Mood for Love and watch 2046 again, and also watch Chungking Express - that one is my favourite of his.

on 2006-02-04 11:26 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
Library visit today! ♥

on 2006-02-08 04:11 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] backburner.livejournal.com
Maybe you already found this out, but I believe the scenes set in the 1960s Hong Kong were filmed in Macau.

on 2006-02-08 04:39 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
Oh, I didn't know that! The exterior scenes were so few however... makes me wonder why they chose Macau if they could have easily found some places in Kowloon or on the island. Maybe it's cheaper to film in Macau? :-)

Profile

dotinthesky: (Default)
Dot in the Sky

June 2024

S M T W T F S
       1
2 3 45 6 78
91011 12131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Sep. 24th, 2025 04:59 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios