WONG KAR-WAI
(1958- ) Hong Kong




"Wong’s avant-garde filmic aesthetic is composed of elliptical storytelling through the use of deeply drenched tones, slow motion, jump cuts and fragmented images. Although the notion of auteur is not entirely customary in Hong Kong where films are often shot quickly and marketed via their accessibility as popular entertainment, Wong’s status as auteur marks his position within Hong Kong cinema’s industrial environment and signifies his complete creative freedom and control of every facet of his films’ production."
-Elizabeth Wright, Senses of Cinema

"What is especially attractive about Wong's films is what might be called their 'mysterization' of everyday life, in the manner, perhaps, of the late Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski rather than Godard, to whom he is often mistakenly compared. Some critics have described this as an emphasis on mood rather than emotion, but it's more than this, because the mood always seems both unspecifiable and exact at the same time. This mysterization is achieved by employing sound and visuals in ways that few contemporary directors have managed, ways that transcend the norms of contemporary international cinema, which still relies heavily on on narration, dialogue, and conventional drama. Wong's films are sometimes dismissed because they are all 'surface' with no depth, but this presumes a mistaken and narrow understanding of how meaning must be achieved in film. His 'depth', if we must use the term, and thus the real source of his power, can be found on the surface."
-Peter Brunette, Wong Kar-wai


FILMOGRAPHY

1988 As Tears Go By
1991 Days of Being Wild
1994 Chungking Express
1994 Ashes of Time
1995 Fallen Angels
1997 Happy Together
2000 In the Mood for Love
2004 2046
2004 Eros (segment "The Hand")
2007 My Blueberry Nights
2008 Ashes of Time Redux
2010 The Grand Master
2010 The Lady from Shanghai


Recommended First Film: Chungking Express

I just brought this over from old DDD. You can change the rec'd first film if you want drew as you're a bigger fan. All I know is I haven't met anybody who hasn't loved that film when they first watched it and his 00's work tends to somewhat detached for newcomers.

My friends and I are doing this weekly thing where we rec each other a movie they should watch based on our tastes and since I'm very Asian influenced, I decided to rec him Chungking. I'm sure he'll enjoy it as he's already quite indie faggy and appreciates foreign films a lot (just a novice tho).

I'm actually going to start watching his other films and rewatch his 00's films which have left me cold upon initial viewings. But Chungking, shit I can watch that forever.

There was already a Kar-Wai thread on the third page, but I just deleted it.

Chungking is the correct choice. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the rest of his films!

Idk guys, I still think if Fallen Angels isn't redbold, then neither should Days of Being Wild (biased cause I haven't seen it), or 2046 (biased cause I think it's far and away his weakest)... even though the latter might be his most popular.

The acclaim and popularity simply isn't there for Fallen Angels to put it over 2046, which really does deserve red. I could see an unredding of Days of Being Wild.

Chungking Express was the best movie I've ever seen in my entire life for a total of one week and it's still a 10 in my book, and Fallen Angels was arguably just as good but suffered from sequel syndrome where, if I had seen it first, I probably would have enjoyed it just as much as CE, but unfortunately I saw it second and the effect couldn't be as profound.

Tried watching ITMFL, but just wasn't in the mood for some reason (honestly no pun intended).

Should add his section from eros and have it bolded.

1988 As Tears Go By 7
1991 Days of Being Wild 8
1994 Chungking Express 10
1994 Ashes of Time 7
1995 Fallen Angels 8
1997 Happy Together 9
2000 In the Mood for Love 10
2004 2046 9
2004 Eros (segment "The Hand") 8

1988 As Tears Go By 6
1991 Days of Being Wild 8
1994 Chungking Express 9
1994 Ashes of Time 7
1995 Fallen Angels 9
1997 Happy Together 9
2000 In the Mood for Love 9
2004 2046 8
2004 Eros (segment "The Hand") 8

what movies do you rate as a ten, dr00?

Right now only The Rules of the Game, It's a Wonderful Life, Stalker, Safe, Faces, and Frownland.

so what separates those from chungking express or taxi driver which i always assumed you rated as tens?

When I watch those six films my whole body is in a prolonged state of shivering.
10 - constant shivers
9 - masterpiece

I suspect Frownland will be moving down to a 9 soon. The only films there I never see leaving 10 status for me are Rules, Life, Faces, and Stalker. Safe might possibly slip some day.

what causes something to slip below 10 for you?

No longer being in a constant state of extreme euphoria/beautiful confusion/intense aliveness when watching it.