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My take on the triology (and the order) SPOILERS

posted 12 years ago by hexedd
2 replies | jump to latest

I was introduced to Wong Kar Wai's films recently and I've been blown away by how beautiful they are. I actually watched 2046 first, not knowing it was a trilogy, and really enjoyed it but was a bit taken aback by all of the references and feeling like I was missing so many details. At first this was disappointing, but then I found the other two, and watched Days of Being Wild second and then In the Mood For Love third. I must say now I think that perhaps by a sheer stroke of luck that was the best order I could've seen them in. Even though it messes up some of the chronology, Days of Being Wild is kind of the "outlier" of the three in my opinion, and since it really seems to be about introducing the empty playboy type who Leung's character eventually becomes (due to not being able to have his one true love) it doesn't really matter if you watch it first. Then seeing In the Mood for Love third allows you to get a sense of the "build-up" to Leung starting as a gentleman and romantic at heart who later (in 2046) becomes a playboy because he can't love someone else like Su Li-zhen. So in a weird way, I almost feel like watching the trilogy in a 3-1-2 order works quite well, because it's almost like as a the viewer you are as disoriented and "lost" as Chow Mo-wan is and then watching In the Mood for Love third allows you to "remember" what he was like in the beginning. I know this sounds somewhat strange, but that's my theory and I wonder if anyone agrees. Like I said even if it messes up the chronology as far as dates it doesn't really matter because "time" is not really what the movies are about, it's more about feelings and "time" only really matters in that it holds those memories; when they happened isn't as important as what happened. Any thoughts on any of this?

[–] ChazzJazz 12 years ago

Good read, but i wont be watching the other two....coz am wary of imbd ppl recommendations, eg Mr Nobody LOL

2046 looks to stand on its own. 2046 WKW's masterstroke that he learnt from the other two.

In 2046, the playboy falls in love with the hotel owner's daughter, but she doesnt return his affection coz she reads all his sexcapades, and doesnt want to be his substitute (ITMFL)

Then he gets involved with the neighbour, and rejects her because she was a bit clingy (Days of Being Wild).

Then he remembers Su Li-zhen, both of them, (ITMFL) THE LATEST rejects him as well coz she too doesnt want to be a substitute.

New Su Li-zhen and the lulu storylines are too abrupt,

Ultimately, i am a SCI FI buff, and there s a Blade Runner script in there somewhere with the Androids and the BR lighting.

Amazing OST

[–] ChazzJazz 12 years ago

good review here

Ultimately, the biggest problem with 2046 is that it's simply too much Wong Kar-Wai. It's ironic that a film about choosing change over static existence would spend so much time reliving "Wong Kar-Wai's Greatest Hits." Within the first twenty minutes of 2046, Wong Kar-Wai goes back to In the Mood for Love and Days of Being Wild—and the self-reflexive nods to his previous work just keep coming. Still, complaining about all of this is exceptionally nit-picky because within its bloated exterior 2046 possesses many moments of fine, fleeting beauty that make it well worth a viewing. Minute gestures, moments of emotional longing, and the eclectic soundtrack all help make 2046 a wondrous cinematic experience—it's just that the final product isn't as successful as Wong Kar-Wai's other works. This is likely a reaction to enlarged expectations, and 2046 certainly pumps them up with its pseudo science-fiction interludes (which are intriguing, but not capitalized on), massive cast of "It" names, and allusions to greater historical and cultural significance. It all becomes a bit too much, and 2046 can't match its nominal aspirations. But even a partly-successful Wong Kar-Wai film is head-and-shoulders above most of the stuff out there. (Kozo 2004)

http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/2046.htm

My take on the triology (and the order) *SPOILERS*

My take on the triology (and the order) SPOILERS