For some reason while I agreed with many of the points you raised about this film, the comment about Zhang infuriated me.

That is strange for me because I do indeed know that taste is entirely subjective–as with many things..but I just never thought that someone would say Ziyi’s performance was “terrible”. I mean from what you claim–”bland”, “unaffecting”, “dissapointing” would be better adjectives–but “terrible”?

So once again I’d have to consider the extremely subjective nature of these kinds of things..but I don’t see what else she could’ve done. I do indeed have a bias because I’m a huge Ziyi fan, but initially only for her cuteness–it wasn’t until “The Road Home” (actually her first movie–a drama with Zhang Yimou) and now “2046″ that I found her to be an amazing actress. Many claim that this is the best performance by far she’s ever given–and I entirely agree.

If your complaint is that she has soulless eyes–I’ve never been able to understand comments like that anyway–perhaps her looks–in particular her eyes just fail to affect you–but in that case how does an actress make their eyes have “soul”? It’s the same as comparisons in music between certain pop singers who try to sing soul and of course–soul singers–the argument of one having soul and the other sounding mechanical. In that case aesthetic concepts such as soul are so subjective in nature themselves and perceived differently by everyone–that I wonder how anyone can even decide *solidly* that something has or does not have something like soul.

And now I have ranted far too much–and for that I am truly sorry haha.
But yes. I love Zhang and thought she was amazing.
But Faye Wong was the best in this movie..IMO…she captivated me in every scene she was in.

I checked out your review and agree with the tone of it, if not with all the specifics. ;)

I saw it at the Seattle International Film Festival in May, and both screenings were sold out, with extremely excited audiences waiting for the lights to dim. I’ll say that the mood of the audience after the show was pretty quiet, and a little restless and a bit relieved that the film was over (it IS long, and more importantly FEELS long).

Personally I think Zhang Ziyi’s plot was the best part of the film. I think she is proving her worth as an excellent dramatic actress that is so much more than just an action super-star. Her character broke my heart. This 45 minute or so chunk of the film was most involving for me.

Gong Li seemed just sort of thrown in almost as a cameo, like, “Look! Gong Li! OK, she’s gone!” and I felt she was wasted. Why bother putting her in a film if you are not going to use her?

Yes, I agree that Tony Leung and Faye Wong have wonderful chemistry, and their plot was rather sweet, but it seemed so completely unrelated from the Zhang Ziyi story, that I wish that WKW would just chop up the film into more satisfying short stories, rather than stringing them together unsuccessfully. Yes, I know it is his style (like Chungking Express and Fallen Angels), but you have to admit it sometimes works better than others. In the Mood for Love was his strongest film, I think, because is was his most focused.

Oh, and I thought the sci-fi re-enactments were distracting and unneccessary.

So! There’s my review! :)

Cheers,
Linda

this film almost did it for me, but not quite. christopher doyle’s work was beautiful as usual, and the plot - while echoing days of being wild & in the mood for love - became a tad too convoluted to evoke any deeper understanding of the themes that wkw taps into over and over again (love, loss, memory & a very buddhist understanding of emptiness/fullness).

i have to agree with your critique of Zhang Ziyi. she sort of ruined the film for me - not because of her character - but i found her performance to be very hollow, forced, lacking in any maturity, and frankly somewhat annoying. i think people are taken by her good looks, but honestly (as someone who speaks mandarin) she does not strike me as a great actress. i don’t think she was appropriate for this film.

that being said, faye wong and tony leung were absolutely marvelous.

i’d like to watch 2046 a second time to see how my opinions change, but honestly all this talk just makes me want to watch in the mood for love instead.

A good review. To each his own, I beg to differ on Ziyi Zhang though. I thought she was amazing.

***SPOILER****

Especially once the tables turned and she was the one who wanted him to stay. Tony Leung “the man” to be able to get her to beg him. Oh yeah!

I’ve just seen 2046 and yes it can feel a bit long, yes the dialogue can be somewhat banal. I was noticing this in the first 20 minutes. But the film morphs, the pieces come together and the mood grabs hold of you and suddenly details seem unimportant; Like a Rembrandt painting where you don’t judge a blot of color but the collage. I thought the acting was great, I LOVED Zhang Ziyi and Leung. The soundtrack is haunting, mesmerizing at times.

I think great art conveys nuanced emotions that cannot be conveyed in a non artistic medium. Yes, if I will analyze this movie I can find a lot of flaws but the sadness it conveys is so elusive yet so powerful. I can compare it to Maborosi or even Ozu’s works. I wouldn’t argue that In the mood for love is more economic, but I think 2046 is a worthy follow up, and a masterpiece in its own right.

This was the emporer’s new film if I ever saw one. Except it felt like two or three. It was like watching celluloid dry. Pretentious, overly long, confusing, and inane. No story becomes “mysterious”, bad dialog becomes “poetry.” Poor acting becomes mood. Since when is cinematography enough to make a film good?

I live this to. You make for good to me. I live the sight.

maaannn did you say you fell asleep? lol, i dont even think its worth spoending much time answering this review, just an advise, watch the movie a few times until you get the point of it. i just done understand how can people write reviews about films that go far beyond their capabilities.

Hey Gopal! Actually I said I had to pinch myself to stay awake during Ziyi’s performance. I was remarking how her acting was far from compelling. I wasn’t saying that I fell asleep.

It’s an okay film, but definitely not one of his best.

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[...] auctions off her virginity, is comical rather than beautiful. I have remarked before about Ziyi’s acting ability, but this time even Kris mentioned she had the range of a “rubber doll.â [...]

oo…i love 2046!!! not neccessary the movie, but more because of the hot actors!! hehe..

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