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Readers Talkback

• May 25, 2004 8:09:04 AM CDT

  Shooting will probably take 3-5 years.

  by godoffireinhell

  Which seems to be the norm now for WKW. Not that I mind if the result is as good as ITMFL but one has to wonder if maybe writing a script before starting to film would help? It's certainly an interesting technique of filmmaking to just grab some great actors and start shooting with nothing but a few ideas in your head but as has been proven by the endless shooting (and re-shooting) schedules of WKW's last few films it's also extremely time-consuming.

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  Subject

  Content Which seems to be the norm now for WKW. Not that I mind if the result is as good as ITMFL but one has to wonder if maybe writing a script before starting to film would help? It's certainly an interesting technique of filmmaking to just grab some great actors and start shooting with nothing but a few ideas in your head but as has been proven by the endless shooting (and re-shooting) schedules of WKW's last few films it's also extremely time-consuming.

• May 25, 2004 10:05:17 AM CDT

  there are 2 tony leungs in asian cinema....

  by darthbakpao

  which one that u meant?

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  Subject

  Content which one that u meant?

• May 25, 2004 4:26:17 PM CDT

  The Tony Leung in question is he of "Happy Together," "Hard Boil

  by jtylor

  And I was stunned that Tony had gotten that skilled for Hero, as well. This could be pulled off.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content And I was stunned that Tony had gotten that skilled for Hero, as well. This could be pulled off.

• May 25, 2004 8:38:45 PM CDT

  This could be good

  by buster gonads

  Dragon was OK as a bit of entertainment but as Moriarty pointed out it played loose and easy with the facts of Bruce Lee's life. What would make this one really wotrthwhile is if it concentrated on his Hong Kong life and his relationship with his master Yip man. A lot of the ideas that Bruce Lee used to create Jeet Kune Do was germinated in his formative years in Hong Kong.What I am hoping for is a movie that has more focus on his martial arts and not his film career or his romance with Linda Lee. And as much as I like Jason Scott Lee, it would be good to get someone who is a tiny little shit kicker rather than a strapping Hawaian surfer boy to play the ultimate tiny little shit kicker!

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  Subject

  Content Dragon was OK as a bit of entertainment but as Moriarty pointed out it played loose and easy with the facts of Bruce Lee's life. What would make this one really wotrthwhile is if it concentrated on his Hong Kong life and his relationship with his master Yip man. A lot of the ideas that Bruce Lee used to create Jeet Kune Do was germinated in his formative years in Hong Kong.What I am hoping for is a movie that has more focus on his martial arts and not his film career or his romance with Linda Lee. And as much as I like Jason Scott Lee, it would be good to get someone who is a tiny little shit kicker rather than a strapping Hawaian surfer boy to play the ultimate tiny little shit kicker!

• May 25, 2004 9:26:39 PM CDT

  WKW

  by billemic

  I will watch anything that WKW touches simply because he's a cinematic genius...the best director out there right now, in my opinion.

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  Subject

  Content I will watch anything that WKW touches simply because he's a cinematic genius...the best director out there right now, in my opinion.

• May 25, 2004 9:51:23 PM CDT

  Wong Kar-Wai is a filmmaker actually worth dick-riding

  by johnnyhotboy

  So many people post on here praising the work of amicable, but not extraordinary filmmakers. Granted, film is an industry where only the most lucky filmmaker and not necessarily the most talented are ever blessed enough for their work to see the light of day (or darkness of the auditorium, maybe I should say) but sometimes the work put out by those elite few is such bullshit. I don't think I've seen everything that Wong has done, but from the ones I have seen (Chungking Express, Fallen Angels, Happy Together) and that mystifying short on the BMW Films.com thing (The Follow, one of the greatest short films I have ever seen, period) this dude has more talent than blood running through his veins. His films are extraordinary because even with slow, often misguided paces you are completely enraptured by them, waiting every moment to see how it all turns out in the end. His films are just amazing--they stay with you long after you see them. I can't say that for some of the other filmmakers whose dicks frequently get rode on this site!

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  Subject

  Content So many people post on here praising the work of amicable, but not extraordinary filmmakers. Granted, film is an industry where only the most lucky filmmaker and not necessarily the most talented are ever blessed enough for their work to see the light of day (or darkness of the auditorium, maybe I should say) but sometimes the work put out by those elite few is such bullshit. I don't think I've seen everything that Wong has done, but from the ones I have seen (Chungking Express, Fallen Angels, Happy Together) and that mystifying short on the BMW Films.com thing (The Follow, one of the greatest short films I have ever seen, period) this dude has more talent than blood running through his veins. His films are extraordinary because even with slow, often misguided paces you are completely enraptured by them, waiting every moment to see how it all turns out in the end. His films are just amazing--they stay with you long after you see them. I can't say that for some of the other filmmakers whose dicks frequently get rode on this site!

• May 25, 2004 10:02:08 PM CDT

  Did anybody else look at that headline...

  by fatty mcjones

  and think it said "What's Wrong with War-making"?

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content and think it said "What's Wrong with War-making"?

• May 25, 2004 11:46:18 PM CDT

  DRAGON

  by jackburtonlives

  DRAGON was horrific. i felt cheated after watching that film. like an idiot, i thought a biography of his life would actually be about bruce lee's life. instead viewers were treated to totally fictitious scenes, storyline and various re-shot sequences from his films. why do i need to see some failed weightlifter who can't do any martial arts flailing about when i can watch bruce lee's films? what were they thinking. the whole thing seemed to be about his wife, for whom they got a boffo actress.... but then i again... i hear his wife was the creative director of the film... go... figure...

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  Subject

  Content DRAGON was horrific. i felt cheated after watching that film. like an idiot, i thought a biography of his life would actually be about bruce lee's life. instead viewers were treated to totally fictitious scenes, storyline and various re-shot sequences from his films. why do i need to see some failed weightlifter who can't do any martial arts flailing about when i can watch bruce lee's films? what were they thinking. the whole thing seemed to be about his wife, for whom they got a boffo actress.... but then i again... i hear his wife was the creative director of the film... go... figure...

• May 26, 2004 2:30:52 AM CDT

  Sophia Coppola is a hack

  by yay

  She stole outright most of the ideas from WKW movies like In The Mood For Love.
  
  Coppola fans will say it's homage and not stealing. But to fans of WKW or anybody who's has watched most of his movies will know that Coppola's LiT is a cheap copy of a WKW film.
  
  Most die hard fans of LiT defend it like crazy not because they thought it was an 'artistic' movie, but the REAL REASON is that most fanboys are mainly infatuated with Scarlett Johansson's pretty face....(and other assets 'flashed' in the opening titles)

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  Subject

  Content She stole outright most of the ideas from WKW movies like In The Mood For Love. Coppola fans will say it's homage and not stealing. But to fans of WKW or anybody who's has watched most of his movies will know that Coppola's LiT is a cheap copy of a WKW film. Most die hard fans of LiT defend it like crazy not because they thought it was an 'artistic' movie, but the REAL REASON is that most fanboys are mainly infatuated with Scarlett Johansson's pretty face....(and other assets 'flashed' in the opening titles)

• May 26, 2004 4:40:20 AM CDT

  Hey now, lay off Lost in Translation.

  by daddylonghead

  She acknowledged the influence, what more do you want? She's a young director still and at least she's being influenced by the best. Quit being assholes. LiT isn't the be-all and end-all, no, and may not have deserved all the hype ("Wow! An American Director Made Something That Isn't Totally Retarded! Huzzah!"), but it's a damn solid film on any terms and you all know it. Its racial politics are debatable, but I've seen LiT more than once (not by choice, date really wanted to) and it held up so well the second time through that I wouldn't object to a third. In conclusion, Wong-Kar Wai remains far superior, but give Coppola her due.
  

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content She acknowledged the influence, what more do you want? She's a young director still and at least she's being influenced by the best. Quit being assholes. LiT isn't the be-all and end-all, no, and may not have deserved all the hype ("Wow! An American Director Made Something That Isn't Totally Retarded! Huzzah!"), but it's a damn solid film on any terms and you all know it. Its racial politics are debatable, but I've seen LiT more than once (not by choice, date really wanted to) and it held up so well the second time through that I wouldn't object to a third. In conclusion, Wong-Kar Wai remains far superior, but give Coppola her due.

• May 26, 2004 6:40:38 PM CDT

  Ashes of Time and LiT

  by billemic

  Ashes of Time is a great WKW film, however, as far as I know the only available Region 1 transfer of the movie is *terrible*. I rented it on DVD from a local video store and while the movie was excellent they really did a shitty job on the DVD. As far as I'm concerned, all of WKW's movies need Criterion editions. That's the only way they'll get the justice they deserve. Also, keep in mind that WKW uses extensive monologues to detail his character's inner thoughts and emotions so that even when a character is simply doing nothing and looking lonely, you have something to learn about them and are kept engaged in the film. Lost in Translation, however, did not have any internal monologues so perhaps that's why some people found it "boring"...I for one really enjoyed Lost in Translation, I'm glad that Sofia at least acknowledged WKW, but at the end of the day we all know that WKW is light years ahead of Sofia in terms of skill and talent. But give her time. Sofia is still young, discovering her "voice". Don't write her off as a WKW rip-off just yet. She may surprise us. Remember, it's not where you take your material from - but where you take it too.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content Ashes of Time is a great WKW film, however, as far as I know the only available Region 1 transfer of the movie is *terrible*. I rented it on DVD from a local video store and while the movie was excellent they really did a shitty job on the DVD. As far as I'm concerned, all of WKW's movies need Criterion editions. That's the only way they'll get the justice they deserve. Also, keep in mind that WKW uses extensive monologues to detail his character's inner thoughts and emotions so that even when a character is simply doing nothing and looking lonely, you have something to learn about them and are kept engaged in the film. Lost in Translation, however, did not have any internal monologues so perhaps that's why some people found it "boring"...I for one really enjoyed Lost in Translation, I'm glad that Sofia at least acknowledged WKW, but at the end of the day we all know that WKW is light years ahead of Sofia in terms of skill and talent. But give her time. Sofia is still young, discovering her "voice". Don't write her off as a WKW rip-off just yet. She may surprise us. Remember, it's not where you take your material from - but where you take it too.

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