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From Director Wong Kar Wai comes the definitive version of Ashes of Time, an epic martial arts masterpiece of larger-than-life characters, breathtaking landscapes and exquisite fight scenes. The story centers on Ouyang Feng (Leslie Cheung), a heartbroken and cynical man who spends his days alone in the desert, connecting expert swordsmen with those seeking revenge and willing to pay for it. As Ouyang narrates his tale, interweaving the stories of his unusual clients, old friends and future foes, he begins to realize the mistakes of his own past, and how his fear of rejection may have led him to a life of exile.

DVD Features

    * Born From the Ashes: The Making of Ashes of Time Redux

    * Q&A with Wong Kar Wai

Cast and Crew

    * Stars: Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung, Brigitte Lin

    * Director: Wong Kar Wai

    * Producer: Sung-lin Tsai

You want Ashes of Time Redux in your library. Screenhead has one available for giveaway. Please post your name once and we will pick the winner Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

Popularity: 1% [?]

It seems that in the world of cinema, all roads do lead to the US. Even in China, with a self-sustainable film industry and an audience base of over one billion, many of its directors immigrate. One of the best examples is Ang Lee, who after the success of Eat Drink Man Woman went on to make Sense and Sensibility, the Ice Storm, and eventually win an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain. Another example is the lesser -known but equally-talented Wong Kar Wai, who made the touching drama Chungking Express and the beautiful and atmospheric In the Mood for Love. And following suit, this week sees the release of Wong Kar Wai’s first English-language film, My Blueberry Nights.

The film attempts to embrace one of the US’s most typical genres: the road movie. Elizabeth (Norah Jones. Yes, that one) attempts to exorcise the ghosts of her last relationship by going on a journey of self discovery. Starting in New York, as she discusses her past with a lonely café-owner (Jude Law), her journeys have her encounter a cop who resorts to alcoholism to block out his ex-wife, and a gambling addict with a miserable history of her own.

If this doesn’t sound particularly interesting, that’s because it isn’t. Of course, Wong Kar-Wai’s films never sound like much on paper. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]