MovieChat Forums > Chung Hing sam lam (1996) Discussion > Disappointed

Disappointed

posted 17 years ago by GoldenPilgrim
30 replies | jump to latest

I hate to say it, mostly because this DVD was a blind buy rather than a rental, but I was pretty disappointed by Chungking Express.

While the directing and cinematography were absolutely SUPERB(!) I really couldn't get into the story, which I blame mostly on what I thought was poor acting (except for Tony Leung), I seriously could NOT stand to watch Faye Wong's character for another second.

Don't get me wrong, Wong Kar Wai is brilliant, and this movie was interesting definitely had it's moments, I just felt that the acting and character development were poor.

But hey, it looks like it's just me, everyone else is raving about it.

[–] franzkabuki 12 years ago

Well it certainly does leave much to be desired when it comes to any discernable substance, as it were - it´s essentially just a fairly vapid story about the daily inconsequentialities of some aimlessly meandering Chinese (or Hong-Kong´ian, whatever) airheads. Also, the way a wide array of various behavioural quirks these characters indulged in, was foregrounded, at some point started to unpleasently remind me of Jean-Pierre Jeunet´s loathsome hackjob Amelie... but, fortunately, it was ultimately reigned in before it got truly excessive. But, yeah, other than the film´s absolutely phenomenally shot - it´s fancy, flashy and stylistically allover the place, but never feels actually feels insistently showy, incoherent or overbearing for it the way, say, Oliver Stone´s detours on such messy territory invariably end up. There´s always a great sense of pacing and visual rhythm to the visual excesses, and Karwai repeatedly nails the appropriate mood with absolute perfection. All of those flourishes just ´feel´ right - as an example of pure technique, it might even be ´better´ than Tarantino´s Pulp Fiction from the same year... well, `might´. So, yeah, it´s indeed mighty impressive for a story - or stories, the two-act structure, with the movie unapologetically hitching a different ride midway through, also being something that greatly pleases/amuses - that holds little to no weight otherwise. A really entertaining little number to watch. 8-8,5/10.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] nmheavy 11 years ago

I first saw this movie in the cinema in 1995 and HATED everything about it. I only bought it on VHS as I was studying mandarin and cantonese, yet with every new viewing I liked it a tiny bit more, and also, saw something 'new' in it. Then I met a friend who loved it and since then it has entered my top 5 film list of all time.
CHUNGKING EXPRESS is an acquired taste, but once u acquire it u won't want to stop watching it.

[–] witster18 11 years ago

I hate it when people say that other people "don't get" a film...

but with some of the different criticism's in the op and responses... PEOPLE JUST DONT GET THIS...

maybe my fave movie of all-time... hypnotic, surreal, haunting,.. and there are so many 'connections' for the two stories... so many subtle little touches.. visually brilliant, but so much more is there with multiple viewings..

[–] Cherubim1 11 years ago

I'm sorry but this film was an incoherent and pretentious mess. The lame attempts at surrealism and existentialism were laughable and made the film more cheesy than anything else. The narrative and acting was poor and the only saving grace this film had was the stylish cinematography.

Massively over-hyped and ponderous.

5/10

[–] aihesyh 11 years ago

i just think this is a touching movie and have watched many times,some lines i can recite. but that is movie, someone likes others may not,that is also a Wong Kar-Wai style movie, very fit who in love affairs to feel, even neglect the acting, somewhat a custom, and the eastern way of expressing emotion is implicit..

[–] splat_baseball51 11 years ago

I agree entirely. The first Wong film I saw was In the Mood for Love. I absolutely loved it. I immediately wanted to see other films by Wong. Unfortunately, I felt disconnected with the characters in Chungking Express. Visually it left much to be desired compared to the beautiful colors and set design in In the Mood for Love. The movies aren't even in the same league and anyone who says they are is just fooling themselves.

If you've only seen Chungking Express by Wong, don't pass on In the Mood for Love, it is far superior.

In the Mood for Love: 9.5/10
Chungking Express: 6/10

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] paul-index 10 years ago

Faye's character is one brilliantly played complex image.
Lot's of scenes are metaphors.
Lot's of characters actions are metaphors, so they portrayed on thin edge of realness.

Great, compound picture.

[–] Zamolxe 10 years ago

Agreed, Faye Wong ruined it. Go watch Ashes of Time (redux) and In the Mood for Love. Much better movies. Fallen Angels is also better and has a really hot babe in the cast.

[–] Counthaku 10 years ago

I really enjoyed Chungking Express when I saw it a few years ago but I tried watching it again recently and couldn't get into it. I think it really depends on your place in life.

When I saw it the first time I was drawn to the direction and cinematography to be sure, but also to the enigmatic character played by Faye Wong, who seemed to be totally crazy yet simultaneously fascinating. Add to that her rendition of "Dreams" and the trademark Wong Kar-wai cross-cutting and motion-blur visuals and I felt like it created a semi-romanticized lens through which to view urbanity, Asia, and interpersonal connections that really appealed to me.

[–] Schizza 10 years ago

I watched In the mood for love and 2046 before this movie so I had really great expectations since I consider INMFL a masterpiece and 2046 a great great movie.
Unfortunately, I also have to say that I was disappointed.
The movie has some really nice lines and thoughts (I loved the pineapple moment, as well as the apartment crying), but I felt that both growing relationships were so unbeliavable and so shallow that they just couldn't be compared to the ones before them. It had such great potential to make a beautiful love story, sad or happy never mind, about beautiful little things that turn up big in the end, but I just didn't feel both those relationships growing, as I did in INMFL and 2046.