Chungking Express
1994
'Chungking Express' is the ultra-stylish film by internationally acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai. Using gorgeous Hong Kong stars and perfect pop music, 'Chungking Express' tells two stories of lovelorn cops, dangerous drug smugglers and California dreamers. The first story takes place in the infamous Chungking .. Read more
| Starring | Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Faye Wong |
|---|---|
| Director | Wong Kar-Wai |
| Genres | World Cinema |
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Chungking Express
'Chungking Express' is the ultra-stylish film by internationally acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai. Using gorgeous Hong Kong stars and perfect pop music, 'Chungking Express' tells two stories of lovelorn cops, dangerous drug smugglers and California dreamers.
The first story takes place in the infamous Chungking Mansions, as melancholic Cop No 223 meets a mysterious woman in a wig and dark glasses in a late night bar, little dreaming she's a big-time heroin smuggler up to her neck in trouble.
The second story is set around the Midnight Express fast-food joint where Cop No 663, played by Hong Kong heart-throb Tony Leung, orders his dinner each night. So broken-up over an air hostess who's flown away, 663 fails to notice that the girl who serves his food (Hong Kong rock star Faye Wong) has a massive crush on him. Until, to the soundtrack of California Dreaming, she takes drastic action.
| Starring | Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Faye Wong |
|---|---|
| Director | Wong Kar-Wai |
| Studio | ARTIFICIAL EYE |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 40 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 40 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | World Cinema |
| Language | Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, English |
| Released | DVD: 01 Jul 2001 Blu-ray: 26 Jan 2009 Production year: 1994 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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A mood of nostalgia-tinged melancholia pervades this enjoyable movie of young, urban workers caught in a web of disappointment and desire, but still hopelessly optimistic.
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Wong Kar-Wai's movie tells two loosely interlinked stories, both about lovelorn cops who get involved with women who... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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23 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Stunning visuals and an unforgettable performance from Faye Wong
I think it's fair to say that 'Chungking Express' is a movie more concerned with aesthetics and film technique than conventional plot or character development. I'm usually wary of movies of this type, but I surprised myself a little by liking 'Chungking Express'. Not just liking it, but liking it a LOT. The film deals with two separate love stories, both featuring cops who frequent a takeaway food bar in Hong Kong. The first story features Takeshi Kaneshiro as the cop, and Brigitte Lin as a mysterious blonde wigged woman he encounters in a bar. Lin's character left me cold, but Kaneshiro I liked, especially his jogging to prevent crying, and collecting cans of pineapple to mourn his recent breakup. The story itself however seems rather boring and trying too much to make itself exciting. The second story was much better and makes the movie. Here Tony Leung plays the cop, and Faye Wong is a girl who works at the food bar. Their relationship is very odd and unexpected, and I really enjoyed every minute of it. Leung is easily the best known actor in the movie (Woo's 'Hard-Boiled',etc.). Everybody knows he's good, but Wong (a pop singer, not an actress) is a real revelation. She's incredibly cute, charismatic and sexy, and the scenes featuring 'California Dreaming' will stay with you forever. Anybody watching her will immediately think 'boy, what a star!', but she hasn't really seemed to pursue acting since. Wong is the main reason to watch 'Chungking Express', but there's also some stunning visuals on the screen, and Wong Kar-Wai's style seems to have been quite an influence on the others such as the Pang brothers. I've no doubt that 'Chungking Express' will continue to inspire other film makers in the years to come. It's THAT good!
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Most recent members' review
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23 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Stunning visuals and an unforgettable performance from Faye Wong
I think it's fair to say that 'Chungking Express' is a movie more concerned with aesthetics and film technique than conventional plot or character development. I'm usually wary of movies of this type, but I surprised myself a little by liking 'Chungking Express'. Not just liking it, but liking it a LOT. The film deals with two separate love stories, both featuring cops who frequent a takeaway food bar in Hong Kong. The first story features Takeshi Kaneshiro as the cop, and Brigitte Lin as a mysterious blonde wigged woman he encounters in a bar. Lin's character left me cold, but Kaneshiro I liked, especially his jogging to prevent crying, and collecting cans of pineapple to mourn his recent breakup. The story itself however seems rather boring and trying too much to make itself exciting. The second story was much better and makes the movie. Here Tony Leung plays the cop, and Faye Wong is a girl who works at the food bar. Their relationship is very odd and unexpected, and I really enjoyed every minute of it. Leung is easily the best known actor in the movie (Woo's 'Hard-Boiled',etc.). Everybody knows he's good, but Wong (a pop singer, not an actress) is a real revelation. She's incredibly cute, charismatic and sexy, and the scenes featuring 'California Dreaming' will stay with you forever. Anybody watching her will immediately think 'boy, what a star!', but she hasn't really seemed to pursue acting since. Wong is the main reason to watch 'Chungking Express', but there's also some stunning visuals on the screen, and Wong Kar-Wai's style seems to have been quite an influence on the others such as the Pang brothers. I've no doubt that 'Chungking Express' will continue to inspire other film makers in the years to come. It's THAT good!
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News and features
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Cannes: Day 1
- 17 May 2007
Wong Kar-Wai gets lost in translation with My Blueberry Nights while a small-scale Romanian abortion drama gets a big thumbs up. While few would admit it, there were mixed feelings in the air as vast crowds flocked to the opening night screening of My Blueberry Nights, at the 60th Cannes Film Festival - an American-set road movie from director Wong Kar-Wai. Yes; the director has rarely set a foot wrong in a long and lavish career, but was the decision to cast coffee-table Jazz chanteuse Norah... Read more
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'Chungking Express' is the ultra-stylish film by internationally acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai. Using gorgeous Hong Kong stars and perfect pop music, 'Chungking Express' tells two stories ... -
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Chungking Express
'Chungking Express' is the ultra-stylish film by internationally acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai. Using gorgeous Hong Kong stars and perfect pop music, 'Chungking Express' tells two stories of lovelorn cops, dangerous drug smugglers and California dreamers.
The first story ...
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