2046 on DVD (2004)

Liam from Lancaster , 17/03/2005

It took Wong Kar Wai five years to be satisfied with 2046. He is said to have written over thirty diffferent versions of the screenplay and this is noticeable in the sheer complexity of the final cut that sometimes feels as though it is a hundred mini films tenuously linked to 'love' - Wong Kar Wai's long-held obsession. Brilliantly photographed by his constant collaborator Chris Doyle, 2046 is as insightful as much of his earlier work. I would recommend watching some of his more linear films such as the prequel 'in the mood for love, 'days of being wild' and the amazing 'chungking express' before watching this. It makes for a more satisfying film if you know he's been fretting over this stuff for not just years but decades.

  23 out of 24 people found this review helpful

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A customer from London northerner , 18/01/2005

This is a film that will divide your opinions

- some of you will spend the whole film thinking 'what the hell is going on here? I don't get it'....

-some of you will spend most of the film thinking 'i think i get it, but what on earth are they doing now?' and want to watch it again to clear the remaining mist

-others will simply bask in its randomness and accept that its subtle, mad linking of events and people are not meant to be comprehensible or reducible to a single romantic message or life lesson.

It is wonderfully shot and carefully acted although you are left with the feeling that each scene is just a few seconds too long.... See for yourselves! Masterclass or muddy miscellany?

  23 out of 28 people found this review helpful

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ATfilmcritic from London , 01/06/2005

Fascinating meditation on love and life (and pretty much anything else you’d care to mention), brought to sumptuous life by its gorgeous photography and nuanced, wonderfully subdued performances; only in its rather irritating futuristic sequences does the film tend to drag; otherwise, this is as thought-provoking as it is heartrending, and about as intelligent as movies get.

  20 out of 26 people found this review helpful

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milnerv from Dorset , 17/06/2005

“2046” is the third film in a series by director Wong Kar Wai charting the life of Chow Mo Wan (Tony Leung) the others being “Days of Being Wild” and “In the mood for love”.

“2046” concentrates solely on the shallow love life Chow chooses to lead after the failure of a major love affair which comprises the plot for “In the Mood for Love”.

This is the most claustrophobic film I have ever seen with most of the action taking place in Hong Kong in narrow hotel corridors painted dark colours (green is favourite), small bedrooms and at corner tables in restaurants. This claustrophobia reflects the emotional isolation and constraints of being totally uninvolved.

I found the film too episodic, I looked for some thread to bind it together but there is none other than Chow’s determination not to become involved. Also the constant detached smile on Chow’s face as acted by Tony Leung becomes irritating and counter productive.

The title “2046” is the novel Chow is writing, and acts as a reflection of the shallow existence he is choosing to lead by replacing the women in his causal love live with androids.

The film has not tempted me to view it’s predecessors but if an episodic method of storytelling and the subject appeals to you it is well worth a try, as the technical qualities and acting are excellent.

  14 out of 20 people found this review helpful

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andyhol from Exeter , 06/03/2006

This is an extrodinary film . Visually stunning both from the look of the actors and the backdrops. More excitingly the themes the film examined were very new. No moral approbation here, just a simple description of some deeply complex and dysfunctional relationships. Even the title of the film is multi-layered in its meaning.

I had to watch it twice. It was even better the second time around but don't watch it if you are tired. Not a film to chill to.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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Liam from Lancaster , 17/03/2005

It took Wong Kar Wai five years to be satisfied with 2046. He is said to have written over thirty diffferent versions of the screenplay and this is noticeable in the sheer complexity of the final cut that sometimes feels as though it is a hundred mini films tenuously linked to 'love' - Wong Kar Wai's long-held obsession. Brilliantly photographed by his constant collaborator Chris Doyle, 2046 is as insightful as much of his earlier work. I would recommend watching some of his more linear films such as the prequel 'in the mood for love, 'days of being wild' and the amazing 'chungking express' before watching this. It makes for a more satisfying film if you know he's been fretting over this stuff for not just years but decades.

  23 out of 24 people found this review helpful

Read all highest rated reviews