Three Times on DVD (2005)

Kevin Ferris from Belfast, Northern Ireland [Highly rated reviewer] , 07/12/2006

Do not heed this persons advice, some people simply do not like foreign films, or slowly paced films or films that are 'different'. This film isn't your typical Hollywood film. Some films float along, dealing with people's lives and so-on, so basically anyone like the other person who is 'waiting for something to happen' should avoid it. However, if you liked films such as springtime in a small town, cafe lumiere, What Time Is It There?, scent of green papaya and so on you might like this.

I quite enjoyed this film, it wasn't amazing, but just don't listen to the guy saying don't watch it, unless of course you're looking for a hollywood-esque film and don't like 'slow films'

  10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

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A customer from London, England , 02/12/2006

The three stories in this film, played by the same two actors, take place in 1966, 1911 and 2005. It's about the relationship between these two people and how the outcome is so much effected by history and the time they live in.

All three have very distinctive, different styles. At times the cinematography is breath-taking, and the characters terribly affecting.

This is not a fast-paced film and won't appeal to those expecting to be spoon fed a fully resolved story with lots of literal details. This is a highly nuanced and beautiful shot trio of films.

  7 out of 8 people found this review helpful

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A customer from South Wales , 06/04/2007

Whilst I am generally a fan of World Cinema, this was so spectacularly dull it will be memorable for me. This is clearly one of the those love it or hate it films when you look at the reviews for this.

The film is split into 3 stories with the same 2 principal actors used in all. The first of the stories A Time for Love is at least bearable. Set in 1966 it focuses on the foundation of love between a young military officer and girl who works snooker halls.

Common throughout this film as a whole is a complete lack of character development and dialogue. I actually couldn't even endure the second story A Time For Freedom and fast forwarded it after the first 10 minutes or so. It was based in 1911 and concerns a courtesan and her client. Played as a silent movie with the most horrendous soundtrack, it was excruciating.

The final story A Time for Youth is based in 2005 and focuses on a love triangle between a photographer and epileptic singer/musician and her girlfriend. The story is disinteresting and goes nowhere .

In my opinion don't bother renting this. If you want to watch an Asian love story set across time you would be far better off renting Kar Wai Wong's In The Mood For Love.

  7 out of 10 people found this review helpful

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Shunter from Kingston upon Thames [Highly rated reviewer] , 29/12/2007

Given there are three short films in one its difficult to imagine this DVD would be so boring but it effortlessly manages it with pointless stories with precious little dialogue and characters and story of no interest. Pretentious nonsense.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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theprofessor from York , 18/08/2008

I'm a fan of Asian cinema in general, but this was hands down the worst film I have ever watched. Incredibly long slow takes, with the camera static and nothing happening for over five minutes, is not 'arty,' it's just pretentious.

There is next to no plot (each of the three segments could be summed up in less than a paragraph), no character development, hardly any dialogue, pedestrian direction.... it's just an excruciating watch. Even at 4x speed (yes, I really had to watch the second segment at this pace) it is painfully slow moving.

A real case of 'Emperor's New Clothes' - the director must be laughing at those arthouse critics who praised this movie. I'm sure this film must have been intended as a joke.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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