I agree with everything you guys are saying about WKW (and I also think that Tony Leung Chiu-wai is one of the greatest actors around). I rented ItMFL a few months ago and I've been on a Wong Kar-wai kick ever since. He really doesn't have any bad movies - even one which I didn't love love like Days of Being Wild (which is actualy playing in theaters right now) had some really beautiful scenes. I think ItMFL and Fallen Angels have been my favorites so far.

What I like about him is that even though he's legendary for his style (jumpy, artsy, and chronologically messy), I think he's more brilliant at getting to the heart of the loneliness in his characters. He focuses on missed connections, and people falling in love at the wrong time, and just being lost in one way or another. I think his movies are much more accessible and easy to relate to than most hollywood films because who doesn't feel lonely and screwed up?

Nutty, that scene with the tape recorder was my favorite in the film. It just about broke me.

All hail international DVD releases, since I think that one was in theatres in New York only, and for exactly ten days.

Is the whole trilogy being released, or just the first one?

Just the first one, I think; or anyway, this is a single DVD, so only what fits in 2-3 hours. Maybe the rest of it will come out some day, under another title.

He focuses on missed connections, and people falling in love at the wrong time, and just being lost in one way or another.

Speaking of, we saw Sideways last night. What a wonderfully crafted little film.

Back to WKW and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai talk.

We rented Infernal Affairs last week, and I really enjoyed it. Lovely performances all around, and a couple of moments that had me gasping for one reason or another.

Infernal Affairs is on its way to me right now, courtesy of Netflix!

Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is dreeeeamy.

Renting a HK movie based on an actor is a bit of a dicey business though. I recently Netflixed a Leslie Cheung flick (with Michelle Yeoh in a small role!) called Moonlight Express. Cheung was an undercover cop betrayed by his friend, and he runs across this Japanese woman who fiance just died in a car crash and happened to look just like Cheung's character. Or something. The climax of the film was the couple getting it on in a barn, surrounded by a flock of ducks. Or maybe chicken. Some type of poultry. The whole thing was kind of funny, if inadvertently.

I've seen a couple of the sillier HK efforts too. Theodosia gifted me one movie, starring none other than Chow Yun-fat, who acts the suave gambler and the childish buffoon by turns (he gets hit on the head and loses his memory). You haven't lived till you've watched Chow Yun-fat sulk and pout and be distracted by helium balloons. It is sort of like a Bollywood movie, without the singing (for which absence I am grateful).

I should also note that the hilariously cheap and amateurish subtitles on this movie -- banged out in a couple of hours by a college kid, I think -- mean that you can only tell what is actually being said half the time, which makes the movie that much more fun.

That's the kind of wacky stuff I love to stumble on! I also fall victim to renting movies for actors, especially asian actors. I'm on a serious Takeshi Kaneshiro bender right now and boy am I being punished for my devotion. There's only like 1 great movie or TV show for every 5 I watch with him in it.

Stupid stupid Miramax.

Infernal Affairs kicks ass. Delightful mix of megawatt star casting plus excellent story and production values. Just don't seem to get all that in one hollywood movie much these days. I've only seen the first 2 movies.

Amazon US is selling IA1 in region 1 with a craptastic cover. A region 3 special edition box set of all three movies is being released soon. I'm gonna get that one.

He focuses on missed connections, and people falling in love at the wrong time, and just being lost in one way or another. I think his movies are much more accessible and easy to relate to than most hollywood films

Well put, I agree. Plus my giant shallow side loves all the pretty him and his people are so good at producing. All that WKW-ness is really magnified by 10 in 2046. That's why I think it may be a bit too much for even die-hard WKW fans. 2046 is very indulgent. There are tons of call backs to so many of the movies you listed, Maysa. Its a bit less accessible but then there's Tony & yummy supastar Takuya Kimura to be distracted by.

Infernal Affairs kicks ass. Delightful mix of megawatt star casting plus excellent story and production values. Just don't seem to get all that in one hollywood movie much these days. I've only seen the first 2 movies.

This has been languishing at the bottom of my netflix queue for a while - I'm going to have to bump it up to the top.

And I can't wait to see 2046. I've only seen a few screencaps for the movie, but it looks freakin' gorgeous. Although I have heard that it's a bit of a disappointment after the wonderfullness of ItMFL.

Ugh, God of Gamblers II made my friend Claudine lose her Chow Yun Fat lust. Nobody wants to see him being a doof.

Renting a HK movie based on an actor is a bit of a dicey business though.

That's why I used to read Asian Cult Films religiously. Next time you're in SF, Nutty, we'll watch On The Run. It's the cooooolest darkest HK noir. Pat Ha - my alltime favorite cool girl assassin.

Cool HK movies I saw at the Pagoda Theater in Chinatown: Project S (Michelle Yeoh in a ferocious fight with a huge mauler), Bride With White Hair (Brigitte! Leslie Cheung! Tragic Romance! Magic scarf attack!) and Green Snake (Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung and Joey Wang - that's a lot of pretty).