MovieChat Forums > Ah fei jing juen (1990) Discussion > this film's mood

this film's mood

posted 19 years ago by shard-1
16 replies | jump to latest

Several months ago I saw In the Mood for Love for the first time and was absolutely blown away. I saw 2046 this weekend at the movie theater and had a similar reaction. Apart from the vague narrative continuity between the two movies, I could see as well they fit together so perfectly because they captured the same mood so beautifully - a kind of melancholic nostalgia, the feeling that comes over you when you contemplate missed opportunities, failed connections, etc etc.

Then tonight I watched Days of Being Wild - I couldn't wait, I was expecting to love it, but in fact, it left me cold, and dare I say, a little bored. (I know, I know, admitting that a film bored you automatically tags you an imbecilic cretin who only likes car chases and sex... so be it!) The mood of the movie didn't seem the same as ITMFL and 2046 - obviously, the themes were similar, but it didn't seem to have the same romanticism about it, the same "last days" feeling - it just seemed totally detached from its characters, which made it difficult for me to care about any of them.

And, call me superficial, but I missed the immaculate fashion sensibility of the women in ITMFL and 2046.... drooling over Maggie Cheung's wardrobe was surely part of the appeal!!!

Um, anyway, maybe I'm entirely missing something, but Days of Being Wild really disappointed me. It didn't leave me with that same feeling of sweet melancholy that the other films in the "trilogy" did, and that's totally what I wanted.... curious if anyone else loved the latter two but was also unimpressed with this one....

S

If it isn't men, it's death.

[–] jaydubsky 18 years ago

I totally get what you're saying. I too was floored by ITMFL and 2046 and thought Days of Being Wild was really gonna be good, but it's just not at the same level as the other two. I did dig some of the visuals, and the "One Minute Friends" thing and the "Bird with no legs" analogy, but overall this one just doesn't quite reach the heights of the other two. I'm definitely going to watch it again and see, but I don't think it'll raise DOBW to the level of the others it's being compared to. Still, I love Wong's style and everything, he's definitely one of my favorite filmmakers.

[–] Jinkazuya 18 years ago

I got shivers when they played some of the songs they played in '2046' and the character of York parallels with the character of Chow in 2046 except different personality, same goal. One thing I love about Wong Kar Wai movies is the music choice. Absolutely amazing.

[–] herrfang 18 years ago

Yeah, it just shows how WKW as a director and his symbiotic relationship with Chris Doyle has evolved over time.

Anyway, I think it is good to see the three movies as some of their aspects were recapped in 2046 and it helped you what some of the characters in the movies are going through.

[–] jaydubsky 18 years ago

I actually watched this one again a couple of days ago, and this time I was really blown away. It's better I think to watch it multiple times - but also in relation with "In the Mood For Love" and "2046" this movie was much better the second time.

"Death, you are my bitch lover!"

[–] cirving39 18 years ago

I agree completely jaydubsky. I think in some ways this film is the most subtle of the three, and overall, the most rewarding with mutliple viewings.

Its harder to access that feeling of melancholy and to relate to the characters at first, in quite the same way as you do in ITMFL and 2046, but the feeling is there, just beneath the surface.

[–] jaydubsky 18 years ago

Here here. Definitely takes the multiple viewings to appreciate it.

"Death, you are my bitch lover!"

[–] manning626 18 years ago

i loved it

[–] Lu_tz 17 years ago

I have to admit I liked this movie a lot the first few times I watched it. I loved ITMFL and 2046 and have been rewarded with multiple viewings. However the more and more I watch DOBW the more I find it drags and becomes boring and I am fast losing interest in it altogether.

[–] kesel5588 17 years ago

i can't agree more...the first time i watched it was kinda slow...but after a few more times it grew on me ...maybe i'm just bein brainwash...but this is def. one of my favorite films of all time

[–] miz_favor 17 years ago

I'm the oppposite I watched In The Mood for Love then, Days of Being Wild. I actually like Days better I think. I'm about to watch 2046 soon.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] priceless_advice 15 years ago

I haven't seen In the Mood for Love, but I have seen 2046, and I liked 2046 a lot more than DOBW. 2046 actually made me cry at the end, and it left an impact on me. I did like DOBW...it was an interesting movie, but I didn't like it as much as 2046.

[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 14 years ago

I basically had the opposite reaction. I watched In the Mood for Love and 2046 a couple years ago and was extremely disappointed by them aside from the cinematography and production design (including the costuming). I knew someone who was kind of obsessed by them and kept raving about how 2046 in particular was their favorite film of all time. My reaction to both films was basically a big "ugh . . . but they look pretty".

It was a reconfirmation of just how different persons' tastes can be, and also a reconfirmation of why I'm not fond of people animatedly hyping things, even if they do really, really love them. It just creates inflated expectations that aren't likely to be met when it comes to people who check out whatever it is in response.

I'm not sure that I even made it all the way through 2046. I remember getting to the point where I was forcing myself to just watch another 10 minutes per day. I think I did that for five or six days and gave up.

However, I'm someone who'll always give films another chance. I rewatch films based on picking them randomly from my list of things I've seen already. In the Mood for Love was picked last week. I always like to watch complete series in order, and I noticed this time (I don't know if it was new information) that Days of Being Wild is considered the first film.

I hadn't seen it before. I just watched it yesterday. I didn't love it, but I kinda liked it, which was surprising to me. I gave it a 7/10. So now I'm looking forward to reassessing the other two films. Maybe I'll like them better this time, now that I have low expectations of them. And maybe I just wasn't in the mood for them the first time I tried watching them. I'll know in the next couple days.

http://www.rateyourmusic.com/~JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies

[–] jnagarya-1 9 years ago

"Days of Being Wild" isn't actually particularly "wild". And it is the weakest of Wong Kar-Wia's films (except perhaps "My Blueberry Nights," if the critics are correct about that).

"Fallen Angels" is much stronger, much better. And it does have much wildness in it. Even "Chungking Express" has more wildness.

As for "2046," the drooling was over not only Zhang Ziyi's dresses, but also over Zhang Ziyi. Even as she is being cruelly destroyed by Tony, and in turn she is destroying the viewer.

"Days of Being Wild" made me feel dirty, even though I didn't do anything to deserve that.