Rating: 
Summary: Captures something precious
Review: This movie is a unique treat. It is so different from what we generally get from mainstream movies nowadays. Sure, there is action and a cast of famous HK actors who represent the image of the times perfectly and this helps set the tone but the director makes this movie about people. It's achingly touching, laugh out loud funny, sad and hopeful at the same time.
I loved that this movie doesn't underestimate it's audience. It doesn't S P E L L everything out like so many movies (no wonder so few people use thier imaginations these days!). IMO because of this, this movie ends up meaning something to so many more people because everyone can interpret what it means to them personally. Wong Kar Wai (director) is confident in what he is doing and never loses focus on what this movie is about. Everything from the music to the locations punctuates exactly the point he is trying to make, the atmosphere totally absorbed me. It is so well done that I felt I could understand what these people were feeling even when I am nothing like them. He captures thier emotions so perfectly, IMO this is what "Lost in translation" should have been like. If you're looking for something meaningful yet fun to watch then this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Compulsive, Obsessive, Redemptive.
Review: "Fallen Angels" is really the third episode of Wong's earlier two-part film "Chungking Express". It harks back to the first noirish segment of that film, after the bouncy second episode stolen by pop star Faye Wong, but is even darker and more obscure. The characters all seem in extremis, on the edge of dissolution, junkies of one sort or another -- except possibly the hitman ('assasin'), cool, detached, in control. This darkness is expressed in the chaotic home movie ambience (of course, carefully contrived); some is even shot as literal, really bad, home-video-within-a-movie. Though there does not seem to be a direct plot link between "Chungking" and "Fallen Angels" the same way there was between the two segments of "Chungking Express" (where Cop 223 turned down a suggestion of a date with Faye only hours before she falls***FELL in love with Cop 663, and Faye and 663 make brief background appearances in segment one), there are many connections. Some locations seem to be the same, and although the fast food joint Midnight Express so central to "Chunking Express" does not play the same role here, the restaurant and its proprietor do enter near the end. The mute ex-con (prisoner #223) of Fallen Angels and Cop #223 of CKE are both played by the same actor (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and both named He Qiwu [alternately transliterated He Zhiwu]. He Qiwu of Fallen Angels was made mute by a can of expired pineapple, while CKE's Cop #223 was obsessed with about-to-expire pineapple cans. At one point the Mute dances briefly in Midnight Express with the same moves used by Faye, as she danced her way through her work at the restaurant in CKE. Where Faye invaded Cop #663's apartment in Chungking Express to simply be in his space, and later to bring to it light and life, the Agent's obsession is darker as she invades the hitman's anonymous rooms to sweep up and carry away her partner's detritus to her own room (in the hotel the Mute's father manages), where she examines it for clues to his personal life and habits. As these complexities might indicate, "Fallen Angels" repays repeated viewing -- in the sense that your understanding of the film will deepen, as will its emotional impact, not in the sense of a film student obsessing with technicalities. There is just too much in the film to completely take it in on first viewing, which is not to say that the first viewing won't be a sock in the gut, a magnificent swirling collage of images, sounds and quirky characters. WKW often makes music an integral part of his films, and the choice here is superb -- poignant and evocative, multilingual and multicontinental, each thematic piece fitting exactly mood and character -- and is perhaps what sticks most lingeringly in the mind. (I only wish it were credited, or there were a soundtrack album!) The first time I saw "Fallen Angels" I thought it ended on a melancholy, even depressing, note. It seemed as if the characters were not about to make any transition, not even to escape, as they do in the each episode of "Chungking Express". If there is redemption here, it is in very small ways, and maybe that is what Wong is saying -- we can only hope for momentary hope, not a better tomorrow but a brief respite before tomorrow. Life goes on, maybe, a little longer, and we must find what solace we can, while we can, in someone to hold for a night or just a motorcycle ride. Several viewings later, though, the film becomes transformative, and if not optimistic, redemptive and even joyful Yes, it seems to say, that *is* all there is ... but that ain't bad. (A note re those who had problems with the transfer or subtitles: I've been bitten by horrible transfers of other Asian films, but I viewed a recent copy of the US DVD release, and it seems just fine. An older VHS was not so good but acceptable. I don't recall any problems with the subtitles, and bad ones frequently drive me to frothing rage.)
Rating:
Summary: mesmerizing
Review: "We all need a partner, when will I find mine ?" seems to be the theme running through all of Wong Kar-Wai's films, as well as his other usual ingredients: Mind-bending speed, innovative camera work (by Christopher Doyle), a great soundtrack, and a gorgeous cast. He also manages to show the murky side of society while never losing touch with its humanity. We see that even a cold-blooded hit man can have a side that's endearing. Takeshi Kaneshiro as the mute is the shining star of this film. He's brilliant and lovable. The "May 30th 1995, I fell in love" scene is one I adore. In slow motion black and white, the background moves at different speeds, fades in and out...it's a piece of pure magical art, a painting come to life. Like "Chungking Express", it slows down during the second half, and to me, this is when it gets even better. There is so much to see in this film, I know I'll be viewing it many more times, and appreciating its inventiveness...and through the darkness, its sweet soul.
Rating:
Summary: Compulsive, Obsessive, Redemptive.
Review: "Fallen Angels" is really the third episode of Wong's earlier two-part film "Chungking Express". It harks back to the first noirish segment of that film, after the bouncy second episode stolen by pop star Faye Wong, but is even darker and more obscure. The characters all seem in extremis, on the edge of dissolution, junkies of one sort or another -- except possibly the hitman ('assasin'), cool, detached, in control. This darkness is expressed in the chaotic home movie ambience (of course, carefully contrived); some is even shot as literal, really bad, home-video-within-a-movie. Though there does not seem to be a direct plot link between "Chungking" and "Fallen Angels" the same way there was between the two segments of "Chungking Express" (where Cop 223 turned down a suggestion of a date with Faye only hours before she fell in love with Cop 663, and Faye and 663 make brief background appearances in segment one), there are many connections. Some locations seem to be the same, and although the fast food joint Midnight Express so central to "Chunking Express" does not play the same role here, the restaurant and its proprietor do enter near the end. The mute ex-con (prisoner #223) of Fallen Angels and Cop #223 of CKE are both played by the same actor (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and both named He Qiwu [per subtitles; IMDB has He Zhiwu, closer to the soundtrack]. He Qiwu of Fallen Angels was made mute by a can of expired pineapple, while CKE's Cop #223 was obsessed with about-to-expire pineapple cans. At one point the Mute dances briefly in Midnight Express with the same moves used by Faye, as she danced her way through her work at the restaurant in CKE. Where Faye invaded Cop #663's apartment in Chungking Express to simply be in his space, and later to bring to it light and life, the Agent's obsession is darker as she invades the hitman's anonymous rooms to sweep up and carry away her partner's detritus to her own room (in the hotel the Mute's father manages), where she examines it for clues to his personal life and habits. As these complexities might indicate, "Fallen Angels" repays repeated viewing -- in the sense that your understanding of the film will deepen, as will its emotional impact, not in the sense of a film student obsessing with technicalities. There is just too much in the film to completely take it in on first viewing, which is not to say that the first viewing won't be a sock in the gut, a magnificent swirling collage of images, sounds and quirky characters. WKW often makes music an integral part of his films, and the choice here is superb -- poignant and evocative, multilingual and multicontinental, each thematic piece fitting exactly mood and character -- and is perhaps what sticks most lingeringly in the mind. (I only wish it were credited, or there were a soundtrack album!) The first time I saw "Fallen Angels" I thought it ended on a melancholy, even depressing, note. It seemed as if the characters were not about to make any transition, not even to escape, as they do in the each episode of "Chungking Express". If there is redemption here, it is in very small ways, and maybe that is what Wong is saying -- we can only hope for momentary hope, not a better tomorrow but a brief respite before tomorrow. Life goes on, maybe, a little longer, and we must find what solace we can, while we can, in someone to hold for a night or just a motorcycle ride. Several viewings later, though, the film becomes transformative, and if not optimistic, redemptive and even joyful Yes, it seems to say, that *is* all there is ... but that ain't bad. (A note re those who had problems with the transfer or subtitles: I've been bitten by horrible transfers of other Asian films, but I viewed a recent copy of the US DVD release, and it seems just fine. An older VHS was not so good but acceptable. I don't recall any problems with the subtitles, and bad ones frequently drive me to frothing rage.)
Rating:
Summary: mesmerizing
Review: "We all need a partner, when will I find mine ?" seems to be the theme running through all of Wong Kar-Wai's films, as well as his other usual ingredients: Mind-bending speed, innovative camera work (by Christopher Doyle), a great soundtrack, and a gorgeous cast. He also manages to show the murky side of society while never losing touch with its humanity. We see that even a cold-blooded hit man can have a side that's endearing. Takeshi Kaneshiro as the mute is the shining star of this film. He's brilliant and lovable. The "May 30th 1995, I fell in love" scene is one I adore. In slow motion black and white, the background moves at different speeds, fades in and out...it's a piece of pure magical art, a painting come to life. Like "Chungking Express", it slows down during the second half, and to me, this is when it gets even better. There is so much to see in this film, I know I'll be viewing it many more times, and appreciating its inventiveness...and through the darkness, its sweet soul.
Rating:
Summary: One of a kind
Review: A companion piece to Wong's "Chungking Express," minus that film's sweet and optimistic (especially the second half) tone of the man/woman/relationship conundrum. Like CE, it defies categorization and a glib synopsis. It's about a commitment-challenged hired assassin, his beautiful female partner whom he has met only once or twice but who, nonetheless, has fallen in love with him, probably because of his emotional handicap, a mute who hijacks an ice-cream truck when he's not videotaping his father around the house, plus sundry subplots that make very little conventional sense. Definitely not for everyone, but if you have the patience to sit through it, you'll be rewarded with an ending that crystalizes the theme in an ineffable, beautiful way, right down to the credits that is accompanied by an a capella version of Yazoo's great song, "Only You". Stylized, violent, maudlin, delirious, laugh-out-loud funny (especially if you understand the Cantonese spoken in the film), tremendously moving, it's a film that captures the zeitgeist of the city where it was made and its people. If you've ever spent time living in HK, you'll know what I mean...
Rating: 
Summary: Stunning cinema
Review: Absolutely beautiful piece of film-making, full of some of the best cinematography you will ever see, along with thought-provoking moody introspection on the alienation of the modern world. Such a shame that the DVD, currently the only DVD release of the movie in the world, is absolutely horrible. The picture is washed out and pixellated, killing the cinematography, and the sound is a dull mono. My UK PAL VHS looks and sounds better :(
Rating:
Summary: Stunning cinema
Review: Absolutely beautiful piece of film-making, full of some of the best cinematography you will ever see, along with thought-provoking moody introspection on the alienation of the modern world. Such a shame that the DVD, currently the only DVD release of the movie in the world, is absolutely horrible. The picture is washed out and pixellated, killing the cinematography, and the sound is a dull mono. My UK PAL VHS looks and sounds better :(
Rating: 
Summary: A rewarding follow up to Chungking Express
Review: As the obliquely related sequel to Chungking Express, this film is not quite as good as its predecessor, but entertaining nonetheless, although I am basing my review on the Chinese-language version of the film. A dubbed version would destroy the seriousness of the film entirely. Takeshi Kaneshiro plays a very strange, yet enchanting, mute person. He harasses people into letting him sell them ice cream, he rides a dead pig, he falls in love with a woman who ultimately uses him, and he follows his father around with a camcorder. Leon Lai plays a hitman and Michelle Reis is his employer/obsessor. Confused yet? This film goes in so many directions, yet all the characters eventually cross paths. There are various areas of conflict in the movie and yet the director, Wong Kar Wai, is able to clear up enough of the mess to bring the viewer a beautifully optimistic ending. It's the kind of ending that makes you sit and reflect for a moment before saying "Wow." I recommend this film for those that want a rewarding change of pace.
Rating:
Summary: One of a kind, a CLASSIC!
Review: Before Pulp Fiction, There was Fallen Angels. This film is truely amazing in terms of it's excecution. The director did a great job composing the story, every minute of the film was interesting, sexy, and some-times funny. The cinematography was dreamy and sureal. To me it felt as if someone held a camcorder and shooting around night lights of Hong kong. I fell in love with 4 main characters right from the begining. Music was wonderful and appropriate.
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