Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Story, Ugly Transfer
Review: This is a beautiful story and it is beautifully told by Edward Yang in this near 5-star film. Unfortunately the DVD transfer is among the worst I've seen and it detracts tremendously from the overall experience.
Rating:
Summary: well done slice of life w/unlikeable characters misbehaving
Review: I enjoyed the character, Migo's delivery of "wats da matta?" at the baby shower. I can't get over some of the toxic things people do in this movie. Yeeeeeee.
Rating: 
Summary: Worst DVD Transfer Ever!
Review: I'm not sure what the DVD is like, but the VHS is impossible to read or follow. Good translation requires subtitles that are easy to read, with good timing or placed on a black strip background. But here, and at many times, WHITE subtitles are up against a WHITE FLOOR or WHITE SHIRTS! Now how easy can that be to read, especially if the titles move quickly? I gave this an hour's attempt, armed with finger on the PAUSE button, rewinding and straining to read the subtitles and I could not possibly follow along. Often Japanese movies don't give us good close-ups, so it is difficult to know who is who, plus who is speaking! This review pertains to the VHS version. So, unfortunately, I can't tell you anything about the movie. You need to understand the language, read lips, mind read or invite a Japanese friend over to translate for you. Scrap it!...MzRizz
Rating: 
Summary: As it is
Review: It's rather refreshing to watch a movie these days without resorting to special effects. What a breath of fresh air this movie is by giving us a glimpse of a typical family life in Taipei, Taiwan. After viewing the movie, you might tell yourself that what characters are going through & have gone through are actually not so different from your day to day predicaments. This is life as it is, my friends. Here, NJ, the husband was given a window opportunity to relive his youth & in the end, he discovered that if he were to relive his life again, his life wouldn't change for the better. His wife felt that she lived a Ground Hog's Day. There's a sense of emptiness within her but after coming home from her meditation, she discovered that her life was just as before. The doting daughter lived an idealistic life & she got a rude awakening by befriending her neighbour's daughter & got a reality check by falling in love at a tender age. The grandmother would be the pivot in the movie. She suffered stroke early in the story & all the characters took their turns talking to her, just as Catholics went searching for forgiveness & redemption in the confession box. Then, there was NJ's brother who was a loser, who had relationships all tangled up in loose ends & undoubtedly, causing conflicts between the present wife & the ex. There was also the business dealing between NJ & a Japanese businessman & software programmer by the name of Ota. They emphatised for one another immediately. There were many tender & stolen moments in this movie, where thoughts & emotions were spoken even without usage of words. As always, we saved the best for last, & NJ's younger son who spoke few words emerged to be the wise one among them all. His wisdom was displayed in the pictures that he took. He commented candidly to his dad the reason why he took pictures of people's rear heads was that people weren't able to see half of themselves. He thought that he was doing people a great favour by revealing to them what they weren't able to see. The movie was brought to a satisfied conclusion when he read his thoughts aloud to his grandmother in her funeral why he didn't speak to her when she was unconscious. He reasoned that words needn't be spoken when hearts already knew the answers. A movie that is so simple & yet, so complicated. It's so direct & yet, so subtle. A very well-done movie that's satisfying to watch from beginning till end despite its three hours length. A must-see & highly recommended. Life is as it is. Don't need seeking for enlightenment because life mysteries & answers shall reveal to you in your own time. As it is.
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