Chungking Express

Rating: 10/10
Year: 1994
Genre: Romance
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Cast: Brigitte Lin,Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Valerie Chow, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Faye Wong, Chen Jinquan, Lee-na Kwan, Liang Zen

The flight attendant bends down and gazes. As she pulls up the gate, she sees the man she loved behind the counter where she once worked. A former police officer, the man pulls out a napkin and asks the friend to write down a destination.

"Where do you want to go?" The flight attendant asks. "Wherever you want to take me."

Chungking Express is a simple, straight forward character piece that reaches unexpected levels. It's safe to say that the love between man and woman is retold and reinvented in this film, which makes it unparalleled to any other.

The dialogue exchanges are memorable, long lasting, and illustrious. The make up of the exchanges are done masterfully, it is as if you are watching a celebrated tennis match. The ball elegantly goes back and forth in a well mannered, concise behavior.

It's from the characters, whom we immediately connect and relate with, we learn the modes of isolation, desperation, and improvisation. The solaced journey one is taken through due to the misdirections and misconnections love conveys. Scene by scene, frame by frame, Chungking Express is a subtle delight from start to finish.

Charmed and celebrated Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai brings his quoted vision and style. The story centralizes around two police officers, unrelated and unconnected stories about their longing for comfort, connection, and compassion in the city.

One police officer finds himself in a black hole and longs for his former girlfriend. He gives himself thirty days to find another woman, which he keeps track by buying a can of almost expired pineapple each day.

The second police officer goes through a break up only to catch the eye of a loopy, fun, and attractive waitress who attempts to connect using indirect methods of flirtation.

Reviews and critics have spoken; the positive expression and voicing is on point. Produced in a well tailored composition, director Wong Kar-wai directs a likable timeless feature. Regardless of the time era, this story centralizes on the virtues of possibilities and hope. Because of the themes reached, it's not hard for this movie to find its place regardless of the year produced.

Chungking Express is available in Blu-ray. The motion picture has been retouched (Rather than just taking it and pushing to 1920x1080) so the images are clean and clear. Although Blu-ray is recommended, viewing the film itself is even more recommended.

To be direct, and truthful, (supposing that is key in these reviews) this movie is so likable. You'll finish remembering the music. You'll finish remembering the characters. But even more memorable, is that at the end point you'll feel impacted. And that is one of the great points to take away.

Cool guy(s) - Faye Wong, Tony Leung Chiu Wai

Reviewed by: Mike Vu