In the mood for love

[Golgot]

Oh my god what a beautiful film.

1This is an unrequited love story set in Hong Kong in the sixties, and everything about it aches. It aches in an expanding, loving, all embracing way. It slumbers and peaks painfully. It's god damn beautiful.
The two main characters live next door to each other in a slightly delapidated building. Married in traditional Hong Kong society, the woman's clothes may be striking sixties, the man's work-clothes a sharp shirt and tie, but the values are back-room whispers, the norms that clasp any society to their brest, no matter how progressive it all might seem. A friendship of sorts strikes up between them. They both share a love of films and script-writing, though you wouldn't know it at first from their oriental evasion and conceits. Their partners unseen for different reasons, the two strike up a shy kinship. They write together, but nothing is happening of course - yet they take every step to hide their meetings.

But this is no self-referential film about film-making. It's a sumptuosly filmed story, yes. The editing echoes actions, the characters are self-conscious, the translations seem to fit perfectly with mood and context, and the wording is exquisitly balanced. But this isn't about what you write on the page. It's about the spaces inbetween. And these two actors draw round those spaces beautifully, draw through them and dissect them, and so have no need to spell it out. This is an exquisitely acted film.

2And for that reason, and others, I can't tell you more. The reason for their meetings is a subplot barely worth mentioning. Their reticence an expression of their time. The music sings "perhaps perhaps perhaps", in spanish, with taunting cosmopolitan-ness. And at one point the man shares a thought with a stranger - he talks of the old tradition of carrying a secret into the mountains, carving a hole in a tree, whispering your secret into it, and then covering it with mud. It comes across better the way he says it. And to see what regrets and feelings might be buried in such a place, you'll have to watch it and find out now won't you ;).

I really really recommend it. (i must admit that i missed the very beginning of it, but there's something about the elongated tone of this movie that, despite the twists and turns that rise up from its yearning, that you can't help but feel you knew it all along)

[LordSlaytan]

Oh my god what a beautiful film.

Thank you for the review Golgot. I'll be waiting to see this movie now.

[Golgot]

I was gonna recommend it to you Slay. I think it might be your kind of thing. I just saw it on tv tho so i think it's been out for a while. According to a tv review the actor Tony Leung won a gong at Cannes for his performance (tho Maggie Cheung was equally good. They're very balanced). It was released in 2000 it seems, and was directed by Wong Kar-Wai.

[Aniko]

Here’s what I basically wrote in Kong’s thread “Show the love for Wong Kar-Wai”, with a little revamping.
http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=4208&highlight=Mood+Love

I loved In the Mood for Love. I thought it was beautifully done. There were times when a scene looked like piece of art. I loved the actor and actress in this also. They are refreshing to watch.

Wong Kar-Wai proved you can make a movie about love and desire without resorting to nudity and cheap thrills like Unfaithful and countless others. The only thing I wish he would have done differently is the ending. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I'm not going to elaborate. I don’t think it’s a bad ending, I just have my own “ I only wish” sentiments.

It’s definately a must see. :yup:

[Golgot]

Oh damn, is there a thread on this already. I searched but didn't find (the words love and mood turn up a lot ;)). Cheers Ani. (but I should've known Kong would've seen it ;))

EDIT: Ah, read it now, and i have to say i thought the ending was perfect for the film. The sentiment written at the end describes it beautifully as well i thought (if that's the right word).

[LordSlaytan]

Oh damn, is there a thread on this already. I searched but didn't find (the words love and mood turn up a lot ;)). Cheers Ani. (but I should've known Kong would've seen it ;))

EDIT: Ah, read it now, and i have to say i thought the ending was perfect for the film. The sentiment written at the end describes it beautifully as well i thought (if that's the right word).

Your thread is a review, his is in another section for director opinion. Your review is appropriate here.

[Golgot]

Ah cool. I feel vindicated :) - but still, i could've just searched for "Kong" and i would've found both ;) (hmm, might start calling him Hong now. A great big ape's got to be "hong" like anything after all. ...Alright, i might be pushing the rhyming thing now :rolleyes: - reckon i've taken all the romance out of the thread too ;))

[Caitlyn]

Great review Golgot… I will definitely add this one to my “to see” list… and I agree with Slay, it is a review so it does belong here… :)

[Aniko]

I'm sorry Golgot. I didn't mean to imply your review was in an inappropriate place. I loved your review, it was great. I just wanted to give Kong some recognition for his earlier thread also....even if it is in a different section. That's all. I'm sorry. :(

[Kong]

Good review Golgot. Kong loves this one as well. Wong Kar-Wai's film's, including this one, are just so incredibly intimate that it's hard not to get drawn in and wrapped up inside of them. His style is amazing.

If you haven't seen any of his other stuff, Kong strongly recommends doing so.

[Piddzilla]

I have to admit that I haven't yet seen one film by Wong Kar-Wai. But it sounds like something I would find interesting. I like beautiful films. :)

Good one, Golgoat. :yup:

[Golgot]

I have to admit that I haven't yet seen one film by Wong Kar-Wai. But it sounds like something I would find interesting. I like beautiful films. :)

Good one, Golgoat. :yup:

Ach, i've been bestialised again. Baah.

Cool, glad there's those that have seen this and that others would like to. I'll have to check out more of Wong Kar-Wai's stuff. :)

-incidently Kong, i think you and Lines mention repetitive music on the other thread. He does do that again in this film, with two main themes throughout, and only occasional dips into other songs on the radio etc (including a "chinese"/hong-kong version of "happy birthday to you", which just seems to have spread like a virus :rolleyes:. very little traditional chinese music is used)

[Piddzilla]

Ach, i've been bestialised again. Baah.

What's that, Golgoose? :D

[Golgot]

*Golgot flaps*

Is it Piddzilla season yet? Where's my rifle? :D

[Piddzilla]

*Golgot flaps*

Is it Piddzilla season yet? Where's my rifle? :D

Buried in feathers.

[Golgot]

Hey, that was a short post! ;) I'm trying not to fly off on one too much at moment :)

[Travis_Bickle]

"In The Mood For Love" is Wong Kar Wai's most mature film, and is indeed great. His mixture of picture and sound come across as hypnotic and poetic. To a filmmaker his films are highly inspiring, and to the general audience, highly entertaining. To everyone, they come across as extremley eccentric.

"Chungking Express" was my favourite film of his, in fact, so good in my opinion, that it holds a place on my personal top ten list.

See "Chungking Express" please, and become a Wong Kar Wai supporter.

Asta Luego.

[Jackie Malfoy]

Never heard of it but it stil sounds like a good movie the plot sounds very interesting indeed!
I might had skiped this answear but what is it rated?
Thank you for telling us about this interesting movie!See you around!JM I know what I am looking forward to seeing! :cool: :p ;) :D :)

[Tuna]

Hm..I just rented this.. damn mei ah dvd though..

[Golgot]

Hm..I just rented this.. damn mei ah dvd though..

Tuna, is your dvd melting, or just your keyboard? ;) If your dvd is giving you grief, that's a shame, coz this is a smoothly framed movie - needs to be seen in all it's sheeny-ness. :yup:

Erm, and Jackie, if that question about rating was to me, i give it five kipper ties and three silk shirts ;). It's a wardrobe's worth of good film :) (might even knock your pants off ;))

[Jackie Malfoy]

Tuna, is your dvd melting, or just your keyboard? ;) If your dvd is giving you grief, that's a shame, coz this is a smoothly framed movie - needs to be seen in all it's sheeny-ness. :yup:

Erm, and Jackie, if that question about rating was to me, i give it five kipper ties and three silk shirts ;). It's a wardrobe's worth of good film :) (might even knock your pants off ;))

That is not what I meant but thanks anyway!LOL!I better wear a skirt when I watch it so I don't get my pant knocked off!)LOL!
Anyway I just want to know if I can rate it!Is it Rated Pg-13 or R?
I am talking to anyone who knows but yu can answear if you like!See you around!JM :cool: ;) :p :D :)

[Richard Hell]

Excellent review golgot im counting down

[Aniko]

Anyway I just want to know if I can rate it!Is it Rated Pg-13 or R?
I am talking to anyone who knows but yu can answear if you like!

I believe it's PG. It's a beautiful movie...and one you can enjoy with your parents.

[Tuna]

Anyone else catch the 2046 on the door? :suspicious:

[Golgot]

Erm, it's been too long already. I remember being a bit confused by a section with people moving in and out concerning the numbers - but basically - no. Why, is it some bizarre reference to a flat FF Coppola lived in when he learning movement techniques from pet lizards? Tell all :)

[Travis_Bickle]

I believe he is refering to "2046", the title of Wong Kar Wai's upcoming film.

[LordSlaytan]

I just finished watching In the Mood for Love and am feeling quite sad right now. I think Kong hit the nail on the head by saying it had a beautiful and haunting ending, I’m certainly haunted by it. This is an exceptional movie.

[Golgot]

That movie made me wake up and smell the coffee alright. Good to find a movie that can really affect you and change you.

"Seize the day" we all say, but it takes a realised life-stream like this to make you really appreciate the sadness or gladness we can make for ourselves.

That final bit with the dusty window was just perfect. Or at least, i seem to remember the final poem/thoughts that went with it summed up the sentiment perfectly. Haunting stuff indeed. The ghosts of pasts we should have lived - and even the one we have

[The Silver Bullet]

Despite the praise everybody likes to pile upon In the Mood for Love, I've got to say that despite being nice to look at, it really didn't do anything for me at all.

[Golgot]

You're not old enough yet ;)

[LordSlaytan]

You're not old enough yet ;)

Oh God, don't get him started.

[Golgot]

Ah, if he starts shooting off we can always pay a werewolf to bite him ;) That's how it works isn't it?

[PumaMan]

I know, I know. I'm resurrecting a very old thread. This is the only thread I could find for this wonderful movie and I didn't want to start a new thread just to make a couple of comments about this film. So, if this offends the moderators/owners then please delete this post and this thread will sink back into its proper timeline.

Anyhow, I just want to say how much I like this movie. I saw it a long time ago but just watched it again, and I must say that just watching the very elegant Maggie Cheung walk is a great pleasure. What a sleek beauty she is. And, even though I'm a guy, I really love all the different dresses she wears. I'm a fan of Wong Kar-wai, having seen several of his movies, especially ChungKing Express and 2046, along with a couple others.

The originator of this thread did a great review so I won't repeat any of that here.

[Yoda]

Oh, we don't mind thread resurrections here. I know it's verboten on other sites but I've never understood why. :shrug:

[PumaMan]

Oh, we don't mind thread resurrections here. I know it's verboten on other sites but I've never understood why. :shrug:

Thanks.

Resurrection always seemed better to me than starting a new thread. It keeps all similar posts/thoughts in one place.

[Citizen Rules]

Thanks.

Resurrection always seemed better to me than starting a new thread. It keeps all similar posts/thoughts in one place. I loved In the Mood For Love....My glowing review Link (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1893784#post1893784) Don't worry that link is to a thread here on MoFo.

[PumaMan]

I loved In the Mood For Love....My glowing review Link (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1893784#post1893784) Don't worry that link is to a thread here on MoFo.

I just read it. Thank you. 👍

(I wonder why that didn't show up in a search ???)

[Yoda]

Default search searches for titles. Advance search lets you search whatever.

For reviews, though, you can go to the Reviews area and search for all tagged reviews of a given film (which in turn have links to where they were posted so you can find surrounding discussion): https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/search/any/higher/843/any

[PumaMan]

Thanks boss! 👍

[Citizen Rules]

I just read it. Thank you. 👍

(I wonder why that didn't show up in a search ???)In The Mood For Love was also a nomination in the 15th Hall of Fame here at MoFo. It placed 6th out of 11 movie nominations. I don't know if you're interested, but here's a link (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=53032) to the 15th Hall of Fame. The members reviews (including In The Mood For Love) are on the 1st post with links to the reviews.

[PumaMan]

Discussion of the ending . . .

I saw no indication in the film that Mrs. Chan's son was by Mr. Chow. He never even kissed her and there weren't any hints (that I saw) of a sexual relationship. He admitted to her that he loved her but the she did not say that she loved him. But I am sure that she did love him. But then again, there seemed to be the very slightest (knowing?) smile on Mr. Chow's face when told near the end of the film that the new neighbors were a mother and small son -- a smile indicating that he knew who the neighbor was maybe? But was the smile also that he knew the child was his? Was this his secret that he left in the hole at Angkor Wat? Regardless, it is a beautiful film. Wong Kar-Wai seems to want us to derive our own conclusions.

[thracian dawg]

In the deleted scenes section on the Criterion version of this film; there are two interesting scenes that were dropped from the final cut. In one, they consummate their relationship in the hotel room, so the child at end may be his. And in the other deleted scene, hilariously he is impotent and unable perform, so they celebrate their chaste friendship and take pride they aren’t at all like their randy spouses.

Also I have to add, Maggie Cheung’s husband in the film is a real hound dog. When Tony Leung’s wife in the film tells him Maggie may suspect something and they should cool it down for a while, he immediately dumps her and moves on. She is the woman seen crying in the shower. Ironic, that Maggie and Tony are obsessing about a torrid love affair that may have ended weeks or months ago.

[PumaMan]

In the deleted scenes section on the Criterion version of this film; there are two interesting scenes that were dropped from the final cut. In one, they consummate their relationship in the hotel room, so the child at end may be his. And in the other deleted scene, hilariously he is impotent and unable perform, so they celebrate their chaste friendship and take pride they aren’t at all like their randy spouses.

Also I have to add, Maggie Cheung’s husband in the film is a real hound dog. When Tony Leung’s wife in the film tells him Maggie may suspect something and they should cool it down for a while, he immediately dumps her and moves on. She is the woman seen crying in the shower. Ironic, that Maggie and Tony are obsessing about a torrid love affair that may have ended weeks or months ago.


Thanks. I just received this Crirterion Blu-Ray today. I am anxious to give it a watch.

[PumaMan]

I have this recorded from the TCM channel and it's in a 4x3 aspect ration (pan & scan) -- really CRAP! It wasn't till I watched the Criterion Blu-Ray with the correct wide-screen aspect ration hat I realized what I was missing. This is disappointing for TCM -- they're usually better than that . . . .