In an era of flying swordsmen, desert battles and adaptations of Louis Cha novels, art-house film-maker, Wong Kar Wai, was not going to be left behind and set out to create on of the most revered, overrated, and beautiful wu xia films from Hong Kong cinema. In fact, the project became so exhausting to him, Wong managed to write and make Chungking Express during the editing process in a bid to 'clear his head'...
I can understand that, having done the same thing during post-production of my 4th film Splash Area. Clogged up with the struggle of the production, and exhausted, I took two of my actors to Norway for a week and shot my 5th film, Onus scripting their lines only the night before each days shoot. Turned out to be one of my favourites!
Ashes Of Time was a much bigger success of course, which makes me think I tried to hard (with Splash Area) and should have adapted a treasured story instead. With an all star cast, most of who probably spent most of their days alone shooting their scenes, the film may seem like a convoluted mess to most, with some scenes and moments making no sense. This is supposedly cleaned up in the Redux version released for Cannes in 2008, with clearer changes in seasons, alternative footage, deleted scenes, and a change of order in what this original offers - leaving it with a shorter running time, but apparently, a much better viewing experience with new soundtrack and enriched colours.
There is no denying how incredible each of the cast members are, many of who are Wong regulars. The film is shot beautifully with cinematography by Christopher Doyle and Andrew Lau (director of Infernal Affairs). I'd love to see a 4K restored version to allow for the true beauty of what they captured, to be seen...
In terms of swordplay action, we have the legend that is Sammo Hung in charge of making the stars look good. Assisting Hung is martial arts power-house and star of Flashpoint, Collin Chou. Along with him is Hong Kong movie veteran and Shaw Brothers actor Foo Siu Tak, first-timer Wong Ming Kin, who went on to work as a choreographer on films such as Shaolin Soccer, An Empress And The Warriors, and Call Of Heroes, and Derek Cheung who actually was assistant choreographer on The Eagle Shooting Heroes, which is a spoof of this from its producer, Jeff Lau.
You would think with that many great names involved, Ashes Of Time would deliver some of the greatest wu xia action ever committed to film. And while it looks great when it comes about, there isn't as much as one would hope. To top it off, the fights are more about camera-techniques, fast cuts and blurred action, jumping between slow motion and over-cranking as if it doesn't know what it wants to be. If its martial arts, wire-fu action you are looking, I'd go straight for something like Tsui Hark's New Dragongate Inn, Moon Warriors, The Swordsman Trilogy, or The Assassin with Max Mok, which were better offerings from the same period!
Ultimately, Ashes Of Time is a love story. Its a beautiful and poetic movie, full of heart and tragedy with an incredible cast and charm. While I have yet to see the Redux version, I do still find the original version somewhat entertaining, and enjoy it more each time I watch.
Overall: Definitely well worth the watch, Ashes Of Time is an epic Marmite movie for fans of the genre, yet at the same time, stunningly beautiful to watch!
I can understand that, having done the same thing during post-production of my 4th film Splash Area. Clogged up with the struggle of the production, and exhausted, I took two of my actors to Norway for a week and shot my 5th film, Onus scripting their lines only the night before each days shoot. Turned out to be one of my favourites!
Ashes Of Time was a much bigger success of course, which makes me think I tried to hard (with Splash Area) and should have adapted a treasured story instead. With an all star cast, most of who probably spent most of their days alone shooting their scenes, the film may seem like a convoluted mess to most, with some scenes and moments making no sense. This is supposedly cleaned up in the Redux version released for Cannes in 2008, with clearer changes in seasons, alternative footage, deleted scenes, and a change of order in what this original offers - leaving it with a shorter running time, but apparently, a much better viewing experience with new soundtrack and enriched colours.
There is no denying how incredible each of the cast members are, many of who are Wong regulars. The film is shot beautifully with cinematography by Christopher Doyle and Andrew Lau (director of Infernal Affairs). I'd love to see a 4K restored version to allow for the true beauty of what they captured, to be seen...
In terms of swordplay action, we have the legend that is Sammo Hung in charge of making the stars look good. Assisting Hung is martial arts power-house and star of Flashpoint, Collin Chou. Along with him is Hong Kong movie veteran and Shaw Brothers actor Foo Siu Tak, first-timer Wong Ming Kin, who went on to work as a choreographer on films such as Shaolin Soccer, An Empress And The Warriors, and Call Of Heroes, and Derek Cheung who actually was assistant choreographer on The Eagle Shooting Heroes, which is a spoof of this from its producer, Jeff Lau.
You would think with that many great names involved, Ashes Of Time would deliver some of the greatest wu xia action ever committed to film. And while it looks great when it comes about, there isn't as much as one would hope. To top it off, the fights are more about camera-techniques, fast cuts and blurred action, jumping between slow motion and over-cranking as if it doesn't know what it wants to be. If its martial arts, wire-fu action you are looking, I'd go straight for something like Tsui Hark's New Dragongate Inn, Moon Warriors, The Swordsman Trilogy, or The Assassin with Max Mok, which were better offerings from the same period!
Ultimately, Ashes Of Time is a love story. Its a beautiful and poetic movie, full of heart and tragedy with an incredible cast and charm. While I have yet to see the Redux version, I do still find the original version somewhat entertaining, and enjoy it more each time I watch.
Overall: Definitely well worth the watch, Ashes Of Time is an epic Marmite movie for fans of the genre, yet at the same time, stunningly beautiful to watch!