DCSIMG
 
 

Chungking Express (1994) Reviews

Chungking Express (1994)
Member Rating:  
A Hong Kong fast food restaurant acts as the link between two unusual stories of police officers in love in this eccentric, stylish comedy-drama. Director Wong Kar-Wai plays freely with traditional narrative structure, dividing his film into two loosely connected segments. The first centers on a depressed cop struggling to come to terms with a recent break-up. His sad isolation is transformed when he encounters a beautiful, mysterious femme fatale, whose involvement with the criminal underworld proves troublesome for both. The second story explores the odd relationship between a female restaurant worker and another recently jilted police officer. The strange woman decides to regularly clean and redecorate the man's apartment in his absence, allowing the two to form a close intimacy without meeting face to face. Both stories present a beautifully atmospheric look at modern urban life and romance, with its combination of isolation and casual, unexpected meetings. Chungking Express came to the attention of American audiences thanks to the efforts of director Quentin Tarantino, whose own brand of fractured storytelling and urban cool owes a debt to Wong Kar-Wai. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

 Read More


Starring:
Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, (more)
Director(s):
Wong Kar-Wai
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG13
Format(s):
DVD  |  Blu-ray
View All Versions to rent and buy
 
 
 
 
 
 

Average Ratings

(35 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Cynthia F.

Wong Kar-Wei is a filmmaker with a rare ability to create and sustain a mood. In Chungking Express, we're looking into the meeting of minds, when one person enters and begins to explore the psychological landscape of another person, leaving mementos and sometimes sprucing up the place... or flooding it. Taken literally, moments of this film seem a bit absurd, but as the externalization of thought and emotion, it's brilliant metaphor. A remarkable cast, great music and some really nice cinematographic touches make this a real treat on every level. The only weakness in this film is that the first story, while much shorter than the second, is still a bit long. We don't get very invested in the characters, and it's mainly there for humorous contrast to story 2. Once we get to that though, it's true love.

Yes   |   No


Owen L.

Probably his most endearing film, though still highly stylized. Full of comically neurotic characters living in a surreal, forlorn metropolis where love is always just beyond reach. Wong Kar-Wai pauses now and then, drawing out a stylized scene to frame a character or just for fun. Much more narrative-driven than many of his other films.

Yes   |   No


Gary W.

Disjointed and incomprehensible. I must admit I didn't recognize that the 2 cops were different people for 20 minutes. There were some endearing moments, but the stories were much too trifling to make it worth the effort to care about the characters.

Yes   |   No


Roberta V.

It loses a lot in translation.

Yes   |   No


Tommy T.

Do not like this movie. Boring. It is just not for me.

Yes   |   No


Maura L.

Gave up on this film after 20 minutes. Didn't realize it was foreign with subtitles. Jerky filming style was dizzy-making. No plot to draw us in. :)

Yes   |   No


Andrew D.

i like a wide array of movies and can appreciate artistic to cliche` types but i have to say this movie was very bad. is it artsy to shoot some parts of a film with a slow shutter speed? i guess, but it's annoying when done too much like this one. the editing is jarring, the storyline was juxtaposed and not tied in, and the characters were very unlikeable. i don't know how these people gave this movie 5 stars. what a waste of an 1hr 40min of my life.

Yes   |   No


Lara K.

This is a really great movie. It fits into the category of art-cinema. There is no true plot, it is character-led rather than plot-led. You will drive yourself crazy if you constantly try to put the two stories together. There are however many similarites between the two officers. You just might have to watch it a couple of times to notice them.

Yes   |   No


ALLEN W.

This is one that may be needed to watch twice before you understand it. But just the same it is well worth the time and effort.

Yes   |   No


Aaron P.

I agree that the acting is good but to connect two different stories by having the main character from the 1st part of the movie pass one of the main characters in the second part of the movie is lacking. To me, you have to make a stronger connection than the one the writer attempted. So was there a plot? Maybe 2 plots loosely connected. Worth watching? Yes.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

BY MAIL

Monthly Subscription
 

IN-STORE

 

ON DEMAND

Blockbuster Instant Video

Watch thousands of movies instantly on your TV, tablet, mobile phone or computer with no monthly subscription. You pay only for what you watch.
 

What's Your Take?

Add to FavoritesIn Favorites  |  Share:     Email to a friendShare on FacebookShare on Twitter
    YOUR REVIEW
    WRITE A REVIEW
     
    1000 
     
    Member Reviews
    Read all (35)
     
    Cynthia F.

    Wong Kar-Wei is a filmmaker with a rare ability to create and sustain a mood. In Chungking Express, we're looking into the meeting of minds, when one person enters and begins to explore the psychological landscape of another person, leaving mementos and sometimes sprucing up the place... or flooding it. Taken literally, moments of this film seem a bit absurd, but as the externalization of thought and emotion, it's brilliant metaphor. A remarkable cast, great music and some really nice cinematographic touches make this a real treat on every level. The only weakness in this film is that the first story, while much shorter than the second, is still a bit long. We don't get very invested in the characters, and it's mainly there for humorous contrast to story 2. Once we get to that though, it's true love.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Owen L.

    Probably his most endearing film, though still highly stylized. Full of comically neurotic characters living in a surreal, forlorn metropolis where love is always just beyond reach. Wong Kar-Wai pauses now and then, drawing out a stylized scene to frame a character or just for fun. Much more narrative-driven than many of his other films.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Gary W.

    Disjointed and incomprehensible. I must admit I didn't recognize that the 2 cops were different people for 20 minutes. There were some endearing moments, but the stories were much too trifling to make it worth the effort to care about the characters.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 35 Reviews
       

      Rating Systems

       

      Blockbuster

      Find Us Online: BLOCKBUSTER Blog - BLOCKBUSTER Widgets - BLOCKBUSTER RSS FEED - BLOCKBUSTER Facebook Page - BLOCKBUSTER Twitter Page - BLOCKBUSTER Wiki

      Email Exclusives

      BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
        2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.

      Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation.   2013 Rovi Corporation.