Three Times (2005) Reviews
- Starring:
- Shu Qi, Chang Chen, (more)
- Director(s):
- Hou Hsiao-Hsien
- Category:
- Romance, Foreign, Independent Films
Member Rating
My RatingAverage Ratings
Member Reviews
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful A trilogy featuring the same two stars (Qi Shu and Chen Chang) in three love stories set 50 years ago, 100 years ago and present day, THREE TIMES is one-third of a fine film. It's the first episode ... Read More A trilogy featuring the same two stars (Qi Shu and Chen Chang) in three love stories set 50 years ago, 100 years ago and present day, THREE TIMES is one-third of a fine film. It's the first episode that may sweetly, quietly tear you apart: a near love story of missed connections in pool halls of various cities. The second section, which takes place in the early 1900s, is, for some reason, like a silent movie, with Chinese subtitles that are then translated into English. I'm not sure why director/co-writer Hsiao-hsien Hou chose this method, since the cinematography is in gorgeous, sharp color (nothing like the quality of a black-and-white silent film). Yet the beauty of people and place carries you along to number three--which is pretty much an unmitigated disaster: a modern piece of Asian anomie that--though it deals in love (hetero & homo), drugs and sex--is tiresome, repetitive and ugly. Figure four stars for #1, three for #2 and 2 for #3. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful The first story, "A Time for Love," in Three Times took my breath away. It moved and touched me in a way that a film rarely does. It's a simple love story, about a young man searching for a pool hall ... Read More The first story, "A Time for Love," in Three Times took my breath away. It moved and touched me in a way that a film rarely does. It's a simple love story, about a young man searching for a pool hall hostess. But it's shot and acted with simple elegance, grace, beauty, and tenderness. It moves at un unhurried pace. The lovers, played by Chang Chen and the lovely and talented Shu Qi, are shy and awkard, but extremely appealing and earnest. "A Time for Love" is a terrific work of art--a gem.
Unfortunately, the two tales that follow, "A Time for Freedom" and "A Time for Youth," are much less successful. It's too bad, because if they would've been the same caliber as the first tale, this movie would be a masterpiece.
I recommend you rent this movie, but just watch the first story. That alone makes this movie worth renting Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful This is a beautiful film to watch despite the emphasis on stark reality. But it's gonna interest a small percentage of the moviegoers.
It's the type of film that's call a "meditation". The ... Read More This is a beautiful film to watch despite the emphasis on stark reality. But it's gonna interest a small percentage of the moviegoers.
It's the type of film that's call a "meditation". The stories seem to be rooted more in everyday life rather than a manufactured drama. Most people will not see anything going on and wonder when the story's gonna start.
The first and third of the three love stories have VERY sparse dialog and what's there is indirect. The drama comes from behavior and from things left unsaid. The second story is the most talkative -- but it's almost all silent! Title cards are used like in the silent film days. A gutsy trick, but I didn't find it entirely successful.
Another warning: the chronologies of the first and last episode are confusing at times thanks to the filmmaker's choice to avoid conventional means of identifying flashback.
For those people seeking something new. Something edging closer to reality. This could be the future of cinema. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful The first line of dialog doesn't occur until 9 minutes into the film, and the dialog continues to be sparse afterward. The movie is visually stimulating but without a well paced plot and dialog to ... Read More The first line of dialog doesn't occur until 9 minutes into the film, and the dialog continues to be sparse afterward. The movie is visually stimulating but without a well paced plot and dialog to go with it, I wasn't drawn into the movie. I made it through the first half of the movie before I shut it off, which is exceedingly rare for me. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful Three Times is beautiful to watch, but don't expect an entertaining set of plots. Like the love songs in the film, the dialogue between the characters is superficial. The most interesting feature of ... Read More Three Times is beautiful to watch, but don't expect an entertaining set of plots. Like the love songs in the film, the dialogue between the characters is superficial. The most interesting feature of the three stories was the change in how couples physically related to each other during the three eras. If you liked literary analysis in English class, you might enjoy comparing the three women's and the three men's situations in terms of love relationships. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful As I patiently waited for the opening line, my mind raced to guess where the plot was heading. By the 10th minute I skipped to the next part of the "trilogy", and then the next. I must admit I don't ... Read More As I patiently waited for the opening line, my mind raced to guess where the plot was heading. By the 10th minute I skipped to the next part of the "trilogy", and then the next. I must admit I don't get this at all, not even "french" style. You have to be completely hosed and unable to move to appreciate its pace. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No |
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