Wang Hui-Ling Movies

One can rest fairly assured that when discussing or reading a review of a film scripted by Wang Hui Ling certain adjectives are bound to surface repeatedly. "Mesmerizing," "provocative," "tragic" -- these words are frequently and abundantly used to describe the films penned by two-time Ang Lee collaborator Ling. A talented writer often associated with films of romantic and warm-hearted sentiment, Ling retains the unique ability to paint characters and situations that draw out the emotions of the viewer without resorting to sappy melodrama or worn clichés. Ling's first screenplay, and initial collaboration with director Lee, was the successful culinary relationship comedy Eat Drink Man Woman, for which Ling was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. Ling followed the success of Eat Drink Man Woman with another Lee-helmed film, the phenomenally successful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. A lush, grand-scale romantic epic that quickly became the most successful foreign-language film ever released stateside, Ling's talent for romance, combined with Lee's eye for breathtaking action sequences, thrilled international audiences, earning Ling an Oscar nomination (along with co-screenplay writers James Schamus and Kuo Jung Tsai). Ling followed the success of Crouching Tiger by penning the screenplay for another tragic romance, Fleeing by Night (2000). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
2010  
 
John Woo turns his sights on romantic epic territory with this Lion Rock/Fortissimo Films production starring Chang Chen and Song Hye-kyo. Lust, Caution's Wang Hui-ling provides the screenplay for the picture, set at the tail end of China's Civil War. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

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Starring:
Chang ChenSong Hye-kyo, (more)
2002  
 
A romance born of a tragedy follows a tragic path of its own in this drama from Chinese auteur Zhang Yuan. Wang Yi (Tong Dawei) is a young man whose best friend is soon to marry a beautiful woman, Du Xiaoju (Xu Jinglei), to whom Yi finds himself attracted. When Yi's friend tragically dies shortly before the wedding, Yi becomes friendly with Xiaoju, and in time he confesses his love for her. Yi and Xiaoju soon marry, but while they're quite happy together at first, clouds soon appear on the horizon; she enjoys teasing him about his past lovers, while he becomes angry when she wears makeup or shows physical affection toward him in public. Yi and Xiaoju begin quarreling often, and he becomes moody and distant. One night, she confronts him while he's drinking with friends, and he responds with violence. Yi asks Xiaoju for a trial separation, which upsets her greatly; he decides to give their relationship another try, and all seems well on the surface. However, in time Xiaoju becomes convinced Yi no longer loves her, while she has become more emotionally dependent on him than ever, and her desperation begins to manifest itself in dangerous emotional instability. Wo Ai Ni received its American premiere at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

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Starring:
Du PengFeifei, (more)
2008  
R  
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Legendary Hong Kong action specialist John Woo and international superstar Tony Leung reunite for their first feature film together since 1992's Hard-Boiled with this historical drama set during the decisive 208 A.D. battle that heralded the end of the Han Dynasty. Adapted in part from the beloved Chinese tome Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Red Cliff opens in the year 208 A.D., just as prime minister-turned-general Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) seeks permission from Han Dynasty emperor Xian (Wang Ning) to organize a southward-bound mission designed to silence troublesome warlords Liu Bei (You Yong) and Sun Quan (Chang Chen). As the expedition gets under way, Cao Cao's troops rain destruction on Liu Bei's army, forcing the latter to retreat and convincing Liu Bei's military strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) that their only hope for victory is to form an alliance with Sun Quan. Increasingly aware of the monumental struggle ahead, both sides begin preparing for the battle that will ultimately shape the future of an entire nation. Originally envisioned as a single film, Red Cliff was eventually split into two parts due to an excessive running time that approached five hours. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

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Starring:
Tony Leung Chiu-WaiTakeshi Kaneshiro, (more)
2005  
PG13  
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Historical fact blends with high-flying fiction as Jackie Chan steps into dual roles as a determined archeologist and a loyal general of China's first emperor in director Stanley Tong's lavish historical action film. Jack (Chan) is an intrepid archeologist in search of a mythical gemstone that is said to have the power to defy gravity. Though Jack's days are spent traversing the globe with scientist sidekick William (Tony Leung Ka-fai) in hopes of finding the elusive gem, at night in his dreams he assumes the role of General Meng-yi, devoted servant of Emperor Qin Shi-huang. As Jack and William venture to the mystical Heavenly Palace -- a wondrous fortress rumored to have been built by Qin Shi-huang himself -- Jack's vivid nocturnal journeys find him falling head-over-heels for the emperor's comely Korean consort Ok-soo (Kim Hee-seon). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

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Starring:
Jackie ChanKim Hee-seon, (more)
2001  
PG13  
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A remake of Ang Lee's family comedy Eat Drink Man Woman, Maria Ripoli's Hispanic-American ensemble feature set in Southern California about a veteran chef named Martin Naranjo (Hector Elizondo), who is slowly losing his sense of taste. He has three daughters, all of whom have chosen different paths. There is Letitia (Elizabeth Pena), the oldest and most repressed of the bunch, a rigid schoolteacher who is a member of the Christian faith. His youngest, Maribel (Tamara Mello), is the most assured, though plagued by doubts. His middle daughter Carmen (Jacqueline Obradors) is most like him and shares his taste for cooking, but has chosen a career as a corporate consultant, which makes for a more secure lifestyle. She is offered a high-profile job in Barcelona, which causes a rift in the family setting. Maribel soon finds herself drawn to a handsome Brazilian student (Nikolai Kinski), and Letitia is gaining affection for Orlando (Paul Rodriguez), an awkward ballplayer whom her students have sent mistaken love letters to without her knowing. Also at their dinners are a shy single mother (Constance Marie) and her obnoxious mother (Raquel Welch), who has her sights set on Martin's affections. Tortilla Soup is Maria Ripoli's second major feature, after her whimsical 1998 feature Twice Upon a Yesterday. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide

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Starring:
Hector ElizondoJacqueline Obradors, (more)
2000  
PG13  
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Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee took a break from making Western period dramas to fashion this wild and woolly martial arts spectacular featuring special effects and action sequences courtesy of the choreographer of The Matrix (1999), Yuen Woo Ping. In the early 19th century, martial arts master Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) is about to retire and enter a life of meditation, though he quietly longs to avenge the death of his master, who was killed by Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-pei). He gives his sword, a fabled 400-year-old weapon known as Green Destiny, to his friend, fellow martial arts wizard and secret love Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), so that she may deliver it to Sir Te (Sihung Lung). Upon arrival in Peking, Yu happens upon Jen (Zhang Ziyi), a vivacious, willful politician's daughter. That night, a mysterious masked thief swipes Green Destiny, with Yu in hot pursuit -- resulting in the first of several martial arts action set pieces during the film. Li arrives in Beijing and eventually discovers that Jen is not only the masked thief but is also in cahoots with the evil Jade. In spite of this, Li sees great talent in Jen as a fighter and offers to school her in the finer points of martial arts and selflessness, an offer that Jen promptly rebukes. This film was first screened to much acclaim at the 2000 Cannes, Toronto, and New York film festivals and became a favorite when Academy Awards nominations were announced in 2001: Tiger snagged ten nods and later secured four wins for Best Cinematography, Score, Art Direction, and Foreign Language Film. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

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Starring:
Chow Yun-FatMichelle Yeoh, (more)
1994  
NR  
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Director Ang Lee's follow-up to his surprise box-office hit The Wedding Banquet is another look at ethnic and sexual conflicts in a Chinese family, with meals as a centerpiece of the film. Master chef Chu (Sihung Lung) is a long-time widower who lovingly cooks large Sunday dinners for his three daughters, who view the meals as too traditional. Secretly, however, successful airline executive Jia-Chien (Chien-Lien Wu) loves traditional cooking and would like to be a chef like her father, if women were permitted to do so. Her older sister Jia-Jen (Kuei-Mei Yang) is unmarried and cynical about men, but she becomes attracted to a volleyball coach and eventually pursues him vigorously. The youngest daughter, Jia-Ning (Yu-Wen Wang), is a college student who becomes pregnant from her frequent sexual escapades. As the film progresses, the personal relationships between the daughters and their significant others change unexpectedly. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

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Starring:
Sihung LungYang Kuei-Mei, (more)
2007  
NC17  
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Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee adapts this Eileen Chang story set in World War II-era Shanghai that details the political intrigue surrounding a powerful political figure named Mr. Yee (Tony Leung) in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. Spanning the late '30s and early '40s, the movie introduces us to Hong Kong teen Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei), a shy college freshman who finds her calling in a drama society devoted to patriotic plays. But the troupe's leader, Kuang Yu Min (Wang Leehom), isn't just a theater maven -- he's a revolutionary as well, and he's devoted to carrying out a bold plan to assassinate top Japanese collaborator Mr. Yee. Each student has an important role to play, and Wong puts herself in a dangerous position as Mrs. Mak; she befriends Mr. Yee's wife (Joan Chen), and slowly gains trust before tempting him into an affair. While at first the plan goes exactly as scripted, things suddenly take a deadly turn and Wong is emigrated from Hong Kong. Later, in 1941, the occupation shows no signs of ceasing and Wong is simply drifting through her days in Shanghai. Much to her surprise, the former actress finds Kuang requesting that she resume the role of Mrs. Mak. Now, as Wong again gains intimate access to her dangerous prey, she must struggle with her own identity in order to pull off the performance of a lifetime. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

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Starring:
Tony Leung Chiu-WaiTang Wei, (more)

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