DVD Smurf

Blasphemy! I absolutely loved it, it is not the typical film driven by its dialogue as most films are. What Time Is It There? is very driven by each scene and the daily mundane life that surrounds the fathers death. This film is not hollow as each scene consists of as much information that the audience wants to get out of it. For example, if you go to an Art Museum you are to have search for the meaning in the painting as it as is the case in What Time Is It There?. This means that Ming-liang Tsai is not directing film in the typical way of using the camera. But in a more artistic manner as if he is using a brush to perfect each scene that often consists of several minutes of the same action. This might seem sluggish to many films, especially compared to Vidocq which I saw the other day.

The beauty of art is that is free for interpretation from the audience, but there is definitely something there and to call it pretentious is to go overboard. However, I can understand that you struggled with it as it moves very slowly forward, which is the intention as it offers more time to ponder the scene as in a museum. With this said, I must say that I still respect your feelings and thoughts in regards to the film. I also respect and appreciate many of your other likes as well as dislikes posts that you have posted here on DVDTalk as it has given me some ideas what to watch as I like much of what you have recommended.

Cheers

DVD Smurf

DVD Smurf

I agree it is a brilliant film, and I am not saying that I am "getting" it completely, because there is something new to discover each time I view it. However, I felt as if the film was going in new directions in each scene, and at the last 10 minutes ofthe film Lynch collected the fragments and tied it up neatly. But that is Lynch, a film director with a background in the Arts, who turn to film after have been doing some art studying in Europe.

Sidenote: I do love these threads.

sundog

Ah, I found the terrain of Clive Owen's face endlessly fascinating, particularly his eyes peering out from behind the blackness of his beard. Also the class consciousness seeps into all of the characters' motivations. Hodges creates a divide that recalls the male honor codes explored by Melville in his crime pictures. And like I wrote above, the skeletal plot is treated as such, leaving the film to soak in the atmosphere and have THAT comment on the characters.

Hmm. I would say the utter distillation of Tsai's methods that appear in 'Good Bye Dragon Inn' go too far in pushing his auteurist sensibilities. In other words, it's too focused, too Tsai for its own good. But like I said before, it's a movie I definitely want to see again to judge it more fairly.

But I feel 'What Time is it There' (one of my favorites of the aughts) is Tsai at his most exciting as he channels his influences, from Truffaut to Tati to Lloyd, within his own universe of detachment. And by creating two worlds to explore this detachment (Paris and Taipei) he examines not just the personal divides between people (like his earlier films) but the physical and temporal divide. And the penultimate scene, of the various characters attempting coitus, unify their longing, their displacement, their similarities across continents.

DVD Smurf

Did you know that Jean-Pierre Léaud made a cameo in What Time Is It There?. I just learned this as I was researching for my review on the film. This is interesting as it sheds some more light on the film and its depth.

Cheers

DVD Smurf

sundog

Knew it when I saw the trailer for the movie 2 years ago and looked it up online.

You didn't notice this in the end credits? Or you didn't know Léaud by name?

And I'm glad you liked The Hole as well. I think it's a hilarious picture and adore the musical numbers.

Grimfarrow

Well, you guys will love Tsai Ming-Liang's next film, WAYWARD WIND. After all, Tsai + Porn = must-watch! And a musical to boot!

Giles

so, should I also just serve my head on a platter and admit to not 'getting' the critically praised In the Mood for Love either. That film just put me in a mood for a nap.

okay... sold!

Giles

a) well, I actually went to see this film (and King Arthur) to be fascinated by Clive Owen... but for other reasons.

b) "focused" would probably be the best word and reasoning as to why I liked 'Goodbye Dragon Inn' over 'What Time is It There?'

c) in all fairness to Tsai and his films, one definately has to be a mindset for his movies. Since you credit Tati and Lloyd as being influential, you give me good reason to rewatch this film and see what I think after a second viewing.

I definately want to watch the second film which is included on the double-feature 'Goodbye Dragon Inn' DVD of : The Missing

which he produced.

sundog

Well, he makes a direct homage to a scene from Lloyd's Safety Last. And Tsai has repeatedly cited Tati as an influence in the handling of the humor. Of which I also think What Time is it There? is quite funny.

Giles

which incidently is still sitting in my 'to watch' pile next to the VCR.

sundog

d'oh! You replied too fast . . .

Giles

so sorry

have you seen 'Playtime' - I see that's it having a 70mm engagement at the Music Box theatre in the near future, if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you checking it out.

sundog

oh yeah. I've been waiting for Playtime to make its way here for over a year.

And it pisses me off the the Music Box is showing it. Their presentations or always scattershot. Saw the 2001 70mm re-release 3 times there and each time there was a problem (2 were nitpicks, 1 was inexcusable).

And in response to your question: I haven't seen Playtime.

Giles

just out of curiousity, what other theatre's in Chicago have the capabilities to playback 70mm?

sundog

The only movie theater I've seen have a 70mm presentation is the Music Box. I'd like to say the Film Center has done it, but it may be wishful thinking. In other words I'm not sure.

DVD Smurf

I prefer if it would be on lettuce so your head does not touch the tray, and could I have some onion rings on the side. You did not like In the Mood for Love… Well, you are willing to see watch films again, maybe, in the future when you watch it again you like it. So there is still hope.

Cheers

DVD Smurf

Rivero

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

QuikSilver

Vanilla Sky

I hated this movie because it makes no sense to me. There is a lot of thinking involved.

Grimfarrow

THE MISSING is pretty terrible. A good lesson as to why you never help your boyfriend become a director! Part of the problem when you see thousands of films at Rotterdam is that you go for the most common denominator....

Giles

crap.. oh well.

Playitagainsam

Both DVD Smurf and PopcornTreeCt have come up with excellent recomendations (at least according to my taste), but I'd add Tenghiz Abuladze's "Repentance" in the mix as well...