Sunday, October 12, 2008

Redux redux


Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia
as the Defeat-Seeking Swordsman (Swordsperson?)
in Ashes of Time (original and redux)
(picture from Ashes of Time Redux's Sony Classics website)

As was promised earlier this week, I'm calling attention and linking to the reports -- not one but two! -- that sbk now has her pictures, thoughts and comments about Ashes of Time Redux and being in the audience for the Q&A involving acting goddess Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia, director Wong Kar Wai and cinematographer Christopher Doyle -- and another earlier in the day with 'just' Wong and Doyle -- up on her blog.

At the same time, am going to say that I've checked out more of the official Ashes of Time Redux site than just the gorgeous stills now and found massive spoilers in the trailer. So here's a warning to those of you who've yet to see the original Ashes of Time (1994) to stay away from that trailer and feast your eyes instead on the still photography (a sample of which I've put at the top of this blog entry). Long-time Hong Kong movie fans, OTOH... I don't think you'll be able to watch the trailer just once... nor tear up, for more reasons than one, when you see the "Starring..." segment.

December. *Sigh* The waiting will seem ever-lasting. (Especially for someone whose Ashes of Time love extends to her having the original OST CD and photo book as well as the DVD and VCD and go up to New York from Philadelphia in order to view it on a big screen!) Still, I guess it's kind of appropriate, considering it's a Wong Kar Wai movie -- even one that actually is a redux version of one that's already 14 years old! ;S

8 comments:

Glenn, kenixfan said...

That shot does bring to mind the first year of my Hong Kong film fandom as I used it as my computer desktop wallpaper at a previous position.

I think the first time I watched Ashes of Time, I was aware that I was watching something special even if I only had read about -- or was aware of -- a handful of the cast already.

YTSL said...

Hi Glenn --

Cool to know I'm not the only person who's had that visual as a computer desktop wallpaper! And don't know if you read my review at brns.com of my first few experiences with "Ashes of Time" but if you haven't, here's adding the incentive that it was one of my first ever reviews for that site. :b

Glenn, kenixfan said...

Yeah, I *blame* you for my HK film addiction even though I didn't really pay attention to the bylines on those reviews back in 2001 and 2002.

For the first year or so that I was watching this stuff, Brian's site seemed to be the only trustworthy site I could rely on and then when Ross got his site up, I used that for the recent releases and filmographies.

YTSL said...

Hi again Glenn --

Eeek re my being responsible for your HK film addiction! And interesting that you went from Brian's site to Ross' as I think that they have different takes on Hong Kong films, etc.

Glenn, kenixfan said...

Yeah, Brian's was good for the core stuff and Ross' good for what was current in 2002 and upwards.

I neglected to mention that during that time I used Sanney's HK Entertainment News In Review as well!

But am I the only HK film fan that never really used the Mobius forum?

I did use the AsianDVDGuide forum once in a while.

YTSL said...

Hi again Glenn --

Yeah, I was a fellow devotee of Sanney's HK Entertainment News in Review. As for the Mobius forum: I do know some people who didn't use it (ever as well as progressively so -- e.g., LoveHKFilm's Kozo and Golden Rock) but have to say that it was the place where I met a lot of my HK movie fan friends (many of whom I eventually ended up meeting outside of cyberspace too) and really was tops in its heyday.

Willow said...

It's been ages since I've seen AOT and that was on a VHS tape. Looking forward to the DVD release.

YTSL said...

Hi Willow --

AOT on a VHS tape is no way to go. The original AOT is already out on DVD -- be careful though if you decide to check out this option: there's at least one DVD that's not great... Really, it was high time that such a wonderful film got better treatment.