Before Crouching Tiger, Ang Lee was best know for Eat Drink Man Woman, a straight family drama in which a father considers life after his three daughters leave the nest, as its seems their lives and loves threaten to make them do. He's a chef, so there's lots of food porn, and perhaps a sense that the exact dishes say something about the situation, but I don't know enough about Chinese cuisine to make that call. And while food movies usually make me say "I'd try that!", not so much this one. There are branches of Chinese cuisine that are rather off-putting to the casual foodie. In any case, the idea of food is equated with that of love (family, but also romantic), as in, what do people NEED. Food, water, companionship. The three daughters' stories all track the later quest, each in their own context (age/job), with only the youngest daughter's a bit forgettable. But no matter the character's age in this, it's about looking up and assessing where you are in life and what you need to prosper as a person, then go get it. For some, it's easy; for others, complicated. Director Lee brings his usual sensitivity to a touching, if soapy, portrait of a family in transition.
It stayed in my memory as a visually attractive film with some semi-interesting food demonstration.
On re-watch things got way uglier than i would imagine.
While it is nicely paced as one comment states here, it is actually an irritating type that desperately wants to be recognized in some silly festivals.
Here is the formula: have some scenes how Asians are learning French, force some scenes of Christian Asians and how they love listening to church music, have a bunch of food (with many meat) in close-up (that is actually not very interesting to look at as it is a mess), have some old guy who looks he is about to die every minute - yet somehow manages to be
in relationship and impregnate 20+ younger woman, without even any hint throughout the film. How and why they ended up together...
...well, we will never know, but some idiots must be impressed - that's what this pathetic little Ang Lee was very likely thinking when he was making this sterile stinker. He is certainly one of the most over-appreciated filmmakers in the world.
If i need to say one more positive thing:
(Chien-lien) Jacklyn Wu is captivating and sexy,
but unfortunately trapped in useless scenario.
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Spacepimp
Beautifuly paced. With a love for food like barbette's feast, and a love for love of the family.Siskoid
Before Crouching Tiger, Ang Lee was best know for Eat Drink Man Woman, a straight family drama in which a father considers life after his three daughters leave the nest, as its seems their lives and loves threaten to make them do. He's a chef, so there's lots of food porn, and perhaps a sense that the exact dishes say something about the situation, but I don't know enough about Chinese cuisine to make that call. And while food movies usually make me say "I'd try that!", not so much this one. There are branches of Chinese cuisine that are rather off-putting to the casual foodie. In any case, the idea of food is equated with that of love (family, but also romantic), as in, what do people NEED. Food, water, companionship. The three daughters' stories all track the later quest, each in their own context (age/job), with only the youngest daughter's a bit forgettable. But no matter the character's age in this, it's about looking up and assessing where you are in life and what you need to prosper as a person, then go get it. For some, it's easy; for others, complicated. Director Lee brings his usual sensitivity to a touching, if soapy, portrait of a family in transition.Bolero Tenebris
It stayed in my memory as a visually attractive film with some semi-interesting food demonstration.On re-watch things got way uglier than i would imagine.
While it is nicely paced as one comment states here, it is actually an irritating type that desperately wants to be recognized in some silly festivals.
Here is the formula: have some scenes how Asians are learning French, force some scenes of Christian Asians and how they love listening to church music, have a bunch of food (with many meat) in close-up (that is actually not very interesting to look at as it is a mess), have some old guy who looks he is about to die every minute - yet somehow manages to be
If i need to say one more positive thing:
(Chien-lien) Jacklyn Wu is captivating and sexy,
but unfortunately trapped in useless scenario.