Reviews

Mafia culture runs deep in Italian-American life, so it’s no surprise that Robert De Niro’s directing debut centers on the mob. However, the film surprisingly pulses with romance and idealism.

This is the first film in Ang Lee’s Father Trilogy. While not his most flawless work, it showcases his uncanny ability to strike you right in the heart with the pains of aging. In both The Wedding Banquet and Pushing Hands, his portrayals of the suffering and loss that come with growing older are profound and poignant. Although the trilogy concludes on a note of resolution, the conflicts it lays bare cut deep for Chinese audiences.

This film remains deeply touching. While it may not be as flawless as Eat Drink Man Woman, every emotion and detail lands perfectly. It beautifully illustrates how cultural heritage and emotional legacies are passed down. In the end, beneath the towering skyscrapers of New York, two elderly figures share a quiet conversation. The moment is so luminous it feels as if sunlight has dissolved all conflicts and estrangement.

That opening long take is insane. Was it really achieved with a crane swinging back and forth? The film blends suspense with dark humor perfectly. And the classic movie posters on the walls of the studio office are hilarious. Hollywood life really is as dramatic as its movies.

A master of ensemble scenes, Robert Altman stuns with a single long take at the film’s outset. ’90s Hollywood saw the rise of many similarly styled works—packed with dark humor and self-mockery aimed at the government, the media, and especially Hollywood itself. Through its deconstruction and satire, we gain a deeper understanding of the studio system and star culture. You can tell the cast and crew had a blast making it.

Baz Luhrmann’s first feature bursts with cartoonish exaggeration, especially from its supporting cast. However, the raw passion and courage leave a lasting impression, and the dance sequences are absolutely breathtaking!

Totally tacky, yet brilliantly so! In his debut, Baz Luhrmann lays out his favorite elements: cross-class romance and boundless, passionate dance. Strictly Ballroom is even more remarkable than Moulin Rouge! or Romeo + Juliet because it’s pure auteur cinema. Nothing about it screams groundbreaking, yet the director assembles every element to near-perfection.

I started out thinking the film was a story about forbidden love and parting, only to discover it’s actually a tragic tale about the tide of history and the betrayals they bring.

What hit me hardest wasn’t the iconic lines “You can’t live without being crazy” or “I will sing opera for my whole life,” but the tragedy inherent in the tide of history. Artists were forced to betray their own art; in that era, even the freedom to die for your art was stripped away. No one escaped the cruel currents of history.

The two leads: one a gay man pursuing artistic and intellectual freedom, the other a straight believer in rationality and communism—make for a compelling contrast. The film portrays the gay protagonist with a maternal-like tenderness, full of care and patience toward his straight friend. However, its true purpose is to exposing Cuba’s struggle to embrace individuals who are different.

Setting aside its political and revolutionary allegories, the narrative is relatively straightforward and conventional. But remember, for a 1993 film from a socialist country to produce a a classic LGBTQ+ film—that’s a groundbreaking achievement.

Revisiting this alongside other Batman classics, I expected ’90s animation to feel dated—but I was surprised. It outshines many 21st-century entries. The film is steeped in melancholy and stands out as one of the few that truly captures Batman’s genuine emotions.

The classic Batman animation brings a welcome wave of nostalgia. As an animated feature, it shouldn’t be judged by traditional cinematic standards. Sure, the plot has a few flaws, but the movie succeeds in revealing a more emotional Batman. He has no superpowers, yet he stands as an essential symbol of intellect in the DC universe—and his human side makes him all the more moving.

In his directorial debut, Robert De Niro delivers a heartfelt gangster street tale. The movie brims with touching moments, unforgettable lines, and a killer soundtrack. Its real treat comes in the clever nods to Martin Scorsese, riffing on Goodfellas in subtle, loving ways.

Monk Fat Hoi immerses himself in Buddhist austerities only to shatter his celibacy vows, blurring the boundary between virtue and vice. The Green Snake shadows her older sister in a quest to experience human emotions and desires—but she never quite succeeds. The White Snake, having mastered every facet of mortal life, neglects her 500-year bond with the Green Snake. In the end, what is love? No one in the film can truly grasp it, and this interpretation only deepens the tale’s tragic resonance.

On the surface, the White Snake is infatuated with Xu Xian while the Green Snake teases the monk Fat Hoi. But in reality, the only true love story here unfolds between the two snakes themselves.

I didn't realize it’s a John Woo film until the credits roll. Jean-Claude Van Damme has few lines, but his action scenes are crisp and precise. The acrobatic gunfights are infused with Woo’s signature romanticism. The plot remains tight and logical. The story of police going on strikes and wealthy elites hunting homeless people for sport starkly exposes the cruelty and arrogance of the upper class.

This film marks John Woo’s Hollywood debut, and he brings all his signature trademarks—high-octane gunfights, white doves, and a climactic showdown in a church. Jean-Claude Van Damme was just on the rise at the time. In an era when ’90s crime flicks were a dime a dozen, this one towers above the rest thanks to Woo’s masterful direction. Fun fact: the end credits roll to “Born on the Bayou,” the same song featured in The Expendables.

As a director, Ang Lee exhibits some rough edges in The Wedding Banquet, falling short of the polish seen in his Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. However, the story and character work in The Wedding Banquet reveal it to be one of his most heartfelt films. His depiction of cultural differences feels precise and lively. In this case, Ang Lee shines even brighter as the screenwriter than as the director.

Ang Lee has a real gift for showcasing the subtle beauty of Chinese traditions within a Western cultural framework. The comedic portrayal of a traditional Chinese wedding banquet ironically highlights the repression of sexuality in Chinese culture, while the traditional values of family and kinship are further explored through the chaos of a sham marriage. Beneath the humor, restrained emotions and familial conflicts give way to love and understanding. In the end, you embrace it all and move forward—after all, it’s still a celebration.