This is a fairly surrealistist, fragmented tale of a samurai and his recountings of the costs (mainly emotional memories) of being a contract killer. It's very reflective, and there are many interesting philosophical musings. In a way, it plays out like a mirage, or a collage of imaginations or dream states. You feel like you're getting closer to finishing the jigsaw puzzle then the pieces don't quite fit again. It's interesting in this fashion, but a bit tiresome at the same time.

wow

Lucid lighting and moody photography, as no less can be expected from Kar Wai. He applies his trademark formula to wuxia genre, decreasing the fights (which are pretty bad). As always he got dragged in textures and visual possibilities. I started to believe characters in Wai movies don't fall in love, they are always in love searching for the subject of it. Childish but watchable.

Passionately sentimental and yearning - ebullient in shape and heavy-hearted in spirit. This was pretty seductive, if not as completely awesome as I had hoped...

This film is jaw-dropping. Wong Kar Wai managed to make a mood film out of wuxia...and you can see its repercussions in future works like Hero, and even anime. Not his best, but certainly still an incredible film.