Last Life in the Universe

Languid and poetic, with more stunning photography by Christopher Doyle. I enjoy some ambiguity in my films, and Last Life gets the mix of reality and mystery just right.

Extremely contemplative, but I wasn't really thinking about anything.

Atmospheric, but strangely unfulfilling. It rests on Doyle's photography and some nice, mood-creating music, and its ultimately a bit shallow.

It has a really soft tone to it, despite all the horror the characters went through. I liked that. It made it seem very dreamlike, as if you were watching a past memory of some sort.

It's pretty and atmospheric and oddly captivating but ultimately I can't say the experience was all that fulfilling. It pushes the oddball mysteriousness a little too far without really giving a comparative payoff.

Somewhat puzzling, slow-burn contemplative study of two bizarre characters (feted by bizarre circumstances) that becomes strangely hypnotic, though never particularly involving – I think it is less about what it is trying to say than the process it is going about to say it, giving it a bit of a “chasing its tail” feeling at times. While not entirely successful, Ratanaruang is to be commended for establishing and maintaining a dreamy, surreal atmosphere; would definitely warrant a second viewing.

Amazing soundtrack.

Keeps switching between 'melancholy' and 'strangely uplifting'. Interesting minimalistic presentation, and I enjoyed how the mundane activities get much more screentime than the short burst of intensity. Just like life; a big heap of boredom, repetition and uncertainty, at times interrupted by something interesting. Err, except my life of course. I party with movie stars and do heroin with billionaires all the time.

One of the most beautiful films I've seen in a very long time, if not ever. Really solidified my opinion on Christopher Doyle being one of the best cinematographers out there, even without the aid of Wong Kar Wai. The colors were pale but simply gorgeous and the story was absolutely fantastic; tragic, fun and touching. This film started off leaving me a little unsure but once the credits began rolling, it had secured a spot as one of my favorite movies that I have seen.

It's beautiful and occasionally thoughtful but ultimately empty.

#24#, rw3, story, ratings, "Project 100-80-60-40-20"-2003#5

based on the part of it that I saw - uninteresting

It’s like if Pretty Woman was a good movie.

Sometimes one might find a brilliant movie in surprising way. This thai director's Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's movie is such a good mood piece that after it was very difficult to watch any other movies. This film has everything: yakuza's and seifuku's; despair and love.

Garbage, though very forgettable garbage. Entices the viewer into its languid, sleepy mood and forces them to sit through the unauthentic fantasies (or phantasies) of the filmmaker -- I'd rather watch a porno from the '80s

Interesting and dreamy exploration of Kenji-san's strange mind.

Feels a little thin and empty at times, but over time it gets momentum and the core relationship was interesting in its own way. I was worried it would be too sentimental towards the main male character and it is perhaps a little too forgiving but in the end I wasn't too bothered by it.

By-the-numbers plot & characters; as a romance or suspense movie it's rather dull but as an exploration of lead character Kenji's introspection it actually turns out to be pretty interesting.

Could have been worse... but definitely degraded after the first 30 minutes. Still very memorable film.

I feel like the only way to condense my feelings immediately after this film would be to babble in nonsense dreamspeak. It was a very still film, very soft, and I can't find where it lies on the spectrum between sombre and uplifting. Maybe some non-euclidean intersection where they're the same thing. And it's absolutely gorgeous.

Could have been very good if not for some serious missteps.

Asano, Ratanaruang, Doyle, and Miike all add up to something great.

Another great example of a methodical, dream like drama about love and sadness, beautifully shot by Christopher Doyle and with great performances by Asano and Sinitta Boonyasak.

Great quirky love story with dreamy photography and pacing. Tadanobu Asano is faultless as the obsessive compulsive suicidal protagonist.

"Last Life in the Universe isn't so much weightless as it is liable to inspire weightlessness." - Ed Gonzalez

Great visually.

Subtle, moving, and original.

I loved watching it, as it has a unique dreamlike quality with some naturally beautiful cinematography and quiet sensibilities, but unfortunateIy by the end I wasn't entirely fulfilled.

Superb

I am usually not into these indy films, but this was an amazing movie.

Some of the music is so beautiful

Ratanaruang shocked me with this fine piece of work.

One of my favorites, very introspective.

Nice

Thailanders smoke big doobies!

I almost ran off, but I had friends with me. So I closed my eyes.

Rather pointless and shallow, but very stylish and moody at that.