Review of The Grandmaster (2013) by Nancy C — 29 Aug 2013

4/5 --- There just something so dreamlike about director Wong Kar Wai's visual style, the cinematography is stunning - from the beginning sequence to the end, from raindrops to smoke from a cigarette to fighting to falling snow...everything just looks beautiful.

The story, be glad there are subtitles and locations and time stamps, you might get a bit lost with that/it goes by fast but at least the translations are pretty accurate. A large number of characters...all makes sense around the 2nd half, everything picks up and the characters are more fleshed out. Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi make the film, especially Zhang whose characters for me, made an emotional impact. Powerful quotes about kung-fu/life and I enjoyed the different fighting styles, 64 Hands FTW! ;).

The fight sequences are choreographed so uniquely, some close ups some above shots some all around, I felt there needed to be longer takes/less cuts but still visually cannot-look away. Spoilers ahead --- I enjoyed the backstory of Gong Er (Zhang Ziyi) best...especially that scene of her practicing in the snow with the trees and frost and wind, then flashback scenes of her Father and her as a little girl. Also the whole revenge part...

Overall, cleverly done, pacing is good for a WKW film, you'll know what I mean of you've seen/experienced his other films such as "In the Mood for Love" and "2046," both stylized and unique but slower paced. Have to say, his films have the *best* scores/soundtracks...I always end up buying them, like poetry to the senses, as this movie was in many ways.