ASHES: Not one of Wong's finest effots
Even when originally making this convoluted period epic, celebrated art house film-maker Wong Kar-Wai complained of frustrations he was having with the flow of his creative process. In fact, to unwind he made two independent features, FALLEN ANGELS and the much lauded CHUNKING EXPRESS ( the one that really put him on the radar here in the States - thanks to Mr.Tarantino no less!) which I find both much more compelling and artistically satisfying than this muddled mess of mystical costume drama diluted Chinese and folktale. Still. on the plus side - you have Both Tony Leungs, Maggie Cheung and the always watchable Leslie Cheung - some striking visuals and a lugubrious score complimented by the haunting work of Master cellist, Yo-Yo Ma.