Filmmaker Wong Kar Wai exists in liminal spaces— the pauses between words, the gaps between cultures, the chance encounters between strangers who will become lovers or almost become lovers before they’re strangers again. His films are about potential, not expiation; his characters are each “about to,” and that they don’t know that is heartbreaking. He’s slippery, ephemeral, a warm smell carried on a spring breeze, the first maybe after a long winter. His films exist at the moment of change after lifetimes of stagnation and rigor; His interest isn’t drawn by any narrative force, but rather by how everything is essentially the same until something changes and then it’s the same again, but in this new way.

Continue reading Criterion Collection’s ‘World Of Wong Kar-Wai’ Box Set Captures The Poetic Rapture Of His Liminal Art at The Playlist.

When it was announced that acclaimed filmmaker Wong Kar-wai was going back to restore all of his films in 4K, people were ecstatic. This is a director that has released some of the very best films of the past several decades, including what some consider a couple of the best films of all time. But really, what excited people most about the announcement was the inevitability of a box set release. Well, welcome to the “World of Wong Kar-wai.”

READ MORE: Wong Kar-Wai Reveals He Has Tweaked Many Of His Classic Films Restored In 4K

Criterion just announced a 7-disc box set containing remastered versions of Wong Kar-wai’s films such as “As Tears Go By,” “Days of Being Wild,” “Chungking Express,” “Fallen Angels,” “Happy Together,” “In the Mood for Love,” and “2046.” Many of these films are currently available to stream or purchase in other releases, but what Criterion has up its sleeve is far more special than just a typical release.

Continue reading Criterion Announces ‘World Of Wong Kar-Wai’ Box Set Featuring 4K Restorations Of 7 Films at The Playlist.

Since 2000, acclaimed filmmaker Wong Kar-wai has only directed four feature films. However, when one of them is “In the Mood for Love,” you can forgive the director’s lack of output. The 2000 feature is often regarded as not just one of the best films of the last two decades, but also one of the best films, period. And since the release of that film, Wong has followed it up with a sequel, titled “2046,” in 2004, which also received critical acclaim.

Continue reading Filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai’s Next Film ‘Blossoms’ Will Be Part Of A Trilogy With ‘In The Mood For Love’ & ‘2046’ at The Playlist.

Wong Kar-Wai is probably one of the most abstract directors you will find. Director Barry Jenkins has often stated that Kar-Wai’s work has been a huge influence on his filmography. Honestly, it’s easy to see why. So much of Kar-Wai’s films rests in the image. The moving pictures Kar-Wai compiles into hours of narrative footage. The filmmaker has written over 30 features. And he has directed roughly 30 of them. Kar-Wai has made films that put him at such a high esteem.

Continue reading The Films Of Wong Kar-Wai: Rapture Set In Slow Motion at The Playlist.

Making a great science fiction sequel may be easier than creating a killer comedy sequel, but not by much. Producers have been turning out second (and third, and fourth) chapters to continue stories of space and advanced technology for decades, but with the exception of a killer run of films in the 1980s and early ’90s, most of them stink.

The ratio of bad sci-fi sequels to good only makes the best ones seem even more impressive.

Continue reading The 15 Best Sci-Fi Sequels at The Playlist.

64 years ago today, a one-of-a-kind film artist was born. Christopher Doyle, originally from Australia but wholeheartedly belonging to his adoptive Asian culture of Hong Kong and Taiwan, is one of the greatest living cinematographers working today. He’s also the first DP to come to mind if you’re ever thinking about having a drink with one, a plaudit he’d probably hold in higher regard than any praise of cinematic artistry laid on him.

Continue reading The 10 Best Shots: Celebrating The Eye Of Christopher Doyle at The Playlist.