Ashes of Time Redux

The films of Wong Kar-wai—boasting beautiful images, disposable narratives, and glacial pacing—are the most rarefied of acquired cinematic tastes. Ashes of Time Redux (which proves that even when tackling a genre like martial arts the director refuses to adopt a more conventional approach) is Wong's re-edited version of his little-seen 1994 film, newly restored to match his original vision. Characteristically dense and enigmatic, the film revolves around a verbose martial arts master who drones on and on about the philosophical aspects of assassination while recalling several cases in which he worked with sword-wielding hitmen. The film's fight sequences are shot in a deliberately blurry style, employing hallucinatory imagery reminiscent of impressionist paintings, while the stories behind the battles are presented in such elliptical, arty fashion that many viewers will have difficulty following them. As per usual in Wong's pictures, the performances here are basically functional--the actors little more than movable pieces of furniture in the director's carefully composed scenes. While there are lovely moments here (how could it be otherwise in a film shot by Christopher Doyle?), the impact never moves beyond the purely visual. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD extras include a Q&A with director Wong Kar-Wai (42 min.), the 14-minute “making-of” featurette “Born from the Ashes,” and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing film.] (F. Swietek)