Holy fucking airball—whoever said that Fallen Angels is peak cinema is absofuckinglutely right.

I honestly went in expecting to just like it for the visuals and the aesthetic like most people do. And yeah, it’s definitely beautiful in that way, but it ended up feeling like so much more than just “aesthetic cinema.”

At first, I didn’t even finish it. I watched it late at night, fell asleep like maybe 30 minutes in, and thought maybe it just wasn’t for me. But of course, I gave it another shot, and it literally fucking changed me in ways I did not expect.

I could make a 20 page essay and it still wouldn't do it any justice. The visuals are unreal and I feel like no words can really capture how immaculate the cinematography and overall artistry of Fallen Angels are.

What surprised me most is how empty it can feel without ever feeling empty. Every character is moving, talking, doing things, but emotionally, they’re always just slightly out of reach from each other. Like everyone’s life is running parallel but never actually intersecting in the way they want it to.

And Wong Kar-wai really nails that feeling of emotional distance. Not in a tragic, crying-on-the-floor way, but in this strangely normal, almost routine kind of sadness. People miss each other constantly in this film not just physically, but emotionally too.

But what sticks with me is how this film portrays and expresses each of the characters loneliness and how each of them longs and yearns for connection with the people around them.

And can we literally talk about Ho Chi-mo?? He literally needs a hug. His father literally died and the man just fell in love, only for Charlie to leave and ghost him for that Johnny. But then again, it's like what Ho Chi-mo said—the night's full of weirdos.

WONG KAR-WAI THE DIRECTOR THAT YOU ARE!

Holy fucking airball—whoever said that Fallen Angels is peak cinema is absofuckinglutely right.

I honestly went in expecting to just like it for the visuals and the aesthetic like most people do. And yeah, it’s definitely beautiful in that way, but it ended up feeling like so much more than just “aesthetic cinema.”

At first, I didn’t even finish it. I watched it late at night, fell asleep like maybe 30 minutes in, and thought maybe it just wasn’t for me. But of course, I gave it another shot, and it literally fucking changed me in ways I did not expect.

I could make a 20 page essay and it still wouldn't do it any justice. The visuals are unreal and I feel like no words can really capture how immaculate the cinematography and overall artistry of Fallen Angels are.

What surprised me most is how empty it can feel without ever feeling empty. Every character is moving, talking, doing things, but emotionally, they’re always just slightly out of reach from each other. Like everyone’s life is running parallel but never actually intersecting in the way they want it to.

And Wong Kar-wai really nails that feeling of emotional distance. Not in a tragic, crying-on-the-floor way, but in this strangely normal, almost routine kind of sadness. People miss each other constantly in this film not just physically, but emotionally too.

But what sticks with me is how this film portrays and expresses each of the characters loneliness and how each of them longs and yearns for connection with the people around them.

And can we literally talk about Ho Chi-mo?? He literally needs a hug. His father literally died and the man just fell in love, only for Charlie to leave and ghost him for that Johnny. But then again, it's like what Ho Chi-mo said—the night's full of weirdos.

WONG KAR-WAI THE DIRECTOR THAT YOU ARE!

I think that is incredible how many emotions this film can evoke in the viewer.
Fallen Angels is visual and verbal poetry.
It's one of my greatest inspirations.
I could watch this movie a thousand times.

I think that is incredible how many emotions this film can evoke in the viewer.
Fallen Angels is visual and verbal poetry.
It's one of my greatest inspirations.
I could watch this movie a thousand times.

wong kar wai is the master of neon lights in his movies. the way he films hong kong feels somehow nostalgic but also claustrophobic, or rather tight, because it doesnt feel bad or scary, more cozy in a way. he makes films that you have to feel with your whole heart, and i love that. the poetic dialogues and monologues, camera movements, and lights are simply incredible.

unfortunately, i feel like it hasnt really clicked for me yet, and thats okay. i admire and like this style, but somehow i dont love these films. i still think chungking express is a little better, but that could also be cause of the incredible soundtrack chungking express has.

wong kar wai is the master of neon lights in his movies. the way he films hong kong feels somehow nostalgic but also claustrophobic, or rather tight, because it doesnt feel bad or scary, more cozy in a way. he makes films that you have to feel with your whole heart, and i love that. the poetic dialogues and monologues, camera movements, and lights are simply incredible.

unfortunately, i feel like it hasnt really clicked for me yet, and thats okay. i admire and like this style, but somehow i dont love these films. i still think chungking express is a little better, but that could also be cause of the incredible soundtrack chungking express has.

when u already made a great movie, tapi masih pengen push it further, dan ini jadinya, better version of Chungking Express. lebih aesthetic, lebih gloomy, lebih dreamy. kameranya juga lebih chaos, vibes-nya makin shoegaze/dream pop.
ceritanya berasa jadi sequel nya Chungking Express. cuma di sini tone nya lebih dingin.
kebayang kalau dua film ini disatuin, Chungking Angels. lebih banyak karakter, lebih banyak cerita, 4 stories, 8 hearts. bakal gila banget sih.

when u already made a great movie, tapi masih pengen push it further, dan ini jadinya, better version of Chungking Express. lebih aesthetic, lebih gloomy, lebih dreamy. kameranya juga lebih chaos, vibes-nya makin shoegaze/dream pop.
ceritanya berasa jadi sequel nya Chungking Express. cuma di sini tone nya lebih dingin.
kebayang kalau dua film ini disatuin, Chungking Angels. lebih banyak karakter, lebih banyak cerita, 4 stories, 8 hearts. bakal gila banget sih.

I feel like the best word to describe this is cool; just sucks that it is such an overused word and now it practically has no meaning. I respect everything about the film but I think I would've enjoyed it more if it was just a little bit easier to follow, but in every way I wouldn't want it to change because a) the world doesn't revolve around me and b) because it'd take away from the nature of the film. All around a very fun watch but I'd be lying if I rated it any higher than an 8/10, maybe one day I'll watch it in one sitting at night on a big screen.
p.s. someone find me the directors cut
p.p.s criterion channel come to new zealand please

I feel like the best word to describe this is cool; just sucks that it is such an overused word and now it practically has no meaning. I respect everything about the film but I think I would've enjoyed it more if it was just a little bit easier to follow, but in every way I wouldn't want it to change because a) the world doesn't revolve around me and b) because it'd take away from the nature of the film. All around a very fun watch but I'd be lying if I rated it any higher than an 8/10, maybe one day I'll watch it in one sitting at night on a big screen.
p.s. someone find me the directors cut
p.p.s criterion channel come to new zealand please