Happy Times
|
List Price: Our Price: $8.98 You Save: $20.97 (70%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.97 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Happy Times
Movie Review: happy times
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an excellent movie, but "the long way home" is similar and better.Movie Review: Filled with POTENTIAL & TALENT, but ultimately UNFULFILLING
Summary: 3 Stars
"Happy Times" initially promises to be an off-beat and unique picture. Skipping over opening credits, the film starts off right in the middle of a conversation, perhaps even in mid-sentence. This abrupt opening, while initially jarring, effectively hooks the audience and establishes the hidden-camera feel that pervades the rest of the film. Needless to say, Zhang proves all the praise that is bestowed upon his directorial skills is not unwarranted. Truly, this film is an achievement in subtle, understated filmmaking.But alas, the same cannot be said about the screenplay. There are two major problems with the narrative: the first lies in the dubious character of the main protagonist while the second problem lies in the ending.
"Happy Times" is essentially a fairy tale set in modern China. Instead of a beautiful, oppressed blonde girl named Cinderella, however, we have a beautiful, oppressed blind girl named Wu Ying. And instead of Prince Charming, we have Zhao, essentially the anti-Prince.
Zhao is not completely unlikeable but he never overcomes the bad impression he makes on the viewers from the very beginning. He is inconsiderate, cheap, selfish, and coarse. In one of the most infuriating moments of the film, Zhao pulls Wu Ying out of the middle of a car-filled street (which is where she ends up after running away from him) only to utter coldly, "If you want to kill yourself, at least tell me first!"
But more devastating than his repulsive personality is his compulsion to lie, which completely undermines the unreserved sincerity of the film. The audience's inability to trust his words and his intentions cripples the mutual openness between storyteller and spectator (a relationship that is extra special for fairy tales). As a result, the actions of the other characters, typically taken at face-value, are tainted by doubt. This is especially evident when Wu Ying talks about her "happy times" with Zhao. Because there is no visible redemption for Zhao by the end, one can't help but to question the validity of said titular happiness.
There is one rare, delightful scene where Zhao is able to be honest and stripped bare. When Wu Ying asks if she can touch him to see what he looks like, Zhao admits with a smile that he isn't that good-looking and lets her feel his face. The sexuality is effectively subdued in this scene (as it is everywhere else) and the moment is so touching that it hurts. It attests to the potential this story had in presenting a modern-day fairy tale just as effective as the traditional ones.
What's actually here in the film is intriguing enough to hold your complete attention (and quirky enough to surprise you a bit), but ultimately, it's a great big tease. The narrative ends with a decision, but without showing the consequences of that decision, the action is rendered powerless and even meaningless. If there is a message intended, it loses its merit because of the dues ex machina coincidence that lends more shock value than poignancy. Intellectually, the abrupt ending may be an appropriate bookend to the opening, but emotionally, it leaves the audience wanting.
"Happy Times" has the workings of a great film, but it's too unsure of itself to meet that potential. It's a story that is split between trying to be a charming fairy tale and a profound slice-of-life drama, resulting in a conflicted and confused audience. And unfortunately, while the picture is billed as a comedy, there are precious few laughs. In fact, only two gags bring out hearty laughter: the "all-night-long red" color of the "Happy Times" bus and the "whatever we do, we do it big" head hole for the massage bed.
In the end, "Happy Times" is a small film that is only meant to whet your appetite for Zhang Yimou's highly anticipated wuxia project entitled "Hero," which wrapped earlier this year and is set to release this December.
Movie Review: A little slow-moving, but many wonderful moments!!
Summary: 3 Stars
I actually liked this movie a lot overall, but other people that were watching it with me felt that it was very slow-moving. It is definitely worth watching, with wonderful moments of beautiful film-making. Sometimes it is very entertaining, but I do agree with my friends that there are too many passages in the movie that "drift along". It is not a movie I would necessarily watch again and again, but I would still recommend it to anyone to watch at least once! (That is, if you are not an impatient person...)