Latest news with #IntheMoodforLove
Time Out
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A beloved Hong Kong film has ranked fourth place in the New York Times' 100 best movies of the 21st century
We all love a good list, and the New York Times has recently dropped a banger. They rounded up over 500 influential directors, actors, and big names from Hollywood and all over the world to vote on the best film released since 2000, and gathered the results to give us a list of the best 100 movies of the 21st century – and a Hong Kong film ranked within the top 10. Out of the many stellar films picked by industry experts, such as City of God, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Favourite, and Y Tu Mamá También, Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love has been ranked as the fourth best movie made within this century. The smouldering movie, filled with silent longing, cigarette smoke, and repressed desire, is undoubtedly the most widely known of Wong's works around the world. It also helps that a moody, charming Tony Leung Chiu-wai and the beautiful Maggie Cheung, clad in a rotation of the best cheongsam dresses to ever be captured on film, are there to grace viewers' screens for an hour and 40 minutes. Director Sofia Coppola was among the names who voted for In the Mood for Love, saying of her choice: 'It really blew my mind that you could make films … as a poetic medium that doesn't have to spell everything out.' Another Hong Kong-related mention to make the list is Ang Lee's martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, starring the inimitable Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh, which ranked at number 16. Notably, the only other animated movie in the top 10 spots is Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, a fantastical adventure that deals with the loss of innocence, bravery, and humans' corruption of nature, all wrapped up in spellbindingly gorgeous visuals and a stellar soundtrack. Topping the New York Times' 100 best movies of the century is Bong Joon-ho's 2019 black comedy thriller Parasite. For those that have yet to see it – and there are probably very few of you out there – the Oscar-winning picture follows a poor Korean family that worms their way into the lives of a wealthy household, in an unsettling but at times wildly funny social satire. See below for the list of top 10 movies, and visit the New York Times for the full list. 10 best movies of the 21st century, according to the New York Times: Parasite by Bong Joon-ho, 2019 Mulholland Drive by David Lynch, 2001 There Will Be Blood by Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007 In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-wai, 2001 Moonlight by Barry Jenkins, 2016 No Country for Old Men by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, 2007 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind by Michel Gondry, 2004 Get Out by Jordan Peele, 2017 Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki, 2002 The Social Network by David Fincher, 2010
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Cupid's caveat: What happens when a great love meets an insurmountable challenge?
Two people in love deserve to be together. Most of us believe that. To give up a love that works — in every way except logistically — is an excruciating thing. Above, a still from Wong Kar-Wai's tragic In the Mood for Love (2000) It is a belief reinforced by lived experience, by movies, songs and fairy tales. Love conquers all, we say; even though we know deep down that isn't true. I believe there's a reason we evolved this lie: it soothes some of our deepest fears. A lot may go wrong in this life, but someone out there will still love us. It helps us to think that, in the end, that might be all that matters. The problem is, some people buy into this idea so completely, they can lose years before they realise that even the truest love can be derailed by something as simple as logistics. I am currently working with two such sets of clients. One is a couple in their mid-30s, let's call them Kritika and Neil. The two doctors met six years ago, at work. Their long hours, sometimes languid and sometimes intense, led to friendship, which blossomed into love. They faced none of the usual barriers. Their love was true. They were committed and faithful. Both families welcomed the other into their lives. The problems began a few years in, when Kritika kept putting off a formal engagement. For five years, she has cited one career milestone after another, Neil says: a residency position, the completion of residency, advanced accreditation. He was content to wait, since they were both committed to marrying someday. A year ago, he finally gave up. He was now at the age where he risked sacrificing the life and family he wanted. Kritika, for her part, said she still wasn't ready to put the rest of her life on hold to meet these goals. They are now trying to work out whether there is a future for them. Both worry they won't find a love like theirs again. Yet Neil says he wishes he had advocated for himself sooner. Whatever they do now, at least one of them stands to lose. Elsewhere, a 45-year-old woman, let's call her Shirley, is trying to figure out how to build a life with the 47-year-old she believes is her soulmate. She and Sid were college sweethearts who went their separate ways but never really got over each other. They were both in reasonably pleasant marriages that ended in divorce about five years ago. They then reconnected at a college reunion. It turned out they had both spent years wondering what might have been. When they realised they could be together again, they were elated. Except, they aren't really back together. They live in different parts of the country and only manage to see each other about once a month. Shirley is willing to move to the city where Sid and his children live, but he is concerned this will devastate her career (she works in manufacturing) and has been discouraging her from giving up the job she loves. She is wounded and confused. She sees how much he loves her; how can he then be content with the arrangement they currently have? It hurts me each time I have to say it, but eventually I find myself explaining that some equations simply don't add up. What often follows is the heartbreaking question: How am I supposed to give this up, when I know I won't find anything like it again? There isn't an answer to that. To give up a love that works — in every way except logistically — is an excruciating thing to do. I try to remind my clients that the choice isn't really between this love and a lesser one. It is between this love and a life that actually works. Building a life with the person you love is certainly the goal. But if it isn't the life you want, does it still count? (Simran Mangharam is a dating and relationship coach and can be reached on simran@
The Spinoff
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
What's so great about Dungeons & Dragons?
This Friday, The Spinoff launches Fury of the Small, a D&D narrative podcast. Today, one of the podcast's players remembers her first time at the table. I was in the thick of my Big Breakup. Anyone who has been through their own Big Breakup knows exactly what I mean. It's the one where it feels like life is leading one way and you're merrily skipping down the path then BAM. Life, whole new direction. Crying in strange places. Hallway. On the floor. In the bathroom. I think everyone has a breakup like that? Or maybe will? It's like a rite of passage. The one that changes you. My friends wrapped around me in ways I still to this day deeply appreciate. One of the true blessings of the end of that romantic love was the absolutely thunderous, deepening love I felt for my friends. There were movies (In the Mood for Love being one of them, which was a terrible choice after a breakup, but a stunning film all the same), drinking, retreats and then one friend suggested I join his… Dungeons and Dragons Campaign. Dungeon? Dragons? Campaign? Join? It's hard to remember the exact images it conjured for me but I had a sense I was about to put myself in a situation where I felt stupid, sweaty or irritated. Or worse – all three. I also had a feeling it was like some sort of real-life video game, and I am not a gamer. Not because I don't want to be, it just wasn't a part of my childhood. We weren't really even a TV household, so anything with a console felt way out of my scope. Like any good 90s kid I snuck in a few happy reps of Golden Eye and Prince of Persia at friends' houses, but even I knew that wasn't a well-balanced diet, so I didn't really have anything to lean on when entering this world. But, as is often the way after a breakup, I had a lot of energy for trying new things, a lot of spare time, and zero desire to be alone. My first character was named Contour. Super strong. Not very smart. Got bonus points whenever they went into a rage (post-breakup catharsis anyone?). Even in this fantasy realm, no character can be good at everything (humbling) so you sort of make trade-offs. Good at hiding and sneaking around but maybe not so good up close and personal in a fight. There is something poetic about the fact that, in my eyes at least, the game works best if you have a mix of characters who all have different skill sets and histories. Not super deep, I know, but it's still a nice thought. I made the character by chatting to my friend about the vibe I thought I might enjoy, using films, books, animation as a way to be like 'he's a bit like this or a bit like that' and then my (very helpful) friend helped me figure out what Class that character could be. There's lots of options: Fighter, Druid, Bard, Rogue etc. I get the sense some people do it differently, but saying 'I think I want to be part actual energy of rock, part Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy and part gentle shepherd' worked well for me. So. I'd created my character. Borrowed some dice. Then went to join the Campaign. My friend was the dungeon master (to my mind a combo of MC, the person who voices all the background extras and supporting actors in a film, a dad who's telling you a story, and tech support). Six of us sat around a table, my friend set up the world, narrator style. 'You're at the docks, you smell the salty sea spray…' I started meeting other characters and for the first time I shyly tried out my Contour voice and traits. Putting on a voice felt strange at first. I'm an actor so this is ridiculous, but somehow sitting around a table putting on a voice for no reason feels different, and not in a good way. Similarly, it's really the pits for me if I tell someone I'm an actor and they make a joke about wanting to see me do a monologue (no thank you). I don't like feeling like I need to put on a show in my downtime, BUT after a little while, as with most times hanging out with my friends, those feelings slipped away and I was babbling like a happy child, voice on, playing for fun. Then it was time to start rolling some dice. (We're really in the thick of the nerd stuff now.) Each time you want to do anything in the game – and I mean anything, the world is your oyster – you state what you want to do out loud. For example, 'I want to lift this boulder'. The DM then usually says something like 'well that's a strength check', because, well, it would take strength to do it. In front of you is a piece of paper (or laptop screen) which has all your character's skills written on it, things like Strength, Charisma, Performance, Deception and a number next to them representing how good you are at any one skill. In Dungeons & Dragons, most often you're rolling a 20-sided die. You combine what your character's natural ability is at something (maybe it's plus 2) with what's on the die (let's say 14). That means overall your character has a roll of 16 to try and lift the boulder. The Dungeon Master has a number, a fair one, in mind that you are trying to beat. Basically the higher the number the more likely you are to succeed and if you roll a 20 on the 20-sided die it's almost impossible for you to fail. If a friend in the game says 'I'm helping' – which is the equivalent of an '..and my axe!' – you might get extra pluses. Which is just lovely. That first proper game was a lot. Even so, there were enough moments of joy across that first 5-ish hour(!) game that made me very happy to be there. True silliness and creativity for no one but ourselves. In the game, through the form of smart storytelling it becomes clear there's a quest/objective. A wizard needs help finding an apple pie recipe. Why is the castle collapsing? Where is the dragon hiding? You know – relatable problems like that. And all the characters must work together to sort it out. Later that first night, my friend said something along the lines of, 'This will probably take a year or so to complete'. A YEAR? I mean who has a year! In what world would I still be sitting around a table playing an imaginary fantasy game in a YEAR. I'm sure you can see where this is going. I played that campaign, for not one, but TWO years. I sat around my friend's table through the seasons changing both outside (obviously) and also inside my friends' lives, eating snacks and rolling dice through the highs and lows. As the monthly catch-ups became a staple I realised I wanted more. I joined another campaign. I had two going at once. One finished, I added another. I played confident types, sneaky types, happy-go-lucky types, 'I cast a lot of magic spells' types. I'd create characters on a whim based on what I thought would be fun or a challenge and then spend the following months experimenting with this persona in the two-to-four hour games. I couldn't believe who I'd become. In hindsight, there were actually some big clues that I'd love it. I grew up on fantasy books. It's only now in my 30s I've finally admitted to myself that when I'm on the beach I don't want a rom com. I would much rather be reading Ursula K. Le Guin, Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones. It's the stone labyrinth mystery cave hidden under a cloak identity life for me. And then of course Carrie Fisher made me want to act. So yes, duh. Fantasy is for me. And this isn't even mentioning that my family loves all board, dice and card games (as I said, not a big TV family). So anything competitive you can play over a table is good. Even now my parents will still play at least two games of something on any given day (their current faves are Splendour and Yahtzee). There were things that did and still do make me nervous. Being slow. Fumbling dice. Not knowing what to do. And the voices… I love listening to other people, but it still takes me a good hour to sink in and I'm usually changing the voice for the first few games till I actually find something I like for the character. But there are other things that have taken me by surprise. I love the escapism. I love using my imagination. I love not looking at my phone. I love being in a room with dear friends for two hours laughing and not talking about work. Hell, I even love the snacks! Recently, it's become a delightful connection with my brother-in-law. As I was writing this I googled: What makes dungeons and dragons so popular. The internet replied with: What's so great about Dungeons and Dragons? Which if you ask me sounds a lot more salty than my original question, but the answers made sense nonetheless. D&D offers fun and educational benefits, including stress relief and mental health benefits. Breaking D&D rules can lead to memorable gameplay and encourage critical thinking. D&D can strengthen friendships and maintain connections, serving as more than just a game. I couldn't agree more. It's funny what you picture for yourself after a breakup. I'm not going to go into all the R-rated details of what I had in mind but suffice to say sitting around a table with sparkly dice yelling, 'Investigation check!! I want to investigate this goblin's cave!' was not it. Sure, D&D's not for everyone. In fact, I really thought it wasn't for me. Turns out I was wrong.
Time Out
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
10 movies to watch if you miss traveling in Thailand
1. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) James Bond's showdown with Scaramanga did more than spark bullets. It shot Phang Nga Bay's limestone towers onto the world's radar. Officially Koh Khao Phing Kan, but the world knows it as James Bond Island. The film also captured Bangkok's rough-edged canal life in the '70s, throwing a high-speed chase into the middle of the city's humid, chaotic sprawl. 2. The Beach (2000) Leonardo DiCaprio stars in this adaptation of Alex Garland's cult novel, following backpackers hunting for the ultimate paradise on a secret Thai island. Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Le is the film's main backdrop, while Phuket brings the drama. Krabi also gets some screen time when DiCaprio takes the ferry from Bangkok to the island. His adventure continues in Khao Yai National Park, where we see the Haew Suwat Falls on the big Hollywood screen. 3. In the Mood for Love (2000) While set in 1960s Hong Kong, much of the film was actually shot in Bangkok. Where Surawong meets Charoen Krung, Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung's characters navigated this Bangkok intersection, mirroring their frustrating romance and impossible attraction under the city's moody glow. Two souls, caught in longing's grip, walked back to separate lives while something electric sparked between them. Against Charoen Krung's dim lights, the setting became visual poetry, amplifying the bittersweet ache of finding love at precisely the wrong moment. This slice of Bangkok transformed into the emotional canvas for one of cinema's most achingly beautiful tales of mistimed love. 4. Butterfly Man (2002) That moment when paradise becomes personal is what this film is about. As the film begins, we're dropped onto the sun-drenched shores of Koh Samui alongside a British backpacker who finds more than he can bargain for on a Thai island. Beyond the tourist brochure, this indie heartbreaker nails the traveller's sweet spot where holiday romance collides with cultural reality and messy human connections. Equal parts love story and cultural deep-dive, it's Thailand through eyes both fresh and flawed. Worth watching for the scenery alone but you might want to stay for what lies beneath. 5. Bangkok Dangerous (2008) Nicolas Cage, portraying a jaded hitman, prowls the streets of Bangkok, chasing a storyline where the city's frenetic pulse, with its steamy alleyways, chaotic markets and glittering skyscrapers, forms the backdrop to his brooding assassin. While the plot treads familiar hitman territory (the last job, moral awakening, unexpected romance), it's Bangkok itself that emerges as the true co-star. The camera hungrily captures the city's urban contrasts, from serene temples to feverish nightlife. 6. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) Death comes knocking, but so do ghosts. Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Palme d'Or triumph is a hypnotic plunge into Thai mysticism that feels both ancient and fresh. In rural Thailand, kidney-failing Boonmee spends his final days with unexpected visitors: his deceased wife materialises at dinner while his long-lost son returns as a red-eyed monkey spirit. And yet, it feels almost casual. What unfolds isn't some horror show, but a meditation where the veil between worlds thins to transparency. The film stays with you like a half-remembered dream. 7. The Hangover Part II (2011) Two years after tearing up Vegas, the Wolfpack is back letting loose in Bangkok. Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug land in Thailand for Stu's wedding, but one wild night later, the groom is missing and their memories are fried. With a handful of absurd clues, they run through the city's temples, tattoo shops and Bangkok's maze-like backstreets, racing to fix the mess before the big day. Bangkok's wild energy feeds the Wolfpack's chaos, turning this trip into an even bigger wreck than the last. 8. Only God Forgives (2013) Ryan Gosling stalks Bangkok's neon-soaked concrete jungle as a boxing gym boss tangled up in criminal connections. When his mum rolls into town demanding payback for his brother's death, he dives headfirst into the city's back alleys and brutal underworld. This gritty neo-noir drags you through sweaty fight rings, sword swinging, seedy bars and blood-slick streets, where family ties snap under the weight of betrayal and Bangkok's chaos chews you up whole. 9. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) After facing off in Koh Tapu back in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), Bond is back on Thai soil but instead of postcard-perfect beaches, this time we're in Charoen Krung, Bang Rak. High-speed chases tear through Charoen Krung 37 while boats rip down the Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem and Khlong Maha Nak canals. It all comes to a head in Din Daeng where Michelle Yeoh's scene-stealing heroine links up with Britain's most famous spy. 10. Mechanic: Resurrection (2016) Three supposed accidents. One kidnapped girlfriend. A ticking clock on Laem Had beach, Koh Yao Yai. This paradise-turned-prison sees Jason Statham walking the knife-edge of island duality, where sun-drenched beaches conceal deadly intentions. As he hunts down three marked men, his arch-rival tightens the grip on the woman he loves. What unfolds is a lethal charade of calculated mishaps and vanishing time. The island's raw beauty collides with a brutal truth: only flawless execution will save her life. A Thai paradise island has never felt this perilous.
Independent Singapore
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
Tony Leung and Chow Yun Fat reunited for director's birthday celebration
HONG KONG: As reported by VnExpress, iconic Hong Kong superstars Chow Yun Fat and Tony Leung made a rare public appearance to celebrate director Johnnie To's birthday. The Star reported that the party, held at a restaurant in Hong Kong's Central District , saw them both join Leung's wife, actress Carina Lau, for a memorable picture, which Lau later posted on her Instagram account. Photo: Instagram/Carina Lau Leung, Chow, and Lau acted together way back in 1985 in the police drama ' Police Cadet ', a nd Chow and Leung didn't team up in another movie until 1992, when they did the intense action flick, ' Hard Boiled '.That was the last time the two starred in a film together. Long friendship The gathering for To's birthday seemed like a blast. Actor Anthony Wong and singer-actress Sammi Cheng also attended the party. Lau also reflected on their long friendship by sharing a photo of herself, Leung, To, and To's wife, Wong Po Ling. In 1982, Leung, 63, debuted as an actor. He is considered as one of Asia's most renowned and internationally acclaimed actors. His partnerships with Wong Kar-wai are especially well-known. They worked in seven films together, including ' In the Mood for Love ,' for which he won the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor prize. Humble beginnings Seventy-year-old Chow started from humble beginnings. Prior to joining the Hong Kong show business with TVB in 1974, Chow worked a variety of jobs, including shoeshine boy, office assistant, parcel delivery worker, hotel staff, and taxi driver. It was those TVB shows that made Chow a star. Think of hits like ' The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly ' and ' The Bund ' – everyone was watching them back then. Chow has had an incredible career, and he has the awards to prove it. He has snagged a couple of Golden Horse Awards for being the best actor and even three Hong Kong Film Awards. In 2023, they named him the Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the Busan Film Fest. He's only the second Hong Kong actor to get that, after Tony Leung. A big deal Lau, who's 60 now, started acting way back in 1984. She became a huge star pretty fast in the '80s with all those drama series everyone was watching. It was not just limited to local stuff. On top of all that movie fame, the international stuff with films like Wong Kar-wai's ' 2046 ' and the ' Infernal Affairs ' sequels put her on the map globally. She's a big deal! Oh, and something else interesting – back in 2008, she married Leung. Successful director At 17, To started his career as a messenger for TVB. He later went on to be an executive producer and director for TV shows starting in 1973. To began his career at age 17 as a messenger for TVB, later advancing to executive producer and director for TV shows starting in 1973. He made his debut as a film director in 1978, but he didn't stop working in television. In 1983, the director To actually helmed and helped write this super famous TV show called ' The Legend of the Condor Heroes .' Apparently, it was based on this martial arts book by Jin Yong—sounds pretty epic, right? Years later, in May 2011, he was even on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival! Then, his movie ' Life Without Principle ' was a big deal too—it was even picked to represent Hong Kong at the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film.
