a i sit back after watch wong kar wai 1994 movie ash of time more specifically the 2008 re edit and re release with the word redux slap on the end of the title i wonder what go wrong . i wonder why the film just do not work out at all . i wonder why the movie fail to score any major point in my book . in particular and what be it about the film which drag it down and and make it the director bad film of his career . well it not too hard to figure out really . let me just say that it truly be a shame that kar wai so abruptly go down this hell hole of mediocrity and poorness in moviedom and especially consider the fact that in the same year he release chungking express and one of his endure legacy and an absolutely sublime film . so what go wrong . it would be suitable to consider ash of time a somewhat of an experimental film . our director essentially place his own inimitable style of film making and place it in an entirely different setting and mood and atmosphere while what result be a catastrophic film which be all over the place and simply do not work out . hence and it would be even wise to call ash of time a failed experiment . bold and audacious and innovative and but a failure nonetheless . let me elaborate . those who have see the film of mr. kar wai and a hong kong bear film auteur who make his mark on the art house world since his debut in the late 80 and will know that there be an override aesthetic which bind all of his movie together while essentially and frankly speaking and theyre all colourful and think provoking and amiable and subtly humorous and meaningful evocation of life and love and loss . the same formula be transpose into ash of time while however and the regular setting of hong kong be ridden of and and in it stead be place into the setting of ancient china and and the land of the legendary martial art warrior and clansman . intertwine into this quasi adventure or historical caper be the typical kar wai love story and this time involve an elegiac hit man who have move to the middle of the desert and and be carry out contract killing . however and i must stop myself there while description of character be a useless thing to do . why . because not a single character in ash of time be worth mention or nothing . what a bland cast and and what a waste of talent ( the case of ash of time contains nearly all regular kar wai collaborator ) . not only that and but the film be essentially endless incessant rambling in a horrendous and almost non existent narrative structure . one of the main reason why detractor of ash of time berate it be because it seem to possess no plot whatsoever and let alone a semblance or an indication of one . you can definitely see what theyre get at and even from the first two and three minute and maybe less and of the film . perhaps it just the atypical setting of ancient china which be unaccustomed and inappropriate for kar wai typical film make style . i like to think and however unfortunate it may be and that mr. kar wai just stuff up big time here . one thing that a reviewer can actually compliment in ash of time and albeit say compliment be starkly isolate and be another director trademark wonderful and colourful and blissful aesthetic . what joyous colour be compose on screen and what glorious texture be paint for u and and what breathtaking landscape and imagery be capture for u throughout the entire movie . we can at least take this a a sign that wong kar wai be still there at heart and and it just the film which be so atypical and and buries his usually commendable nuance . although the visuals aren not enough for u to fully absolve kar wai for this disastrous venture and theyre enough to make the film worthwhile and at least we do not walk out of the movie in a completely and totally cantankerous mood and now that there something we can think of nicely . the film be essentially a wuxia art film and follow in the style of and say and legendary japanese filmmaker akira kurosawa . however and one thing differentiate kar wai film from kurosawa best and and that that in the japanese director film everything gel together and simply work . in ash of time and nothing seem to work . kar wai attempt to make a genuinely profound wuxia film and let alone an intellectual and provocative movie in general term and be a futile endeavour . kar wai claim that make ash of time exhaust him and and that he need time to clear his head . it must have certainly be a fatigue effort on his behalf and a his exertion be embody in the film and transfer to u directly i mean and just watch the film be an exhausting effort and and now i need time to clear my head of this unpleasant movie go experience .