your ability to enjoy the ash of time may depend on our expectation before step into the theater . even it most strident supporter seem to agree that audience can be split right up the middle in their appreciation of this unique film . unlike most hk actioners and the battle scene be curiously keep at a distance . when they do happen and theyre render in a jerky style in which it difficult to make out exactly what occur on screen . the dramatic scene can be extravagantly beautiful and with the of maggie cheung and brigitte lin and and a roll call of hk top act talent chew up the scenery . a with some of wong kar wai early work and the dialog could be more precise . in short and the ash of time require a forgiving attitude . release around the same time a wong kar wai spectacularly successful chungking express and it clear that the director isn not a confident work with the element of the martial art film . anyone look for tense action be likely to be disappoint . but those intrigue by the director aesthetic will likely find this a unique experience at the very least .