IMDB User Rating: 7.7/10Rotten Tomatoes Critics' Rating: 96%
Director: Edward Yang
Ryan's Review: Despite the nearly three hour running time of this film, Yi Yi felt like the story flew by for me. There were many charming moments in the movie that really drew me into it. Because it is a somewhat lengthy movie, time is given for one to really experience the raw emotions being portrayed on screen. The most enjoyable part of this film for me was the young boy named Yang-Yang. Every time a scene with him came up, I began smiling instantly. He brought not only comic relief to the film, but also a sober and innocent look at life. The perspectives he brought to characters in the movie were refreshing and profound. The fact that these perspectives came from a child made them all the more profound.
Director: Edward Yang
Plot Summary: Each member of a family in Taipei asks hard questions about life's meaning as they live through everyday quandaries. NJ is morose: his brother owes him money, his mother is in a coma, his wife suffers a spiritual crisis when she finds her life a blank, his business partners make bad decisions against his advice, and he reconnects with his first love 30 years after he dumped her. His teenage daughter Ting-Ting watches emotions roil in their neighbors' flat and is experiencing the first stirrings of love. His 8-year-old son Yang-Yang is laconic like his dad and pursues truth with the help of a camera. "Why is the world so different from what we think it is?" asks Ting-Ting.
Ryan's Review: Despite the nearly three hour running time of this film, Yi Yi felt like the story flew by for me. There were many charming moments in the movie that really drew me into it. Because it is a somewhat lengthy movie, time is given for one to really experience the raw emotions being portrayed on screen. The most enjoyable part of this film for me was the young boy named Yang-Yang. Every time a scene with him came up, I began smiling instantly. He brought not only comic relief to the film, but also a sober and innocent look at life. The perspectives he brought to characters in the movie were refreshing and profound. The fact that these perspectives came from a child made them all the more profound.
Yi Yi is yet another movie that brings life's more serious issues into the cinema, but rather than being overly dramatic and depressing, the film is hopeful and optimistic. It also has a tinge of surrealism thatI always love to see in movies. I give this movie a 4.5 out of 5.
Matt's Review: Yi Yi impressed me as a very well done film. Edward Yang reveals himself as a talented and distinguished veteran film-maker. I think any Taiwanese person could proudly point to this film as evidence of respectable film-making within their country. All scenes are beautifully shot and confidently stretched out, allowing the actors to really develop their characters for the audience in a much more natural and convincing manner. The realism was absolutely refreshing and fascinating at the same time. I felt myself genuinely caring for each and every character as I grew to understand them more. While nothing very outrageous happens during the year that this story spans, there seems to be a good deal of interest built up within the viewer. This is a solid and beautiful film that made me feel grateful for all the experiences of everyday life, whether difficult or easy, exciting or mundane. I give it a 4.25 out of 5.
Monson & Yeomans Rating: 8.75/10
Matt's Review: Yi Yi impressed me as a very well done film. Edward Yang reveals himself as a talented and distinguished veteran film-maker. I think any Taiwanese person could proudly point to this film as evidence of respectable film-making within their country. All scenes are beautifully shot and confidently stretched out, allowing the actors to really develop their characters for the audience in a much more natural and convincing manner. The realism was absolutely refreshing and fascinating at the same time. I felt myself genuinely caring for each and every character as I grew to understand them more. While nothing very outrageous happens during the year that this story spans, there seems to be a good deal of interest built up within the viewer. This is a solid and beautiful film that made me feel grateful for all the experiences of everyday life, whether difficult or easy, exciting or mundane. I give it a 4.25 out of 5.
Monson & Yeomans Rating: 8.75/10
4 comments:
when you say 'well done' do you mean like a steak. you are telling me that it isn't medium rare. why did they call it yi yi? those don't even seem like real words.
the last comment was actually from dave. but you discriminate against 'non card holders'. sorry i don't fall in line.
I agree that comments should be open to anyone. I'll see if I can fix it. We are having some formatting problems o this site so far, but they should be cleared up shortly. Oh...and when I say "well done", I mean when I am done viewing the movie, it reminds me of a well; refreshing water pulled up from a hidden source.
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