Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles
Sunday, 22. April 2007, 15:29:27
Last night, I saw a movie titled Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles.
This was a very moving movie. One of the best I have seen this year.
The basic story is about a Japanese man who goes to China in hopes of healing a rift between himself and his very ill son. The original purpose of the visit was to film an actor that his son had seen years before and who refused to filmed during the son's visit. He ended up filming the actor, but his reasons changed during the course of the film.
There are stunning scenes of the Chinese country-side and mountains, but mostly the movie was just extremely well-acted and well-crafted. If anyone watches this film and doesn't finish it with weeping eyes and a new outlook on the worlk, that person has no heart.
In fact, that is the overall theme of the film: It is better to show what you feel to those you love than to not, because one day it may be too late to let them truly know what is in your heart.
The only downside is that it is subtitled in English and if you don't enjoy watching/reading a movie, you may not enjoy this one. However, so much of the "dialog" is in body language, so you may want to give it your time.
Personally, I adore Chinese films. They seem to possess a quaility that is rare in American made films. The Chinese people tend to take great care with tiny, nearly undefinable, details. I have never seen an ugly Chinese film. They are all beautiful!
This was a very moving movie. One of the best I have seen this year.
The basic story is about a Japanese man who goes to China in hopes of healing a rift between himself and his very ill son. The original purpose of the visit was to film an actor that his son had seen years before and who refused to filmed during the son's visit. He ended up filming the actor, but his reasons changed during the course of the film.
There are stunning scenes of the Chinese country-side and mountains, but mostly the movie was just extremely well-acted and well-crafted. If anyone watches this film and doesn't finish it with weeping eyes and a new outlook on the worlk, that person has no heart.
In fact, that is the overall theme of the film: It is better to show what you feel to those you love than to not, because one day it may be too late to let them truly know what is in your heart.
The only downside is that it is subtitled in English and if you don't enjoy watching/reading a movie, you may not enjoy this one. However, so much of the "dialog" is in body language, so you may want to give it your time.
Personally, I adore Chinese films. They seem to possess a quaility that is rare in American made films. The Chinese people tend to take great care with tiny, nearly undefinable, details. I have never seen an ugly Chinese film. They are all beautiful!
WIDGETIZE
AzureTimm # 22. April 2007, 15:52
Chinese movie really started merely 20 years ago and not yet soaked with commercial elements. Most Chinese directors are dealing with ART but not MONEY GENERATOR.
China have more than just stunning landscapes, but friendly people, amazing culture, long history, interesting traditions. And cheap goods for money carters. Of course, it's still under development, but it's really beginning to become more and more excellent. The movie... I'll try to get a hold of its DVD when I have the time... And yes, LOVE is the most powerful thing in the entire world.
Best regards, a boy proud to be Chinese, Timm.
KayFour # 22. April 2007, 16:32
Two other Chinese movies I have seen stand out in my mind: House of Flying Daggers and also, Jet Li's Hero.
Both of those movies were, without a doubt, art of the highest form. Both were incredibly beautiful movies from a visual standpoint.
I hope Chinese movie makers don't change!
Karen
AzureTimm # 22. April 2007, 23:33
KayFour # 23. April 2007, 01:11
AzureTimm # 23. April 2007, 02:03
KayFour # 23. April 2007, 12:06
AzureTimm # 23. April 2007, 12:26
KayFour # 23. April 2007, 13:06
Thank you.
AzureTimm # 23. April 2007, 13:19
KayFour # 23. April 2007, 14:08
Here is the URL: http://karenvertigan.com/Ozymandias.htm
hungryghost # 23. April 2007, 15:21
glad you enjoyed this movie - thanks for the short report, it's one I've been wanting see for a while, but never got around to it...still i,t'oo come around one day.
AzureTimm # 23. April 2007, 15:48
KayFour # 23. April 2007, 21:40
momable # 29. April 2007, 22:22
Hey, Charlie Chan movies were a fave of mine when I was a kid. Haven't seen one of them for ages!
Do you like Bollywood movies? They are funny as the story can be so serious, but, yet, at some point there is singing and dancing!
eztigma # 21. May 2007, 17:29
Take a look at movies such as The Last Life in the Universe, OldBoy, My Sassy Girl, Attack the Gas Station and Ab-normal Beauty and tell us what you think!
momable # 25. May 2007, 05:41
Although my husband really disagrees, he says a good movie must have these following things: naked people (preferrably women for his tastes), aliens, action and/or violence -- yup, that is his formula for an Oscar winner!
I just saw Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, as per your recommendation, Kaye. Wow!!! That fellow who plays the father is a superb actor! He blew me away. Haven't seen such talent for a long time. Many parts of this film were heartbreaking, too. The canyons they highlighted were very bleak, in my opinion. The little boy was adorable.
What was very interesting was how well acted on the whole this film was when the director only used one real actor (the fellow who played the father [who was fantastic] and all the other actors were regular people who he either saw working their jobs and he asked them to do their job with a script for his film or play a certain part, or who were just regular people who never acted or even tried to act before but came to audition because they heard about how he wanted non-actors.
The film was sad, really; very well done--I won't give it away.