Viva Erotica

First, it surprises alot, and I mean Alot. The highest peak of humor falls down revealing bitter torn relationship. It gives you ticket through the wonderland and after the movie you just wish that the ticket was real, but you are grasping air.

Second, where Coen brothers succeeded in Man who wasnt there, Viva erotica is more like neo-purple hk replica, altough not losing its worth for its somekindness. Its fight club meets Blake Edwards, ultimate arc of crossfunctionism.

Even if you liked only one of above reasons, you should most definitely watch this movie. And in the case that you didnt agree either of my opinions, you should give it a try. And if you liked this or have seen this before, I salute you, you have experienced something truly extradimensional mind expanding pure matter. The origin of it all, Humor.

"Viva, Erotica" (English title) is a smart, bizarre, entertaining film which plays with genre and the boundaries between parody, drama, and pornography. Never taking itself too seriously--but never content to simply dismiss itself--this movie portrays the emotional life of a Hong Kong director with just the right mix of sentimentality and meta-theatrical humor.

The film will leave you endlessly questioning your own reactions.

This is a story about a director who also happens to be making a Cat III sex film. So it is as much about the director as the actual making of the film. Also it should be noted that while the film (in the film) that's being made is called a porno film, it is softcore and would be R-Rated by USA movie ratings.

This has a number of humorous moments but I wouldn't say too many laugh out loud ones. We also get to see about making a 1990's Hong Kong Cat III film. That by itself is worth watching although of course it is a a fictional account.

Several things to note. First, one of the directors of this actual movie is Derek Yee who plays a role of a currently failed director with much of his bio reflecting his real career. It by itself added some humor. Second, this is the fifth movie role for Shu Qi but her first major starring role before going on to her lengthy & successful career. To American audiences, she's best known for playing in the 2002 movie "The Transporter."

This film is not overly dramatic. It is not over funny. But it is enough of both to be a very entertaining movie.

An out-of-work director agrees to make an erotic film against his will so he can pay the bills. But if he is going to do it, it's going to be HIS way.

I bet that's the one-liner directors Derek Yee and Lo Chi-Leung gave executives that got them the green light.

Viva Erotica is maybe the first serious film that gets away with showing female breasts and still being a magnificent work of art - at least that I know of.

The film satirizes the film industry's (Hong Kong's and global) obsession with sex in a very original way: by making a sex film.

Directors Derek Yee and Lo Chi-Leung also wrote the script, with Ka Man being a third writer. Most of the credit goes to them for the innovative premise and great execution, but the cast doesn't fall short either, especially Leslie Cheung as Kwok-Wing, Karen Mok as Man-Wai, and Shu Qi as Mango (particularly Shu Qi as Mango!).

Simply put: one of the best films I have ever watched.

Well, I expected more from this given the acclaim it gets but it's got that trippy, over the top thing that many Hong Kong movies tend to have and it doesn't agree with me. Watched it for Leslie and to see what Shu Qi's risque scenes were all about. I guess you could say she fitted perfectly into the story and Leslie gets the meatiest role as the lead and we already know he can act. The only thing that lingered with me was Director Yee's gesture and how that affects Sing in a scene and sadly the parallel to the actor's choice a few years later. I can't help feeling it was a little prophetic, but of course we tend to read into things.