In a perfect world, Fallen Angels and Chungking Express share the same rank, especially since the two films are meant as companion pieces. As one of the first Wong films I properly saw in theaters, this one holds a special place in my heart. Showcasing a woman at the center of this story, with an intriguing plot about avenging her father's death during the Second Sino-Japanese War, is exciting for a genre normally dominated by male stories. The star of this is not Leung's Ip Man but rather Zhang's fictional Gong Er, the daughter, and heir to her father's unique martial arts style. Wong sneaks this all in while showing us stunning shots of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Zhang Ziyi fighting with various styles of kung fu, with a quiet romantic connection between the two that is far less fiery than their 2046 counterparts. Disguised as a historical martial arts film about real-life kung fu legend Ip Man (known, among other things, for training a young Bruce Lee), The Grandmaster is actually a philosophical movie, one about a war-torn country, about Chinese regionalism, about economical upheaval, about vengeance. For any other director, this film might top the charts. Wong's most recent feature is only number 7 because so many of his films are veritable classics. RELATED: If 'Shang-Chi' Got You In the Mood for Tony Leung, Watch These Movies Next Here are all of those features ranked from the good to the sheer perfection. His most recent project announced is titled Blossoms, based on the Jin Yucheng novel of the same name that explores Wong's own hometown of Shanghai from the 1960s to the 2000s. It's no surprise then that despite being so beloved in the film community that this Hong Kong director has only put out 10 total features. Topping many best director lists, Wong is notorious for his unconventional approach to filmmaking which means long production periods and unfinished scripts, with actors often having to work off of just a couple of pages of script and reshooting takes multiple times. With frequent collaborators like Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, and Carina Lau, Wong weaved a mesmerizing tapestry of films connected by thematic through lines of love, loss, and longing.
Bursting onto the scene in 1988 with his directorial debut As Tears Go By, Wong's films have been known for their melancholic plots, romantic themes, kinetic imagery, and poignant scores. Anyone who has dipped a toe into Hong Kong cinema or international film is probably familiar with visionary director Wong Kar-wai.