Yi jian zhong qing

Maggie Cheung and Leon Lai are among my favourite Asian actors, but any hopes I had that they would set the screen on fire again after their partnership in 'Comrades: Almost a Love Story' were soon dashed as it became clear this unassuming romantic comedy contains very little comedy, and not much romance either.

It starts off well enough. Ellen (Cheung) is a cab driver in San Francisco, raising a young son. Invited to a nightclub, she ends up having an uncomfortable one-night stand with Mike (Lai), who appears to be some kind of dot-com playboy millionaire. I say 'appears to be' as for some reason Lai underplays the role to such a degree that he seems bored most of the time - and this rubbed off on me.

Naturally the two hit it off and begin to learn more about each other, until Mike's business deals start to go sour, which disrupts his relationship with Ellen. Can true love overcome such a hurdle, etc.?

The opening half hour focuses on Ellen, and Cheung is more than capable of drawing us her lonely, struggling character. It's regrettable then that the focus shifts to Lai's rather unlikable character for the remainder of the film, and even more regrettable than the film starts to pile more and more unlikely scenarios on us right up to its (anti)climax.

I was actually sad I didn't like this flick. The setting is certainly different, it's well shot by Andrew Lau (although the musical score is horrible), and I usually enjoy Cheung and Lai. There was simply more NOT to like, though, including an uncomfortable and almost homophobic role for the wonderful Richard Ng (Wong Jing's influence, I suspect), and the wasting of Valerie Chow as a corporate femme fatale.

If you're a huge fan of the stars, you may see past the story and enjoy this one. It didn't work for me, though.

The Deltamac version looks decent enough, and the subtitles are OK, although definitely not perfect.

It's rather nice occasionally to see a romantic movie that's not based on teenage puppy-love, and Sausalito falls right into this category.

Maggie Cheung plays Ellen, a single mother in her mid-30s and makes a living as a taxi driver in San Francisco. Meanwhile, Mike (Leon Lai) is the CEO of his successful internet start-up company. However, it's developing its own cash problems, and business problems are hitting his own personal life. On one night to get away from it all, Leon borrows someone he doesn't know, Maggie, for a trick to woo the chicks, but instead attracts the attention of Maggie. And so a bumpy taxi-ride lies ahead.

Sausalito is a feel-good movie about life in a world that you begin to realise are full of strangers. The story is well written, with some very good scenes that involve her son, Scott.

Although I wouldn't call this an outstanding film, there is a lot of good subtext in the film, and the story flows very well. The story also acknowledges San Francisco culture by including addressing many of the bigotries that people outside of San Francisco may not be readily accepting as yet, one of which is the inclusion a homosexual, multi-racial couple of contrasting ages.

This is definitely one to add to the 'To Watch' list.

I live in the Bay Area, I know San Francisco, I know Sausalito, and I was an Internet entrepreneur in the early days of the Internet At first I worried that this movie might be a stupid April 1st joke In the end I think the movie Sausalito pays fair tribute to both the Chinese entrepreneurs and Silicon Valley, especially after the Silicon Valley Bank example.

But i don't think the chinese name of this movie love at first sight Well interpreted the whole movie especially from the one night stand.

This time Maggie Cheunge played the role of a hippie style, taxi driver, which is totally different from all other movie she used to play, I would like to give her a big applause.

Every love story is the same, as is every whodunit, thriller, or war movie... This is a brilliant love story, and the principal cast has done a nice job.

Better yet is the work behind the camera; 'Hong Kong Cinema' has never shown any fear to go 'beyond' the technical possibilities, and although there seems to be some restrain in regards of camera-movements, lighting & editing, it is still refreshing and exiting. Every one in Hollywood ought to get a training job in Hong Kong !!

There are many things to talk about, but let's pick one: MAGGIE CHEUNG. Everybody worldwide knows her by now, since no one has an excuse for not knowing her after her performance in IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE. She is sensational. Truly gifted. And THE Lady MacBeth of this new century ! Why hasn't anybody seen that yet ! She's so glorious, so multi-faceted, so marvelous.

As is the talk in the world of opera: why another Lady MacBeth, Carmen, Tosca, where there are already so many on vinyl or celluloid... Every generation has its right for their own heroes in archetypical roles. Maggie Cheung ought to be our 'own' Lady MacBeth. (And I know just the perfect place to set the Shakespearean play, and who to cast beside her..). Until that moment, relish her performances that do exist. As in this lush romance.

Both main characters are portrayed well in this movie. We can see the mature, independent divorced woman in a Maggie cheung or Ellen and a selfish childish easy going guy in a Leon Lai or Mike. Both are portrayed perfectly. We might dislike a character like Mike in the story, but that is fact!

The only unbalanced thing is the setting for Ellen's house which considered too lux for a cab driver. Maybe there should be a line to cope with such situation, like the ex-husband is supporting them, and she work as a cab driver just as part timer, etc etc.

In a rough way, this film is excellent! All the dialogues, the house interiors, costumes, and fact of life is described very well.