Is Flying Flying Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2001)

The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

Flying Flying, a standout production of 2001, meticulously weaves its narrative threads through the Drama landscape, offering a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into On the eve of the year 2000, two stories centered around money unfold in Beijing. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Drama are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "On the eve of the year 2000, two stories centered around money unfold in Beijing. One is the story of a merchant who was poisoned for money -- 1000 years ago. Trapped in a black bowl, the merchant's ghost encounters an old beggar, and regales him with the story of how he came to be inside a bowl. The other story begins in modern times: A debt collector handcuffs an old friend, a poet, who cannot pay back his debt. The poet, who cannot be free of his handcuffs until he returns the money to the debt collector, goes to pick up his lover, while still handcuffed to the debt collector — but the poet's lover too was a prisoner of the debt collector, who escaped, and so all three are become handcuffed together. "Flying Flying" participated in the Youth Forum of the Berlin International Film Festival in 2001, as a 'film banned after 1990.'"

Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Mang Ke does an admirable job with the material provided, but one can't help but feel that a more daring directorial approach would have yielded a more impactful result. It is a competent but ultimately standard genre performance.

The direction by Li Ying is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 118 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is Flying Flying truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Drama, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, Flying Flying explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2001 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Li Ying respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, Flying Flying is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Mang Ke or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Flying Flying is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.