Wong Kar-wai's debut film, As Tears Go By (1988), is more traditional than the film's later films. Essentially, it is the story of a gangster who has to deal with his attractive cousin and troublesome younger brother. The screenplay's poor quality is revealed from the get-go: the rushed opening leaves the viewer hugely disappointed. The characters are weak even by the genre's standards (action) and there is hardly anything tangible in the content so the film ends up being rather frustrating due to the bad writing.
Even Wong's form is very messy in the debut: the cinematography and editing work only occassionally. Sometimes his trademarks (like slow-motion) are used in a way too comical way so that you can't take the film seriously. The worst part about the form has to be the awful soundtrack that screams "80's!" in the viewer's face - in the most terrible possible way.
As Tears Go By is nearly a disaster - you wouldn't believe this to be a Wong film even though it bears some of his trademarks.
Score: 3 out of 10
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