| | |  | TAIWAN | Home » » » Three Times | | | | | | | Description: | | Three Times is a Hou Hsiao masterpiece. A rapturous and beautiful love story set in three different eras, a pool hall in 1966, a 1911 brothel and present day Taipei. Stylistic and true to life of the times, Hou Hsiao Hsien brings to life the culture of each period as the tale unfolds. Critically acclaimed for its wisdom, cineamatic style and storytelling it is a must see for any true lover of cinema | | | Features: | |
• A rapturous and beautiful love story set in three different eras - a pool hall in 1966, a 1911 brothel and present day Taipei. Stylistic and true to life of the times, Hou Hsiao Hsien brings to life the culture of each period as the tales unfold. Critically acclaimed for its wisdom, cinematic style and storytelling it is a must see for any true lover of cinema. (Mandarin and Taiwanese with English
| | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Qi Shu, Chen Chang, Fang Mei, Su-jen Liao, Mei Di | | Director:
| Hsiao-hsien Hou | | Format:
| Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Silent, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC | | Language:
| Taiwanese Chinese | | Subtitle:
| English, Spanish | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| Ifc | | Run Time:
| 120 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| September 26, 2006 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 31 reviews |
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| $2.99+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | | | $2.99+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | | | $4.94+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | | | $4.99+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | | | $6.13+ $2.98 *Shipping This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $6.13+ $2.98 *Shipping This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $6.98+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | | | $7.15+ $2.98 *Shipping This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $7.75+ $2.98 *Shipping This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $11.99+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | | | $11.99+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | | | $41.99+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | | | $119.99+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | |
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| $2.98+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
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- Acceptable | | | $2.98+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- VeryGood | | | $3.00+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
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- VeryGood | | | $5.50+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- Mint | | | $6.37+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.48+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.79+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.79+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- Good | | | $8.49+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- Mint | | | $9.90+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- Mint | | | $9.99+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
- Mint | | | $10.94+ $4.99 *Shipping | Used
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| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 31 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 34 found the following review helpful:
 Three TimesJul 30, 2007
By John Farr
The brilliance of Hou's magnificently gorgeous meditation on love and longing, of course, is the conceit of using the same two actors in each sequence. And you couldn't ask for better performers than Chang and Shu, who are captivating regardless of the age they're portraying, particularly in the nostalgic, near-wordless "A Time for Love" segment, steeped in a sultry `60s atmosphere. Hou's other brilliant stroke is to make the next part, which unfolds in a brothel during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, a short silent film, with hypnotic music and title cards. Taken as a whole, "Three Times" is nothing short of a rapturous, romantic masterpiece--in triplicate.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
More exciting than Goodbye Dragon Inn...Dec 31, 2008
By E. J. Liu
Three Times is quickly becoming my favorite film, with each viewing I find a new favorite segment. At first it was the third, then the first, now the middle....and those were five viewings ago. In addition to picking a favorite segment, another difficult task is coming up with an overarching theme that connects the three pieces aside from the same two main characters. As a Taiwanese American, I'm partial to Hou's films, but I admit that they are not always easy to understand, or appreciate. Ultimately, it comes down to if the movie strikes a cord with you. For me it did, but I can understand why for some it is only less boring than watching paint dry.
There are so many wonderful moments in the film for me that I can easily fall in love with this film without having to cohere the three different stories. Whether it is the familiar roadsigns that distinguish the drab, nondescript little towns from one another on Chang's quest to find Shu in "A Time for Love," which remind me so much of my own frantic drives on the highway in anticipation of seeing a loved one, or the heartbreaking piano score that picks up its pace as Shu ponders the lamentable fate the little girl is about to enter in "A Time for Freedom," which can be heard on the trailer for the film on youtube by the way, this film immerses and tugs at you surreptitiously and from all directions.
The more I watch the film, the more I struggle to find Hou's message for this film. Is he trying to say that love is eternal, unapologetic and transcends time or that it is cruel, ever-changing and subject to interpretation? This film merits repeated viewing. Give it a chance, and another one, perhaps a third, and decide for yourself. Dare I say it, you don't have to be a fan of Hou's aestheticism and narrative style to enjoy this film.
18 of 22 found the following review helpful:
Best Foreign Film Of 2006Jan 21, 2007
By Jen
I can understand that without certain historical knowledge and an understanding of the current culture of Taiwan, the second and the third piece could be somewhat difficult to related. But the first story is absolutely a masterpiece. It contains minimum plot (if you would call it a plot), minimum dialogue (no more than 10 words in each conversation), yet it makes you fall in love with the characters. Is it possible to blame the critics for calling it anything other than "magic"?
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
A haunting film that just won't let goDec 22, 2007
By Marie Jost
"Three Times" is much more than it appears on first viewing (as I also find to be the case with "Millenium Mambo"). While little appears to transpire on screen in any of the film's three stories, each segment worms its into your subconscious where they do their work over days, even weeks. There is a haunting quality, especially in the performance of Shu Qi, where she alternately enchants and seduces before, in the end, breaking your heart. In this film she is simply enthralling. What a long way she has come since her Category III days in Hong Kong; in "Three Times" she shows herself to be one of Asia's great actresses.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 2005 Cannes Film Festival: A Nominated Love StoryApr 23, 2008
By Lady_C
This film depicts Taiwan's love relationships in three distinct time periods: 1966, 1911* and 2005. I have seen some relationship movies in a time warping settings, but this one particularly caught my attentions.
1. It's a movie about how love evolves in Taiwan where is a blend of 50-50 Chinese-Japanese* culture. You would be interested in learning the nuance difference.
2. Do these lovers become more open about their feeling toward love as time changes? ie. wording, body language, aspect and whatnot gestures and approaches.
3. What does a relationship mean to them in these 3 periods?
Interesting enough to you?
And plus, this movie gives you an exquisite taste of the old times, exciting flame of the new era, and a bridge connecting these two.
You will find your family, friends or even yourself in these 3 periods [as time goes by].
Historical Note:
Taiwan was a colony of Japan between 1895 and 1945.
The Republic of China = Taiwan, was born in 1912.
You see the culture and policies are overlapping here.
Plot/scene hints:
This is an art film, not a Hollywood stereotype flick. One innocent love, one mercenary love, and one modern love. It's more interesting to learn some questions before watching this film. Yes! Think and Watch like a Cannes Film critic.
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