Review: 2046 is one of those rare films that takes about 2 weeks to fully digest, but if you’re patient, you’ll discover a powerful and emotional movie. However, this is not for everyone. It’s slow moving and both the characters and storyline won’t follow the typical mold- making it uncomfortable at times.

With that said, know that 2046 is an utterly beautiful and breathtaking film. Wong Kar Wai combines music, cinematography and acting into an elegant tapestry that will capture any audience member with the patience to see it through.

The problem is, that combination defies the meaning behind the film. In fact, Wai is able to repeatedly tell viewers how 2046 will end and why, and still have audiences believing otherwise until the final credits. For this reason alone, anyone who sees this movie must accept the fact that it will take time to understand their impressions.

However, despite the confusion this film will surely cause anyone, remember this, it’s a confusion that will be enjoyed. It’s one of the few films I’ve wanted to immediately watch over and over again, not because it was cool, but because I wanted to find the pieces of the puzzle I missed. I wanted to relive the emotions in order to better understand. In other words, watching 2046 will leave audiences feeling as if they are too immature to comprehend its deeper meanings, and only by rewatching it will they be closer to enlightenment.

Cutting through (or ignoring) all the confusion, one will still find a great film. Tony Leung’s acting is so good you’ll delight in every scene he’s in. He is a talented actor who can show ten different layers of emotion in a single shot (Honestly, he makes you want to reevaluate life just by watching him smoke a cigarette). His co-stars are phenomenal as well. Ziyi Zhang goes toe for toe with Leung and at times it’s clear their performances feed off each other beautifully.

Besides the characters, the music itself is enough to watch 2046. Shigeru Umebayashi and Peer Raben create a deep and moving score that rivals the complexity of the characters. It may be hard to believe, but it too reveals one truth while leading audiences to hope for something more uplifting.

The cinematography is also in an elite class, but to be honest, anything I say about it has already been said. Plus, it’s the hardest part of 2046 to detail in a short paragraph.

With all the good that is within it, a brief warning: this is not your typical romance movie. It’s artsy, and although the combined beauty is unquestionable, there are many who may shut it off before they can be pulled in. The DVD cover also says it’s a 130 minute movie, but to be honest, it feels like a 5 hour piece. This of course is not a bad thing. Every scene may be slow moving, but it seeps into your subconscious- slowly drawing you in, until you hate the very idea of leaving.

The key to 2046 is patience: patience not only with the actual movie, but also with your developing impressions of it. Like THE GODFATHER, it may be long, but in the end, you may just list it among some of the greatest films you’ve ever seen.