Movie Review: Lives in Flames/起勢搖滾

I watched this in April at the Dynasty. It was the other main instigator in my decision to scale back my viewing of movies I knew were going to suck.

I just recently noticed that this was released to DVD.

So here’s my PSA.

Lives in Flames/起勢搖滾, starring Mr., is as good as Mr.’s music.

How good is their music? They sound just as good as Bon Jovi.

And I do mean just as good.

How believable is **Lives in Flames/起勢搖滾 ?**

In the film, this woman  

has dated this guy

for six years.

During which he has no job, no money, and no career ambitions (i.e. no blind worship of capitalism with which to fund her patently obvious and utterly justified need to be showered with luxury gifts).

Yeah. Sure. Okay. Happens all the time. Especially in Hong Kong.

How well is Lives in Flames/起勢搖滾 written?

Apparently, being good at Guitar Hero-like video games makes you a great guitar player with real guitars.

Yeah, and doinking blow-up dolls makes you good at f@#$ing, too.

How clear is the plot (of a film obviously made for teenagers)?

Four people, all with advanced degrees, had to have a group discussion after the film to figure out the f@#$ing story.

The film’s biggest redeeming value is the narrative moment in which the band not only turns the critical corner, but art reflects life with terrifying clarity. 

Is it hard work and perseverance that catapult Mr. to fame? 

Non-stop practice and touring?

Writing songs too good to ignore?

No.

That only happensoutside Hong Kong.

In the big scene, Alan Tam is looking for the next singer to manufacture and turns to his colleagues and says simply “Hmm, bands are big this year. We should get one.”

Luckily, the guitar player is working as a PA and just happens to be there to take advantage of this big ‘break.’

Thirty seconds later, they’re playing to a packed coliseum, dressed like Liberace’s wet dream and spewing out their own particular brand of ‘rock,’ i.e. Cantopop with slightly louder drums.

It tickled me that this supposedly poignant moment was played with no irony whatsoever, and the grossly crass nature of it shines through like the light of truth.

What’s right with it is the clarity with which it portrays all that is wrong about it.

I will admit, it was nice to see members of Hardpack in cameos, and watching Candy Lo is a hobby, so there was that.

Otherwise, Lives in Flames/起勢搖滾 might best be described as a painful burning itch.

$40 is the cheapest I’ve ever paid to get that, but it was still just as irritating.