The story is simple, but the characters have layers, and the dialog remains classic Feng-style as ever. Feng Xiaogang also becomes over-absorbed with the kind of flashy, quick edit slow motion that has made fools of countless directors. A World without Thieves is another example of this progression. Andy Lau and Rene Liu in particular acquit themselves well with their roles, as do the varied supporting players. If you hadn't already noticed, I didn't much care for this one. Although there is a lapse into a series of Mandarin ballads that add little potency to the story, the sweeping score that permeates most of the film is a major asset.‘A World Without Thieves’ is entertaining, but never fully achieves what it aspires to. Genre: Action/ Crime . Dumbo serves a purpose in A World Without Thieves, but his character has so little credibility that he might as well be wearing a "kick me" sign for the majority of the running time. A con-team couple (Andy Lau & Rene Liu) head west after taking a city businessman for his BMW. Wang Li is primarily shown as a woman whose redemptive actions towards Dumbo would appear to show a genuine change of heart; eventually, though, Li’s change owes more to a gnawing self-pity than any genuine care for Dumbo. But an encounter with a naive young carpenter travelling home with his life savings challenges their fate as thieves. they are played by Andy Lau, one of the greatest chinese actors, and Rene Liu. Feng Xiaogang doesn’t try to turn his characters into people we, the audience, should be in awe of; his approach shows all of the dishonest and duplicitous battles that are constantly fought among them.
For this more introspective look at the theme, Feng Xiaogang deserves at least some credit.Saying that ‘A World Without Thieves’ is a far more capable film than ‘Yesterday Once More’ is hardly saying much though – it’s a bit like saying that a slap in the face is better than being shot by a crossbow. Eventually, ‘A World Without Thieves’ gets a little too absorbed in its crafty villains and their constant battles to make a deeper impression.For the first half of the film, the juxtaposition of Dumbo and the thieves has a pleasing tone that actually commends the innocence of the reluctant hero. Though Bo and Li are shown with their ill-gotten gains, the director is careful not to make the mistake that Johnnie To made when he presented two unpleasant lead characters with a kind of lifestyle we were meant to envy. Meanwhile Wang Bo is shown as a thoroughly selfish individual who is then ‘redeemed’ by some closing actions; such a change from the threatening, self-interested criminal to the altruist is romanticised, but never sympathetic.One area where the film excels is the visual power it transmits. The indignant Bo leaves her in the wilderness and drives off to further his own dubious career. Dumbo has saved his earnings as a craftsman to return home, marry and build a house and heads off to catch the train across China, despite his colleagues warnings about the various thieves that infest the land. It is not only a test of morality but also a test of skill as they are not the only expert con men on the train. Dumbo, as a character, gradually disappears from the narrative and it is left to Bo and Uncle Li’s employees to exchange pointless displays of talent and bravado. Dumbo’s description of the honesty of his home village is a touching contrast to the scurrilous Uncle Li and his cohorts. ‘Yesterday Once More’, while a reasonably big success in Hong Kong financially, was a pallid, superficial production that featured characters with so little appeal that the overall film collapsed in the middle.
A World Without Thieves 2010-03-28 16:04:06 Chinese Films Director: Feng Xiaogang : Release Date: December, 2004 . Coming to her rescue is a guileless young worker nicknamed Dumbo and his sheer wide-eyed innocence leaves an impression on the contemplative Li. Despite some poor-CGI, the cinematography is luscious as is the sumptuous Chinese landscapes. A well told story with crafted characters will always show a director’s credentials far better than these empty tricks.‘A World Without Thieves’ also suffers from having to rely on characters who produce little empathy even though they’re evidently meant to. ‘A World Without Thieves’ also suffers from having to rely on characters who produce little empathy even though they’re evidently meant to. There’s only so many times that Dumbo’s stash can be stolen and replaced without a distinct feeling of disinterest creeping up on the viewer.