Dreamtrips (1999) User Reviews

an interesting but not entirely convincing journey

[freakus · 7/10 · 9 April 2000]

This excursion into a world where people escape into cyber-dreams is an interesting diversion. Jennifer (Jennifer Chan) is looking for her missing fiance. He has been trapped in an artificial dreamworld looking for meaning to his life. She tries to free him and herself and look for answers to his angst and their relationship. For me, their journey didn't seem quite compelling enough, more like aimless meandering. It was an interesting trip nontheless.

A vision of Hong Kong from afar

[rmlowe · 10/10 · 18 June 2005]

I saw this film at a Hong Kong film festival in 1999. While Dreamtrips might not fit the stereotypes of those accustomed to Jackie Chan Hong Kong martial arts action flicks, or those with an aversion to sci-fi elements of fantasy and technology, Kal Ng is a director who understands the city from the perspective of the Hong Kong diaspora. From Hong Kong cha-chaan-teng milk tea, to the uniquely Hong Kong attitudes to relationships and marriage, this is a film that will resonate with those who regard themselves as of-yet-not-of this uniquely international Chinese city. Without introducing spoilers, one scene in particular emphasizes the insecurities that might exist in a relationship between those who share a common cultural origin, but who live in widely different situations.