Eros

I am going to cut to the chase and talk about my favorite out of the three -
which would be "The Hand."

I am fully aware of the fact that human beings have the tendency to pursue the unattainable with the utmost intense passion that sometimes, the term "pedestal" does not even begin to scratch the surface. If I were to compare this young tailor's obsession to something chemical, it was like watching a hollow heroin addict hopelessly devoted to the possibility of achieving his ultimate fix of love - from someone who was completely incapable of reciprocating such organic emotion.

We see it over and over again.
This type of "tragedy" takes up a huge chunk of the "love department" in the entertainment industry -
or at least among us melodramatic Asians...

But aside from the story -
it's worth it to watch just because the visual and emotional impact of this movie alone is indeed a work of art.
However, I would like to emphsize that my 5 stars only applies to "The Hand."
Sorry...

Two well-crafted erotic tales sandwiched around a cartoon intermission directed by Steven Soderbergh.

The first, and best of the short films, "The Hand" is both moving and erotic. The third, "The Dangerous Thread of Things" is muddled. . .but it steams, and thus deserves its place in an collection of erotica. The second, well. . .

(Sssh. I enjoyed it. It made me laugh. It is insightful. It is a sketch of two interesting, memorable characters. But here's my theory: the producers asked each filmmaker to make something erotic. Soderbergh simply misheard and made something neurotic.)

Each film is introduced by captivating, surreal animation--a tie that binds the collection--a joy to watch themselves.

"Eros" (2004) is the collection of three short films directed by Michelangelo Antonioni (segment "Il filo pericoloso delle cose"), Steven Soderbergh (segment "Equilibrium") , and Kar Wai Wong (segment "The Hand"). Each film explores the always exiting and mysterious subjects of love, sexuality, and desire.

My favorite is "The Hand" - a sensual, emotional, powerful and very sad story about a young tailor who put the years of unrequited love for a beautiful call girl in an exquisite dress he created for her. He knew the exact measurements from touch. This segment is so great that I am ready to buy a DVD just to be able to see it often. It is a brilliant work of art from one of the greatest working directors now.

Steven Soderbergh's "Equilibrium" is a funny duet between two excellent actors, Alan Arkin as a voyeuristic shrink and Robert Downey Jr. as his patient who has a reoccurring dream about a beautiful woman.

Michelangelo Antonioni's segment "Il filo pericoloso delle cose" aka "The Dangerous Thread of Things" has been called the weakest in the trio. Many posters call it garbage, the total waste of time, the soft -porn made by a man who "got old and got horny". I personally did not find it a waste of time and if the man at 92 wants to make a little film that celebrates beauty and femininity - so be it. I feel that Michelangelo's segment is much deeper than it seems - even on the surface it is very attractive to look at.

3.5/5 or 7/10