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Great Film overall

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

I remember my first bike. It was a Huffy. It didn't have a name and I believe my excitement for it only lasted one summer, but it did get me from point A to point B, and I will always remember it for those solid memories. What would be my actions if during that one summer of joy my illustrious bike were to be stolen? Would I bring about wrath and vengeance upon anyone that dared cross my path? Probably not, but it would have been fun to have an adventure like the two boys in this film.To make it simple. Boy is trained to be a courier. Bike is given, but needs to be paid off. Bike is nearly paid for when it is stolen. Boy goes bonkers. Change story. New boy finds love with new (stolen) bike. He makes more friends. He is the rooster of the farm. Then, these two boys meet. Violence begets violence. Boy looses girl. Boy continues to loose job. Violence ensues. Cut to visionary ending about the life of a bike.Was this a documentary? "Beijing Bicycle" kept my attention, but left me utterly confused as to who to root for. For the first hour of the film, I found myself on the original boy's side, but somehow changed midstream, but then changed back, only to find myself apathetic towards the end. This is not the consistency that I like my oatmeal. A lumpy camera gave us a sympathetic eye towards both of our characters, leaving us with nobody to love or to hate. I needed a definition with this film. I wanted to root for one character and only one character. By giving me passion for both I didn't really have any emotion towards the ending, which could have been quite dramatic.I loved the music.I loved the cinematography.I loved that it promoted smoking.I loved the characters – individually, but I needed a defined bad guy and a defined good guy. Don't get me wrong, when Vader picks up the Emperor at the end of "Jedi", I felt sympathy for the bad guy – but think of what the film would have been like if the Emperor kissed Vader right before he fell. That is the emotion happening with "Beijing Bicycle".Could I watch this film again? Absolutely, but I could not sit still. I would know what was going to happen with our characters, I would know what feelings I would have for both of them by the end, and I would still find myself apathetic to any of their causes. One is strong, while the other is weak. It was like black vs. gray instead of black vs. white. I would call this film a "Study of Cinema's Gray Zone".I will suggest this film to friends and family as a one time viewing. It was a decent outing for a film about a bicycle, and would have no problems buying this DVD for my old Huffy that is still rotting away in the garage. I think he would like it.What are my thoughts? I give this film an "Ehhhhhhhhhggggggggggggggaaaaaaaaaaaaa", as I feel weight on my shoulders as I thumb the edge of this DVD's box.

I found this film to be rather enjoyable - like a book that does not contain any gripping plot, but cannot be put down nonetheless. Gui, in his unwavering honesty and determination, clings to his bicycle as his undying sense of being. Jian - forced down the road of no return for his dishonest and infatuation for Qin.Straying from any typical movie with a storyline leading to a happy ending - the sense of despair for Gui becomes greater as the story unfolds. This is not to say the film does not have a happy ending (those who have not seen it will need to watch for themselves).Worth watching...

I saw the movie a couple of years ago, and than i thought it was good. But now that i own the DVD, and now that i found all the symbolism within it, i now appreciate the movie to another level. The fact that the movie revolves around a simple bike( symbolism of course) makes the movie so much better. The 2 main characters could have easily bought another bike, but it wasn't about the bike, it was something that each wanted to gain along with it. The big thing about this movie is that you need to study and watch for the symbolism in this movie to really appreciate the artistic aspect of it. Most Definitely one of the best movies i have ever seen. A must see for movie buffs, or even for people who just enjoy to stay in and watch a good flick!

Beijing Bicycle plays out as "how not to be (stomped)". Two similarly flawed characters clinging desperately to one bicycle, which causes them so much suffering. Neither of them knowing when to let go. Both characters going to extremes of passivity and stubborn attachment, failing again and again to practice the pan-Eastern "middle-way". Meanwhile we watch Guo's level-headed/level-hearted boss and Jian's father, dealing well with both his son's failure and his own - and in the background an older man practices Qi Gong. It would be a "coming of age" movie, if there were any development in the main characters, toward the maturity of their elders. But in the end we see each of them battered and bruised, the trio of Guo, Jian and the Beijing Bicycle - last camera shot focusing on the latter, busted-up, a booby prize floating through crowded streets... the message is clear, Just Let Go!