ONLY GOD FORGIVES is a film that is visually stunning with it's use of colours, location etc. But it lacks something of major importance, CAHRACTERS; Julian, a metaphor, Chang, a metaphor, Crystal, a metaphor. If Nicolas Winding Refn actually invested more of his time to developing these characters and not just have the characters as cardboard cut-outs waiting to be distinguished and worked out by the above-average film viewer.
On the other hand though the films profound and personal meaning mixed with the unforgettable, talented visuals outweigh the bad side of the film which I'm sure the art-house fan will look over the bad side considering that artistic films nowadays e.g. Under the Skin rarely have developed characters that feel and care for unlike the past art-house films in the 50, 60s, 70 were in it's prime e.g. like Wild Strawberries, Blow-Up, Peeping Tom, Eraserhead and 8 1/2
On the other hand though the films profound and personal meaning mixed with the unforgettable, talented visuals outweigh the bad side of the film which I'm sure the art-house fan will look over the bad side considering that artistic films nowadays e.g. Under the Skin rarely have developed characters that feel and care for unlike the past art-house films in the 50, 60s, 70 were in it's prime e.g. like Wild Strawberries, Blow-Up, Peeping Tom, Eraserhead and 8 1/2