New Police Story

The series that made Jackie Chan famous in Hong Kong, and it is such a nice way to bring everything backs to his roots. Although it is not as good as his other Police Story movies, it is still a very entertaining movie with deep plotlines and a cast of pretty memorable characters.

The story of New Police Story follows Jackie Chan and a raid against a group of young punks causing chaos in Hong Kong. Jackie and his police crew fell into a trip and was completely wiped out except for Jackie. Due to this incident, Jackie went off for a very long time as a drunkard. It isn't until the arrival of Nicholas Tse that Jackie started to fight the riot kids again.

Between the main plot is some very fun to watch scenes. This includes a bomb that can't be tilt, some sensitive child-abuse storyline, and of course all of Jackie Chan's awesome fighting sequences. The film is pretty long, running at over two hours, and most of the stuff are predictable, but non-the-less fun to watch. The highlight of the movie is not the plot, unsurprisingly, but all the great action that is in it. Jackie Chan is a fairly old man, but some of the stuff that he is still doing is very impressive.

New Police Story is not going to have as big as an impact as the others in the series, but it is nice for Jackie Chan to go back to action cop movies in Hong Kong instead of making super crap-ass films like “Around the World in 80 Days” and “The Medallion.”

Year: 2004
Director: Benny Chan

8.2/10

Wu Yen

A fun Lunar New Year comedy staring Sammi Cheng, Cecilia Cheung, and the late Anita Mui.

The story is of a classic Chinese tale of the ugly female warrior. She was destined to love the Emperor, played by Anita Mui when they first met and accidentally released an evil enchantress, Cecilia Cheung. Cecilia, trying to win Anita's heart, cursed Sammi with an ugly scar that will stay on as long as she has love for the Emperor. Anita is actually a very lazy and dimwitted king, and the comedy just goes on for about two hours.

Although it was a fairly big hit at the box office that year, and all three main characters are pretty big stars at that point, the movie is still very average. The characters really needed more, or better development. And the comedy of this movie is nowhere near as good as anything that Stephen Chow has put out. Overall, it is still a decent movie, and many who like anyone of those actresses will no doubt find something to like in this movie.

Year: 2001
Director: Johnnie To, Wai-Ka Fai

6/10

Shaolin Soccer

The film that kicks started a new era of Hong Kong Cinema. Not only did it win pretty much every award it was nominated for at the 2001 Hong Kong Film Awards, it is also, to this day, the highest grossing Asian movie ever. It also doesn't hurt that the movie is a blast to watch.

The story goes something like this. Stephen Chow, an ex-shaolin student, is now in the real world; and what an ugly world it is. He works parttime as a garbage man who tries to promote kung fu and the arts of shaolin fighting to anyone who would listen. Ng Man-Tat, an ex-soccer stars, was one of those fellow who listened to Chow's pursue of martial art mastery. Although Ng doesn't believe a thing he said, he soon find out that Chow is the real deal and forms a soccer team with Chow's other brothers during their training at Shaolin in order to win the soccer title.

The movie has all of Stephen Chow's trademark humor, but some people still wonders why he took home so many awards when he repeatedly reuse the same formulas for all his movies. Some say that because it did so well in the box-office, the awards were more of a rewards for bringing in the $$ into the Hong Kong film industry. And those who support these claims are morons.

Although I'm a little hard on them, but they fail to realize just how great and funny this movie is. It is hands down the most enjoyable Hong Kong movie of 2001, and it is the perfect blend of old Hong Kong movie style (Chow's typical humor and intense drama and action), with new world technology. It is one of the only films ever to be personal, commercial, cultural, local, global, humorous, and serious at the same time. Not until Kung Fu of 2004 has this been done again. And I will bet on anything that the next film to achieve such success will be another Stephen Chow's movie.

Year: 2001
Director: Stephen Chow, Lee Lik

9.2/10

Second Time Around

Ekin Cheng and Cecilia Cheung stars in a time and inter-spaced travel drama of sort set in modern day Las Vegas. The film is flawed by numerous plot holes, unbalanced characters, unnecessary scenes of comedy and action, and over/under acted performances. Despite all that, the story is still intriguing enough to keep viewer in front of the screen and end with a satisfying conclusion.

The story of Second Time Around is about Ekin and his pursue of being the number one dealer in all of Las Vegas. Due to his determination, he convinced his friend to steal over a million dollars from the casino out of town they've been working at and take a trip to Las Vegas to realize their dreams. However, unexpected things happened when he lost all his money to a master dealer and his friend and an unknown lady whom they met, died at a car crash. Ekin then had to run away from Cecilia for stealing the million dollar, but two then fuse a mysterious stones the lady gave to him and transferred back two nights ago to undo the death of Ekin's friend.

The plot may seem confusing now, but after about halfway into the movie, everything starts to piece together and the audience will realize the whole picture. Although the movie is fairly expectable, it is the way things happen that makes it very fun to watch, because the acting in this movie is just down right awful. Ekin and Cecilia were okay, but that's about it. His friend is just too... awkward, and the entire American feel in this movie doesn't work out for them. The movie does have its down, but if audiences stay till the end, they will be rewarded with a very worthwhile ending.

Year: 2002
Director: Jeff Lau

6.7/10

A Chinese Odyssey (I and II)

Before Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu, A Chinese Odyssey was considered the best movie Stephen Chow has ever been a part of; some even argue to this day that it is better than his last two mega blockbusters. Whatever the case, the two films certainly contain Stephen Chow's signature blend of action, drama, and out-of-this-world comedy.

Base on the Journey to the West story of the Monkey King, Stephen plays non-other than the King of the Monkeys himself. Due to his lack of control, he was banished in human form for 500 years until his master finds him to regain his godly powers. So as a human, Chow is the head of a remote organization of filthy middle-age man out in the middle of nowhere. Trouble boils up when two sisters arrived at the inn in search of the Monkey King. What Chow doesn't know yet is that he himself is the Monkey King. The real problem starts when audience realize that the master had already died after 500 years, so in order for Chow to reach his true destiny, he must use something called the Pandora's Box to go back in time and become the Monkey King again. Here's where part II comes in. Monkey King comes across Athena Chu, a candle light goddess that has fallen in love with the Monkey King, but was forced to marry his band-brother, the Ox Demon. Chow then must choose whether he wants to save Athena or continue on with his journey.

The films are jam-packed with hilarious scenes. Among my favorites is the scene where Chow and his middle-aged man trying to kill the two sisters because they thought they were invisible. Also, the phrase that must be said in order to use the Pandora's Box is nothing short of stomach ache laughter. The best part is that he keeps saying it like half a dozen times, and each new time he says it, it just gets funnier and funnier. The acting is also very impressive; definitely one of Stephen Chow's best work. The plot do get a little bog down in parts of part II, but it is never unbearable and besides, it is very hard to take your eyes away from what is happening on screen. If anything, these movies proves long before Chow's award winning performances in Shoalin Soccer and Kung Fu, that he was already someone noteworthy in the Asian acting community.


Year: 1995
Director: Jeff Lau

I: 9.1/10
II: 9/10

A Better Tomorrow

By far the most famous and most critically acclaimed John Woo and Chow Yu-Fat collaboration ever made; this gangster classic was considered the second greatest Asian movies ever made by the Hong Kong Film Awards' List of The Best 100 Chinese Motion Pictures. Simply said, this movie is good, but just how good can a 20 year-old movie be?

Although Chow wasn't the real star of the movie, his role and his performance was certainly the best. Ti Lung and Chow plays good friends in the counterfeiting business; Ti's brother, played by the late Leslie Cheung, does not know of this dark history, but when their father are on a verge of death, Ti promised that after one more trip, he'll quit forever for his little brother. However, things turns out bad right from the get-go; Ti gets betrayed, their father murdered by a man sent by an opposing party, and Leslie, after finding out the truth, starts a grudge against his brother throughout the move.

So where does Chow fit in all this chaos? Like I said, he is merely a side character in the main plot, but he definitely gets all the best action and emotional scenes. When you sit down and just watch his reaction and movement when he talks about his gangster life, you'll feel chill down your spine because he is so serious and real. And when he's holding a gun, it is literally over! There's no one in this planet as cool as Chow with two fully loaded black pistols.

The plot is fairly typical of Chinese action films, but it is the delivery that makes this a classic. The camera angles, the pacing, and the editing are all done beautifully. The firefights can get a little too over-the-top, but the audience never feels that the main characters are invincible, because they get hurt a lot. Overall, this is the quintessential action movie that started entire industry of filmmaking in Hong Kong. If not for the awesome action scenes and performances, it is still a must watch for its heritage.


Year: 1986
Director: John Woo

8.9/10

House of Flying Daggers

Hands Down one of the most visually stunning martial arts movie in the last decade, House of Flying Daggers succeed in bringing out the raw energy of ancient Chinese mythology like no other; it is right up there with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Unlike Hero, who came out along the same period, and by the same director, Daggers is not so much an epic, but about love, honor, and deception. Andy Lau and Takashi Kaneshiro stars as two high rank captains in the Chinese government. When Takashi stumbled upon a beauty (Zhang Zi Yi) at the local entertainment house, they discovered that she is an undercover sent by the House of Flying Daggers, a faction that the Chinese government hopes to overthrow. Andy and Takashi then plot a series of plans to gain her trust and use her to take down the faction, but what they think they're involve in may be a mere deception to the truth underneath.

The visual art of this movie is unparallel in the world of American movies. The scene of the drum games near the start of the movie perfectly highlights just how beautiful this movie looks. The dagger, which flies in unexpected but deathly accurate ways to its target, was done extremely well and almost to a point of art. The customs and the sets are also another huge draw to the average martial arts film. Zhang Zi Yi's role in this movie helps establish once again on just how good of an actress she is. Andy Lau is typical awesome Andy Lau and Takashi Kaneshiro serves up a very good counter character to Lau.

Although this movie was not filmed by a Hong Kong company, it is still a very good movie that anyone interested in Asian filmography should watch.

Year: 2004
Director: Zhang Yimou

8.1/10

Kung Fu

In 2004, Hong Kong cinema hit another wall of failure. After successful movies like Running on Karma, Infernal Affairs, and Shaolin Soccer, there were no good movies out for a long time. The entire Hong Kong film industry was covered with crappy quick-cash comedies and the highest gross movie that year gross only $25 million dollars. Then everything changed in only a week. When Kung Fu came out in Hong Kong, everything was back. The interest level toward Hong Kong cinema was back, the money started to roll in really really really fast, and the love of movies bloomed again. So what is the secret to this movie's mega success? Well let's find out...

Kung Fu starts Stephen Chow and his quest to be in power after living life as a bum for so many years. When he got tangled up with the Axe Gang, things started to get a little crazy as he meet a village full of martial arts masters and discover his own Kung Fu talents.

I think the biggest reason on why this movie was so successful comes in two words: Stephen Chow. You could put any big Asian stars in the starting role and you would not get 1/4 of the success that it has accumulated. The Asian film market knows Stephen Chow and they know that every single one of his movies are great fun to watch and would not be embarrass to admit watching. Therefore, when a new Stephen Chow movie comes out, it is not just a film for action fans or horror fans or comedy fans, it is a movie for everyone. With such a universally appealing movie, it is hard not to see why this movie was so triumphant over anything else in Hong Kong.

However, the audience is only one part of the story, the other is the production, and thankfully, the production value of this movie is as up to par as anyone could as for. Stephen Chow's theme of Kung Fu is such a simple gimmick and also a stroke of genius. Kung Fu has been a part of Chinese cinema as the dawn days of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, and all Stephen Chow did was put another layer of icing over the cake and it becomes something so fresh. His mix of computer graphics and slapstick humors coincide perfectly in Chow's world. Yes the movie is over-the-top, but there is never a point in the movie where the audience cannot relate to the screen.

No matter what walks of life you are in, there will surely be something that you will like in Kung Fu.

Year: 2004
Director: Stephen Chow

9.1/10

Prince Charming

Andy Lau, and arguably the best Miss Hong Kong ever, Michelle Reis stars in this typical Hong Kong comedy. Although it is not superb in any sense of the word, this is a very entertaining movie end and all.

The movie is about Andy Lau, who plays as a rude-nice fellow who comes across Michelle Reis in her search for her mother who abandoned her when she was a child. Don't let this emotional storyline fool you; there is nothing to sob over in this movie. Prince Charming is complete comedy and Andy and the cast play it so well! Andy is so rude and mean to the point that you just can't help but like the guy. And when characters needed to be serious, they are serious, so there isn't much for me to complain about; however there's also not much for me to rave about. Nick Cheung's character is also very funny, but that's the entire good thing I can say about him.
All in all, this is a fun little comedy and if you want a good laugh that last for an hour and a half, this is your ticket.

Year: 1999
Director: Wong Jing

7/10

Infernal Affairs

The mega blockbuster starting more A-list Hong Kong actors then anything else in the past decade. With incredible performances from all the cast members, this engrossing crime thriller will please not just Hong Kong movie audiences, but anyone who is willing to give it a chance.

The story of Infernal Affairs is typical of the Hong Kong film. It is about two men, going undercover for the opposite force (the police or the triads) for many years and hit a point where it must inevitably meet. Andy Lau plays a criminal undercover as a top ranked cop in Hong Kong's police department while Tony Leung plays a cop undercover as a A-list triads in the crime world. Both men, after serving at that respected undercover job for ten years, starts to wonder where they truly belong. Andy is wondering whether he should stop his connections with the triads and become a true to heart real policeman; while Tony started to question his true self, his focus, and the person he as become. On the two men's way to true identity comes the aid of Anthony Wong, the only person in the world who knows about Tony's true policeman background; and Eric Tsang, the mob boss that made Andy joined the force to help him through his crime. However, never before has such a story been told so well and effective.

The acting in this film is exceptionally good, almost perfect at times. Andy Lau could have easily won another Best Actor award if it isn't for Tony Leung's performance that is pitch perfect. Anthony Wong is typical Anthony Wong with his cool style and satirical humor. The rest of the cast is just as incredible, depicting their character on screen as their real life counterpart. The film has wonderful pacing, amazing cinematography, and a very distinctive art style.

This is simply another great example on how far Hong Kong movies as come in the last two decades.

Year: 2002
Director: Andrew Lau, Alan Mak

9.3/10

Running Out of Time 2

Running Out of Time 2 is more of a parody then a full sequel to the 1999 smash hit. Much of the original cast stayed the same except the inclusion of a new antagonist, Ekin Cheng. Thankfully, Lau Ching-Wau is also in this version, but he seems to have gotten a bit dumbed down since the last film.

ROT 2 is about a musician, played by Ekin Cheng, and his thief adventure to steal 100 million dollars from an art company. Much like the original, the two main lead battle each other's wit in a game of cat and mouse in the big city. There are some scenes where it was executed very well, but overall, a lot of the scenes felt unnecessary and repetitive. (The whole thing with the eagle was sort of lame actually.) The acting felt a bit worse this time around and there was a lost of substance. Lau Ching-Wau's character in the first film matched Andy Lau's character right on, but this time around, it really feel as though Lau Ching-Wau's character is far inferior to Ekin Cheng's character; a change that I really do not like.

If you want a quick and fun action movie and have watched the original film, then you won't have too much to complain about. But if you haven't watched the first film yet, be sure to watch that one first.

Year: 2001
Director: Johnnie To

6.8/10

Running Out of Time

This movie is just execptional. Andy Lau and Lau Ching-Wan put in an amazing display of pure A-class acting. This was also the first film Andy Lau won the Best Actor award at that Hong Kong Film Awards in 1999 (The second was his equally impressive performance in 2003's Running on Karma).

The film reminds me a lot of Ocean's Eleven, The Great Escape, and a sort of prequel feel to 2002's Infernal Affairs. This movie is all about plotting with style and at some time, comedy. Running out of Time does not have the uber serious tones of Infernal Affairs, but it has just as much style. Lau Ching-Wan plays a very intelligent detective/negotiator on a little 72 hour game Andy Lau has set up. Andy only have a short about of time to live due to his cancer problem and vow revenge against a group of people who have once kicked his father out of business. It isn’t what he’s doing that’s interesting here, it’s how he’s doing it. The movie turns into a complete joy ride of unexpected, but at the same time, expected events as the two intellect battle each other's wit and limits.

The movie is exactly what Hong Kong movie is about. It's a fun action movie with lots of great acting, bits of comedy relief, and plenty of surprises.

Year: 1999
Director: Johnnie To

9.2/10

House of Fury

House of Fury is nothing speical, but what it does it does well enough to be enjoyable, and there is nothing wrong with that in the world of cinema. To think if all movies are smash-hits and masterpieces right form the start, they'll be no end to the list of great movies. This however, is no where near great, but it is decent and fun to watch.

House of Fury is about a family of three( starting Hong Kong Cinema great Anthoy Wong as the dad, Steven Fung and Gillian Chung as his son and daughter, Daniel Wu as an undercover government agent, and Michael Wong as the villian) who happens to stumble upon the evil plan of revenge against a government soldier. Anthoy Wong, the local Asian-style doctor, is actually the keeper of the secrets of the list of government soilder Michael Wong is looking for. Michael Wong then sends out a series of awesome fighting men and women to force Anthony to reveal who was it that broke his spinal cord and made him inmovable below his neck.

The movie is action packed with lots of fighting scenes. Most of them are good, but some of the ones that Gillian are in are quite fake. The plot is nothing too dramatic, but the ending is just; this is a film that after about a week, it'll be forgotten.

Year: 2004
Director: Stephen Fung

6/10

Running on Karma

When I first received this movie from Quynh, I thought it would be a typical Andy Lau comedy/drama movie. But then I found out that it won the Hong Kong Film Awards' Best Picture in 2003, so I was expecting something unexpected. What I found was nothing short of extraordinary.

The film is about an ex-Buddhist monk Biggie (Andy Lau), and his quest to save a police girl named Lee Fung-Yee, played by Cecilia Cheung. Doesn't sound too extraordinary does it? But Biggie has a secret, he can see the past life of anyone about to die, and Lee was unfortunate enough to be one of those people he happens to see. Lee's past life was filled with sin, so her punishment carried over to this life, but this movie is not about changing faith, but accepting it.

Both Biggie and Lee are on a journey to find their own inner peace and an end to this karma cycle. The film is very entertaining and very shocking near about the end. And once the audience reaches the final scene, they will feel both satisfied and longing to watch more. Johnnie To, the director, does not put out too many answers and forces the audience to acknowledge just what is right and wrong. The film is just very entertaining and it deserved the awards it has won.

Year: 2003
Director: Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai

9.2/10

Days of Being Wild

Days of Being Wild is a cinema masterpiece, there is no question regarding that. This film works so well in so many levels and it amazes me so much that Wong Ka-Wai, the director, was able to bring out such raw and uncontrollable emotions from all his star actors and actresses. The movie stars the late Leslie Chueng as, York, a selfish womanizer who plays psychological games with his adopted mother to force her to tell him the whereabouts of his real mother. Maggie Cheung and Carina Lau were both drawn to York's charms but were ultimately betrayed by York. Jacky Cheung plays a friend of York who is in love with Carina, as do Andy Lau, who plays a very calm cop walking through the streets of Hong Kong 1960 and falls for Maggie's Cheung's character.

The film's art direction is just beautiful. I cannot recall many films with such beautiful cinematography. The portrait of the characters are eerily real and pack a deep emotion force to the audience. The paths of all the characters intervene between each other in one big melodrama. Tony Leung also makes a very brief but very impressive cameo at the end of the film. This is a purpose of his cameo at the end of the movie, but to figure that out, you need to go out and watch this film.

Year: 1990
Director: Wong Kar-Wai

10/10

Start of Something New

This blog was created solely for me to talk, rave, and review the incredible world of Hong Kong Cinema. I've been all about American and European movies for such a long time and neglected this amazing industry right in front of my eyes. I am almost at a point where I favor Hong Kong movies over my beloved American counterpart. Whether this is a fad or not, we'll just have to stay and find out.