Shanghai Grand

Violent and entertaining movie base on the TVB classic.

The orginial Shanghai Grand on the TVB was the end all and be all of superb Hong Kong series. It was the definitive role for Chow Yun-Fat and Ray Lui. Leslie Cheung takes Chow Yun-Fat's role as Hu Man-Keung, an ex-Tawian soldier fighting a war against his Japanese enemies. Andy Lau plays Ding Lik, a poor waste dispenser in the city of Shanghai. After Andy saved Leslie, the two embarked as a team to make fortunes and a name for themselves in Shanghai.

Shanghai Grand is a very bloody and grisly movie. If it was rated in America, it would no doubt be an R-rated movie. Dispite all the gore, the movie is film beautifully with wonderful works on the camera, the filtering, and the lighting. The acting is of course superb and this was the time when Andy Lau truly becomes a force in the Hong Kong cinematic front.

Shanghai Grand did to Hong Kong what the Godfather did to America. It is still considered to be the most important and best series in Hong Kong media. The movie took things a bit quick but that's because they were trying to fill an entire series into just under two hours. If you don't mind the violence, this is certainly one film to watch.

Oh and yes, Andy Lau does indeed dies in this movie also...

Year: 1996
Director: Stephen Tung

8.5/10