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Triad Story (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Stephen Chow (Actor)
| Ng Man Tat (Actor)
| Shing Fui On (Actor)
| Wu Ma (Actor)
Although Stephen Chow is obviously best known for his comedic genius and hits such as Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, as a young actor he paid his dues in a variety of genres. Inevitably, as with pretty much every other performer of his generation, this saw him making a number of appearances in that most enduring of 1990s trends, namely the Triad drama. The unimaginatively titled Triad Story, directed by Shum Wai, better known as a bit part actor who turned up in the likes of Police Story 3, was one such early role, which saw him star alongside an impressive cast of veterans including Ng Man Tat, Wu Ma, Shing Fui On and Billy Chow. The film begins in familiar style with Triad boss Feng... [read more]
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Iris Chang - The Rape Of Nanking (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Iris Chang
Iris Chang - The Rape of Nanking is a documentary produced in 2007 by the Toronto based Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia - to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nanking Massacre. The film is based upon Chang's bestselling 1997 book The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II and charts her own experiences while drawing upon archive footage and interviews from survivors and experts from China, Japan, Canada, and the United States. The results are heartbreaking, shocking and fascinating, despite the bizarre decision to include dramatic recreations of Chang's own life. In these, the writer, who committed suicide in November 2004, is played by... [read more]
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Tactical Unit - Human Nature (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Simon Yam (Actor)
| Johnnie To (Producer)
| Maggie Shiu (Actor)
| Gordon Lam (Actor)
The new Tactical Unit series inspired by Johnnie To's classic PTU continues with the latest instalment Human Nature, which offers up another tale of morally ambiguous cops and their struggle to uphold the law while battling their own personal demons. With To again serving as producer, the directorial reigns this time were handed to Andy Ng Yiu Kuen, best known to exploitation film fans for The Untold Story 2 back in 1998. Ensuring a welcome sense of continuity are returning series regulars and Milkyway veterans Simon Yam, Maggie Shiu, and Lam Suet, with Gordon Lam jumping onboard in a villainous role. After beginning with a shootout in which robbers from Mainland China manage to evade squad... [read more]
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The Sky Crawlers (Blu-ray) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Kuriyama Chiaki
| Oshii Mamoru (Director)
| Yahara Shosuke
| Kase Ryo
"Somewhere, in a country similar to ours there are children who do not become adults. They are very similar to us" goes the tagline of Mamoru Oshii's latest film. One that carried the promise (during its production cycle) of a more linear form of story telling after the convoluted Ghost in the Shell: Innocence and the strange Tachigui. I am overjoyed to report that while the story is linear, it is anything but straightforward or simple, and not the least bit diluted or dumbed down in regards to his philosophical and social musings - basically the essence of what makes Oshii stand out from his generation of masters of the Japanese animated feature. Using a pastiche of elements from... [read more]
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The Equation of Love & Death (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Zhou Xun (Actor)
| Zhang Han Yu (Actor)
| Wang Bao Qiang (Actor)
| Deng Chao (Actor)
Her movies are not always good, but man, Zhou Xun can act. The petite Mainland dynamo has shined in movies as compelling as Hollywood Hong Kong, as disappointing as The Banquet, and as completely weird as Ming Ming. Zhou adds to her impressive library of performances with The Equation of Love and Death, a slight but still effective little thriller from director Cao Baoping. A tale of obsessive love and criminal schemes gone wrong, the film has great acting and genuine tension, but lacks the narrative or revelations to match. Still, this is an entertaining and even affecting film, in large part due to its excellent leading lady. Li-Mi (Zhou Xun) is a tough little taxi driver pining over her... [read more]
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Dating Death
Edwin Siu
| Ricky Fan
| Stephy Tang
| Tats Lau
Ah, Hong Kong fashion! I see about a half-dozen Canto-language teen flicks a year, and although they often tend to be more bad than good, I always look forward to the opportunity they provide to catch up on what hot on the streets of HK at the time of production. Dating Death proved to be particularly helpful in this regard, with every one of the six main characters getting about ten costume changes (including towels) - each new 'ensemble' trendier than the last. Unusually though, the style found in Dating Death's wardrobe department carries over to the rest of the film as well, so everybody (not just those who dig on the clothing angle) can enjoy what's on offer here. Some dodgy CG aside,... [read more]
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Love on the Rocks (US Version)
Gigi Leung (Actor)
| Louis Koo (Actor)
| Charlene Choi (Actor)
| Carl Ng
Louis Koo and Gigi Leung are the two most attractive people in Hong Kong. Drawn together by the force of their overwhelming good looks, they are tragically pushed apart by the fact that they are both annoying on a cosmic level. Louis Koo plays Ming whom Gigi Leungs Annie dumps on Valentines Day because not only does he refuse to buy her flowers, not only does he take her to a discount diner for dinner, not only does he invite a friend along, but he chows down on rooster testicles once theyre there. What woman wouldnt want a refund? Her dad, Hui Siu-Hung, convinces the two to put a freeze on their relationship until Easter rather than break up immediately because all their bickering and... [read more]
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Forever Enthralled (DVD) (2-Disc Edition) (Hong Kong Version)
Leon Lai (Actor)
| Zhang Ziyi (Actor)
| Chen Kaige (Director)
| Sun Hong Lei (Actor)
After the critical mauling he received for his shabby wuxia and would-be epic The Promise, its easy to see Chen Kaige's return to Peking Opera and Farewell My Concubine territory as going back to the well. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, as he certainly has a fascinating subject in the form of Mei Lanfang, a legendary figure known for his portrayal of female roles and for defying the Japanese during the Second World War. Given that Mei Lanfang was the real life inspiration behind Leslie Cheung's character in Concubine, his experiences seem a natural, if perhaps a little unimaginative choice for the director as he attempts to return to his glory days. The film follows Mei Lanfang... [read more]
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Tactical Unit - No Way Out (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Simon Yam (Actor)
| Maggie Shiu (Actor)
| Lam Suet (Actor)
| Samuel Pang
Tactical Unit - No Way Out is the second in the series of new films spinning off Johnnie To's acclaimed 2003 police thriller PTU. This time around Lawrence Lau, previously responsible for the excellent My Name is Fame, steps up to direct, with To acting as producer. Giving a nice sense of continuity, the cast from the original and first sequel Tactical Unit - The Code all return, including stars Simon Yam, Maggie Siu and Lam Suet, along with familiar faces Derek Tsang and Samuel Pang. Although the series is known for its gritty plotlines and non-judgemental approach, No Way Out is even more downbeat than its predecessors, though no less gripping. The film takes place largely in the Temple... [read more]
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High Noon (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Wan Yeung Ming (Actor)
| Michelle Yim (Actor)
| Anjo Leung (Actor)
| Eric Tsang (Producer)
The Hong Kong chapter of the Eric Tsang-produced Winds of September youth film trilogy, High Noon quickly establishes its own distinct personality. 24 year-old director Heiward Mak introduces the protagonists of her seven-boy bunch in chintzy, even annoying fashion, using a bouncy soundtrack and cheesy freeze frames to identify each boy's face and name, before diving full force into the film's assemblage of hot button high-school issues and hyper-emotional overacting. The film is immediately similar and different from director Tom Lin's Winds of September - The Taiwan Chapter, as it possesses the same general themes of youth and friendship, but it goes about exploring them in a vastly... [read more]
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Breaking News (Blu-ray) (Hong Kong Version)
Kelly Chen (Actor)
| Richie Jen (Actor)
| Johnnie To (Director)
| Nick Cheung (Actor)
The fact that Johnnie To's latest film Breaking News got an invite to the Cannes Film Festival should tell you something about the director's international reputation. Basically, that reputation exists, but it's also inexorably tied to the crime genre. Films like Love For All Seasons and even the award-winning Running on Karma don't usually get international fans salivating, and this even goes for the Hong Kong Cinema-faithful who'll watch everything that To directs - and who probably gnash their teeth over the latest Johnnie To-Sammi Cheng romantic laffer. All those lingering fears of Johnnie To-lite should be put to rest with Breaking News, an entertaining crime thriller with a few... [read more]
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Dynamite Warrior (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Dan Chupong (Actor)
| Panna Ritthikrai
| Leo Putt
| Samart Payakarun
Glory be, Dan Chupong is back! While he may not be quite as talented a pure martial artist as his compatriot, the ever-serious Tony Jaa, Born to Fight star Dan Chupong brings one important element to the table that Jaa, so far, has lacked: a sense of humor. While Jaa continues to position himself as an ambassador for Thai culture, Chupong simply wants to kick some ass in the name of entertainment and that he does. Chupong stars as the titular Dynamite Warrior - real name Siang - a mysterious masked Robin Hood type figure who battles cattle barons and rustlers alike with a blend of muay thai and rocketry. Siang is a hero to the poor for stealing cattle from the rich and powerful and... [read more]
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Tactical Unit - Comrades In Arms (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Simon Yam (Actor)
| Maggie Shiu (Actor)
| Lam Suet (Actor)
| Johnnie To (Producer)
Johnnie To's PTU characters are back, and they're the same flawed but respectable law enforcers that you remember. Tactical Unit - Comrades In Arms is the second of Milkyway Image's PTU spinoffs to see release (though other installments were shot previously), and features the return of director Law Wing-Cheong, who also directed Tactical Unit - The Code. The major cast members reprise their roles, though Fat Lo (Lam Suet) has since been demoted from CID to PTU driver, and Sam (Simon Yam) and May (Maggie Siu) now appear to be at odds, if not engaged in some unacknowledged sexual tension. Maybe one of those yet-to-be-released Tactical Unit films offers an explanation for these changes. Things... [read more]
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Tactical Unit - Comrades In Arms (DVD) (US Version)
Simon Yam (Actor)
| Maggie Shiu (Actor)
| Lam Suet (Actor)
| Johnnie To (Producer)
Johnnie To's PTU characters are back, and they're the same flawed but respectable law enforcers that you remember. Tactical Unit - Comrades In Arms is the second of Milkyway Image's PTU spinoffs to see release (though other installments were shot previously), and features the return of director Law Wing-Cheong, who also directed Tactical Unit - The Code. The major cast members reprise their roles, though Fat Lo (Lam Suet) has since been demoted from CID to PTU driver, and Sam (Simon Yam) and May (Maggie Siu) now appear to be at odds, if not engaged in some unacknowledged sexual tension. Maybe one of those yet-to-be-released Tactical Unit films offers an explanation for these changes. Things... [read more]
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Parking (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Chang Chen (Actor)
| Guey Lun Mei (Actor)
| Chapman To (Actor)
| Leon Dai (Actor)
Director Chung Mong-Hong delivers an attention-getting debut with Parking, an urban black comedy boasting an impressive cast and an entertaining, subversive edge. Chang Chen stars as Chen Mo, an average Joe who parks his car in a Taipei neighborhood on Mother's Day to buy some cakes for the evening's dinner. Afterwards, he finds his car double-parked in, beginning a strange, funny, and sometimes surprising journey into the Taipei evening, which isn't as extreme or over-the-top as one might expect from the After Hours-ish premise. Interesting characters, off-color situations, and fine performances follow, as well some content that doesn't seem to cohere. At a certain point, the story loses... [read more]
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Orz Boyz (DVD) (2-Disc Edition) (English Subtitled) (Taiwan Version)
Lee Kuan Yi (Actor)
| Pang Chin Yu (Actor)
| Mei Fang (Actor)
| Gillies Yang (Director)
For those not familiar with Asian Internet culture, the "Orz" in Orz Boyz is an emoticon originally from Japan that stands for a person bowing in failure or despair. The popularity of the emoticon has since spread to Taiwan and China, where it can also mean bowing in admiration. It's not quite clear which definition the "Orz" in Orz Boyz uses to describe its main two characters, especially since the two protagonists in Yang Ya-Che's film aren't exactly living a technologically hip life where emoticons would be used. The film takes place in the small coastal township of Danshui near Taipei, where neighbors hang out at the street market and all the kids go to the same toy store. There's a... [read more]
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Miao Miao (DVD) (2-Disc Deluxe Edition) (English Subtitled) (Taiwan Version)
Ke Jia Yan (Actor)
| Sandrine Pinna (Actor)
| Fan Chih Wei (Actor)
| Stanley Kwan (Producer)
Director Cheng Hsiao-Tse makes a solid debut with Miao Miao, telling the age-old story of two girls and their innocent discoveries with first love. High school student Miao Miao (Ke Jia-Yan) is Chinese but was raised in Japan, and has transferred to Taipei for one special school year. Her quiet demeanor and awkward prettiness make her immediately attractive to classmates and strangers, but it's the sassy Xiao-Ai (Sandrine Pinna) who cracks her shell. The two become fast friends, palling around after school and in class, where Miao Miao's baking skills make her a hit with her classmates. For Miao Miao and Xiao-Ai, it seems that life is innocent, idyllic and pretty darn swell. However, Miao... [read more]
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Enter The Phoenix
Eason Chan (Actor)
| Karen Mok (Actor)
| Stephen Fung (Director)
| Daniel Wu
A band member, a movie hunk, a TV drama rookie, and now a blockbuster director. Stephen Fung seems to have finally found his way into the movie business working behind the scene. Let's hear in his words how he, together with a bunch of his movie buddies (and his girlfriend), won a beautiful battle with Enter The Phoenix in 2004. Fung: The story of Enter The Phoenix has already been on my mind for more than two years. The chance to realize it finally arrived when my manager and Jackie Chan formed a new production house labelled JCE and decided to put my movie into practice. My bet on Enter The Phoenix has won mainly because of its story centering on an old promise kept among the triad gangs.... [read more]
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Red Cliff 2 (DVD) (2-Disc Edition) (Hong Kong Version)
Tony Leung Chiu Wai (Actor)
| Takeshi Kaneshiro (Actor)
| John Woo (Director)
| Lin Chi Ling (Actor)
It needed to be better and it is. John Woo knocks one out of the park with Red Cliff II, besting the solid but somewhat underwhelming Red Cliff I and delivering an enormously entertaining spectacle that should please mass audiences and the John Woo faithful. Who won't be pleased? Probably the people who think that John Woo only equals gunplay, or those who find his particular brand of cinematic romanticism to be the height of unintentional hilarity. To be fair, Red Cliff II contains moments that could cause giggles, but they're simply a side effect of Woo's pronounced themes of brotherhood, and indeed the homoeroticism actually makes the film more enjoyable. More than anything, Red Cliff II... [read more]
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Lady Cop & Papa Crook (DVD) (Director's Cut) (Hong Kong Version)
Sammi Cheng (Actor)
| Eason Chan (Actor)
| Zhang Guo Li
| Michelle Yip
Lady Cop and Papa Crook is a film which has attracted publicity for all the wrong reasons, having been delayed after a battle with the notoriously strict Chinese censors. This is a shame, and it is great to see the film finally emerge, as it offers fans of Hong Kong cinema plenty to get excited about, marking as it does the return to screens of popular singer-actress Sammi Cheng in her first role since 2005's less than successful Everlasting Regret. Here, she teams with another A-list talent in the form of Eason Chan (who recently impressed in low-key gangster drama The Pye-Dog) along with a whole host of notable co-stars including the likes of Chapman To (Trivial Matters), Patrick Tam (best... [read more]
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