Blog Archives

A Hero Never Dies (1998)

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Posted on October 29, 2005 by Mark Morrison

This is one for the true believers. If you long for the heroic archetypes of late 80s and early 90s Hong Kong cinema, here they are. The makers of Expect the Unexpected (director Johnnie To and producer Wai Ka-Fai) leave gritty crime realism aside for a moment and deliver up a glorious homage to the two-gun-blazing big-heart-pumping Hong Kong gunplay genre.

Jack (Leon Lai) is the big brother in Mr Yam’s gang. Martin (Lau Ching Wan) is the big brother … (read more)

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Running on Karma (2003)

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Posted on September 27, 2003 by Eugene

I have to admit to not expecting much out of this one. The few stills from the film looked pretty silly especially with Andy looking <INSERT ACCENT="austrian"> “mighty”. The synopsis is not exactly something that inspires a lot of confidence as well. With a line like that, you have a sneaking suspicion that they’d travel the countryside in a van solving mysteries.

And the opening scene with Andy doing a strip show and going the full monty… hey, where’d everyone … (read more)

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Fat Choi Spirit (2002)

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Posted on September 7, 2003 by Ching Yee

It’s a silly [and superstitious] habit but I like going to the movies when Chinese New Year starts. I think it’s good practice and lucky to start off the New Year with lots of laughter. And what better way to put a big grin on the face that than to see a brand new Lunar comedy?

Over the past decade or so, the trend of putting out Lunar comedies has fallen on Jackie Chan and of course, the laff-meister Stephen … (read more)

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PTU (2003)

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Posted on August 24, 2003 by Alison

Johnnie To Kei Fung has been working on PTU for around two years, in between other projects, and so the film has gained a degree of notoriety purely for that reason. As a result, To was a trifle anxious as to how this pet project would be received: speaking briefly before the opening night screening, he expressed a hope that the audience would forget The Mission, and give PTU its own chance.

Well, it’s not The Mission. It … (read more)

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Running Out Of Time (1999)

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Posted on August 23, 2003 by Alison

Johnnie To is the coolest director in the known universe, bar none. He has a gift for making great movies, and this is one of his strongest. It doesn’t hurt that he’s assembled a solid cast, including Andy Lau, owner of the sharpest cheekbones in the business, and Lau Ching Wan, one of the best actors in Hong Kong. There are even credible female characters too, in the form of the lovely Yoyo Mung, and the redoubtable Ruby Wong.

But … (read more)

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Love For All Seasons (2003)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Eugene

I’ve often had a conflict when reviewing a film about whether I should write from an objective or subjective point of view. Of course, I quickly realise that an objective review is too dry and impersonal for my tastes (besides, I really don’t know enough BS to fill out an objective review), so instead, it becomes a conflict of reviewing a film for it’s own merits or as a comparison to better (or worse, as the case may be) films … (read more)

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Needing You (2000)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Alison

It’s no secret to anyone that I rather fancy Andy Lau, and rather like Johnnie To’s work, so it should be no surprise that I enjoy this film. And it must be said that there’s a lot to like, at least for those of you who enjoy the occasional romantic comedy.

For starters, Andy demonstrates the charm for which he’s become famous as a matinee idol. He also demonstrates his skill at throwing up: yep, no Andy film is complete … (read more)

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