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Reviews
Cheung gong 7 hou (2008)
A message for the Mainland
This is an unusual Stephen Chow movie in that it isn't as nonsensical as it could have been, but more touching. It reveals a lot more about Stephen Chow, who also came from a very poor background, and worked his way up to where he is. He doesn't want to lose sight of it, and wants the audience to know it's OK, he no longer has to sneak his values and disguise it in mo lei tou anymore. This movie is in line with what he wants to point out- that one may have a heart no matter what station of life, and that only the poor can rise to greatness as only they can understand the true values in life. Of course, his pick-up line at the end was hilarious as he tried to woo the pretty teacher. She asked him how he was feeling, and he says something is wrong with his body, he is far too handsome now. She said that's really funny! He said, no, not funny, I am really too handsome!! Ha ha ha.
Liang ge zhi neng huo yi ge (1997)
Great, Unusual Movie
Takes a couple of repeat viewings to really know what's going on, but this movie grows on you each time. A movie of character studies, without drum roll or fanfare, about characters who we expect to care less about in the beginning. Unpretentious and non self-conscious. Films this quiet and moving are rare. Hilarious if you are observant and paying attention to all the small moments. The main loser is played by Takeshi Kaneshiro, whom few expect to be a character actor. However, he couldn't be more natural. Every still moment, deep breath he takes, contemplative smoke, showed his incredible depth and range. It takes you by surprise because few character actors look this good. The dialog is well written and excellently sparse. The actress loser Carmen Lee was excellent though seemed more scripted than Kaneshiro, but they had some excellent interactive moments. Highly recommended for film viewers of any nationality, though Hong Kong is displayed in a much more narcissistic and seedy way than usual. This is a film about high self-esteem, the change in life that can come about even for a loser, if he had enough integrity and belief in himself.
Qi jian (2005)
Horribly paced, confusing and awful
I have seen many Tsui Hark movies, and many wuxia films, and lots and lots of solid martial arts films. This is by far one of the worst. It has moments of beautiful cinematography, sure, and Donnie Yen is terrific as always. However, the choppy pacing, the unnecessary melodrama in the wrong places, and the otherwise well choreographed fight scenes spliced by dizzy camera work made this film one of the worst wuxia films to appear in the recent past. That and lots of pretentious dialogue, stock character development, and a poorly structured story makes the original intented themes of betrayal and heroism a 'who cares' film. Too bad.
Kung fu (2004)
So funny even the parodies are original
This is a one of a kind movie. A friend who saw it with me had never seen a Stephen Chow movie prior to this one, and was shocked, just shocked, at how great he and the movie both were. He says this is just a brilliant movie, over the top, yes, but in a GREAT way. Oh, those unforgettable characters, like the landlady, the martial artists living ordinary lives, the poverty stricken Hong Kong that we remember....incidentally, this movie puts other ones to shame, because although there are lots and lots of CGI, the martial artists are real masters who need no CGI at all, not flimsy actors who rely solely on CGI to do anything. The acting was just right, veering from comedic deadpan to pitiful pathos. We laughed from start to finish, and then laughed for another 30 minutes after the movie finished. Everyone vows to see it again. For us jaded movie goers, this is a first.
Chung Hing sam lam (1994)
Very Cool
This movie is very cool on the surface, and extremely subtle at its core. It's a movie about these quirky characters, and the cinematography is all about the feel of Hong Kong. As someone from Hong Kong, I can say the feel of it is all on screen, down to the hilarious dialogue,which I guess no non-Cantonese will ever get. In fact the dialogue makes for most of the charm of the movie. The first half is about two Taiwanese, a mysterious blonde woman who is a criminal who you can tell is put in a position to have to take care of herself. She meets a broken hearted cop, another Taiwanese who speaks really funny Cantonese. They are both displaced non natives, and the blonde woman is stuck in a drug scheme involving a white guy in a Filipino bar betrayed by Pakistanis. Yes, Hong Kong is populated by this exact group of outsiders. They don't have an affair, and the cop never really mends his broken heart, and we never find out who the blonde woman is. But it doesn't matter. It's about a moment in time; sometimes people never live past those certain moments. There isn't really a plot in this movie. There aren't necessarily plots in really life. Tony Leung talking to his apartment and its occupants (toys, a towel, his shirt), and the fact that he's terrified of change, makes for some hilarious situations. Faye Wong is infectiously weird, and constantly needing change (she's a very flaky waitress), she re-arranges his apartment without his noticing. I think it's a great movie. It's too cool for Tarantino.
Fan yi cho (2000)
It's trying to say something but
Mainly, it's just a movie for Takeshi Kaneshiro fans. If there was a male beauty contest he definitely would win. Which makes you wonder, since Kelly Chen is not 10% as beautiful, what does the angel see in her, and what was his mission anyway? She's constantly mean and depressed, not making for a very lovable personality either. There are many weird unexplainable moments in the film and again, this is a movie for people to gape at Kaneshiro, which it does a fine job of doing. The gay scenes portrayed in the movie were extremely clichéd, as are all the other moments. However, again, this is every girl's romantic fantasy, isn't it, to look dour and act unhappy like Kelly Chen's character, and yet still have a gorgeous angel fall from heaven to fall in love only with her. What a fantasy. I am jealous indeed.
Shi mian mai fu (2004)
Pretty Empty
What a waste of actors, set design, cinematography, costume design, music, choreography. The above were excellent. Andy Lau was perfectly menacing and stony, flickering tiny evil emotions. Zhang Ziyi is beautifully full of herself, always acting as if there was more to her character than there is. Takeshi Kaneshiro was gorgeous and nuanced, and ultimately, the most sympathetic character, but not given a chance to develop deeply enough. All the attention was on the unfolding of Zhang Ziyi but she remains a mystery to the end, intentional or not. There is no match in atmosphere, beauty, and martial arts choreography, but the story rings hollow at the end and nothing made any logical sense, allegorical or not.
Tin ngai hoi gok (1996)
Heart Wrenching
This is a beautiful little movie. Kelly Chen was very unappealing as a leukemia dying victim and one can't see what the other characters see in her in the movie. No matter, Takeshi Kaneshiro proved to be extremely endearing and touching as a simple guy who selflessly helps others and touched her life and made it worth living/dying soon for. Parts of it were kind of strange and goes no where but all of the little unfortunate characters were very meaningfully sketched too. The Scottish seaman was also effectively portrayed and although the scenes in Scotland seem not to make sense it illustrates that wherever you go, there is home. No matter where you go, you still find that you want to see the people in your own life.