March 21st, 2010
Top 100 Hong Kong Films of the Nineties - Numbers 20-11
It’s put up or shut up time as we enter the Top 20 of our Top 100 Hong Kong Films of the Nineties. Basically, everything that appears from here on out had better be a nearly-unassailable classic, or we’ll have a lot of explaining to do. Already people are jockeying for position:
“Man, we are so going to own this Top 20!”
For the record, right now Tony Leung Chiu-Wai has 5 films in the Top 100, and Stephen Chow has 14. Tony does have some hole cards, though.
As explained in every single entry in this series, this list was selected by actual LoveHKFilm readers who took the time to send in their picks for their favorite Hong Kong films. Judging by the results, you can learn a lot — not only about who reads this site, but also about the general state of international Hong Kong Cinema fandom. Generally, we all watch too much Stephen Chow, plus we have stopped appreciating such fine artists as Carol Cheng, Ekin Cheng and Sammo Hung. Everyone out there, where is your sense of history?
Oh yeah, if you’re just joining us, please check out the previous entries first so you don’t ruin the surprise of finding out that the number one film is INFATUATION:
Numbers 100-81
Numbers 80-61
Numbers 60-41
Numbers 40-31
Numbers 30-21
Enough talk, it’s time to see what shows up for numbers 20-11!
20. IRON MONKEY (1993), directed by Yuen Woo-Ping - 180 points - LoveHKFilm Review
As perfect a definition of a Hong Kong film as you’ll find, IRON MONKEY is one of the most enjoyable martial arts flicks of the early nineties not starring a guy named Jet or Jackie. Directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, produced by Tsui Hark and starring Yu Rong-Guang and Donnie Yen before he officially became DONNNNNIEEEE. Sadly, the arrival of the super elegant overproduced martial arts epic has made the chances of more movies like IRON MONKEY very rare. That’s another reason why we should cherish this one.
19. FIST OF LEGEND (1994), directed by Gordon Chan - 187.5 points, 2 first place votes - LoveHKFilm Review
Lee Rankin calls FIST OF LEGEND “simply one of the best martial arts movies ever made,” and enough people agreed to get the film into the Top 20. This remake of Bruce Lee’s classic FIST OF FURY casts Jet Li in the Chen Zhen role, and gives him ample opportunity to own others - either one-on-one or one-on-many - and the destruction he wreaks is powerful, impressive, and sometimes more than a little unfair. Gordon Chan directs, but really, this is Jet Li and Yuen Woo-Ping’s show.
18. KING OF COMEDY (1999), directed by Stephen Chow - 190.5 points, 1 first place vote - LoveHKFilm Review
This layered laffer finds Stephen Chow as Wan Tin-Sau, a dense actor whose dedication to his craft is both a curse and a blessing. Struggling to win respect or even jobs, he finds purpose when he trains a young prostitute how to act more “professional”. At one point she beats him up with a folding stool. LoveHKFilm reader Charles calls KING OF COMEDY “Stephen Chow’s masterpiece - a movie about movies that plays with genres as often as he (the director) plays with the audience.” The film also introduced audiences to some actress named Cecilia Cheung - which makes it more or less essential viewing for any Hong Kong Cinema fan.
17. ASHES OF TIME (1994), directed by Wong Kar-Wai - 200.5 points, 4 first place votes - LoveHKFilm Review
The late Barry Long saw Wong Kar-Wai’s ASHES OF TIME during its theatrical run in 1994, and his reaction was, “I have no idea what’s going on, but this movie rocks!” ASHES OF TIME was ahead of its time, but also a product of its times. The bombastic synthesizer soundtrack and over-stylized fight sequences confirm the film’s nineties-era origins, but putting postmodern existentialism into a film based on a classic martial arts novel? That’s something audiences weren’t ready for. Fifteen years later, after the failure of THE BLADE and the success of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and HERO? ASHES OF TIME can be called what it is: a masterpiece.
16. A CHINESE ODYSSEY PART I: CINDERELLA (1995) and A CHINESE ODYSSEY Part II: PANDORA’S BOX (1995), directed by Jeff Lau - 212.5 points, 4 first place votes - LoveHKFilm Review 1, Review 2
LoveHKFilm reader Garvin says that A CHINESE ODYSSEY is “the ultimate Hong Kong movie. A great blend of everything you would expect — mo lei tau comedy, crazy action, and surprisingly deep, heart-breaking drama (yes, really!). All capped off with a great performance from Stephen Chow, maybe his best ever.” Garvin is right on the acting. Just check out the final scene of Part II, where Stephen Chow plays two characters, the mortal Joker and the the immortal Monkey King. They’re the same guy at different times in their life, and Chow sells it through the light in his eyes and not just the Monkey make-up. Jeff Lau’s comedies are sometimes too smart for their own good, but the CHINESE ODYSSEY films mix low brow shenanigans, cerebral gags and ardent emotions with delirious, affecting abandon. Ng Man-Tat as Piggy? A cast of females that includes Yammie Nam, Karen Mok, Ada Choi and Athena Chu? Icing.
15. FALLEN ANGELS (1995), directed by Wong Kar-Wai - 218 points, 3 first place votes - LoveHKFilm Review
It’s been called the “coolest movie in the world”, but FALLEN ANGELS can also be called CHUNGKING EXPRESS pushed to lurid, excessive, over-the-top romantic genre extremes. Grady Hendrix sums this one up thusly, “Wong Kar-wai has made better movies, but I prefer him in his pop-tastic mode, and FALLEN ANGELS sees his nineties mannerisms pushed to high art. Resolutely a product of Hong Kong genre filmmaking with embarrassing slo-mo musical montages and improbably badass action scenes, its highs are higher (and lows, lower) than anything else he would ever make. Free of the artsy self-consciousness that would infest his later movies, it gets on this list for having the world’s most perfect final shot, if for nothing else.”
14. C’EST LA VIE, MON CHERI (1993), 227.5 points, 3 first place votes - LoveHKFilm Review
Basically LOVE STORY told Hong Kong-style, C’EST LA VIE, MON CHERI demonstrates how to tell an age-old story in sublime style. Derek Yee’s tearjerker delivers expected emotions, but refuses to narrate or spoonfeed, instead selling situations and subtle growth in characters that we learn to deeply care about. Also, Chris Babida’s music is amazing. Anita Yuen deservedly won her first of two consecutive Best Actress Awards, and the film’s portrait of local Hong Kong culture and clashing classes is as fascinating and affecting as its terminal illness plotline. Yet another classic Hong Kong film that is now hard to find on DVD.
13. HAPPY TOGETHER (1997), directed by Wong Kar-Wai - 232 points, 3 first place votes - LoveHKFilm Review
Grace Chow says, “The melancholy, suppressed, alienated atmosphere in this movie is painful and familiar at the same time.” HAPPY TOGETHER so deeply enters the emotions and psyches of its protagonists that it easily rises above its dismissive label as “gay cinema”, becoming something universal that can be understood and appreciated by just about anyone. Replace either Leslie Cheung or Tony Leung Chiu-Wai with a female actor and you’d still have an amazing film. Still, then you’d miss out on seeing probably the most handsome couple in Hong Kong Cinema history. Leung won the acting awards, but Cheung’s performance is the more heartbreaking.
12. FONG SAI YUK (1993), 242 points, 1 first place vote - LoveHKFilm Review
FONG SAI-YUK should be considered one of the finest examples of nineties Hong Kong Cinema. It’s got comedy, switched genders, mistaken identity, chaste romance, and exciting, creative kung-fu action plenty. Like many nineties Hong Kong films, its certainly uneven, but its shifting tones and disparate genres are what makes it a classic. Adam Laidig says, “Every time one of its flaws crops up on screen there’s someone right there to gloss over it with two coats of charm.” Jet Li is one of those someones, but there’s also the beautiful Michelle Reis and the legendary Josephine Siao, who pretty much owns FONG SAI-YUK with her divine comic turn as Fong Sai-Yuk’s too-cool-for-school mom. And Zhao Wen-Zhou as the villain? Awesome. Possibly the most fun movie Jet Li ever made.
11. COMRADES, ALMOST A LOVE STORY (1996), 276 points, 7 first place votes - LoveHKFilm Review
The big winner at the 1996 Hong Kong Film Awards, Peter Chan’s COMRADES, ALMOST A LOVE STORY is easily the Hong Kong romance of the nineties, referencing the city’s romantic history while also touching upon the Chinese diaspora and such nifty ideas as identity, serendipity and predestiny. It’s impossible to talk about COMRADES without talking about Leon Lai, who’s great here, and Maggie Cheung, who’s more than just great — she raises the film to a complete other level. Says reader KL, “Without Maggie Cheung, this is just a good film. With Maggie Cheung, this is a wonderful film. Her radiant face and heartfelt performance are a real pleasure to behold.” In the 21st century, Chan has busied himself with expanding the financial viability of Hong Kong and Asian film through projects like PERHAPS LOVE, WARLORDS and BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS. But wouldn’t it be great if he could make just one more personal romance? If he could coax Maggie Cheung back to the screen for a starring role, it would be the Hong Kong film of that year. Hard to find on DVD now. My copy is in a safe deposit box somewhere.
Woohoo, that’s it for the Top 100 Hong Kong Films of the Nineties! Thanks for tuning in everybody! Next time we do this, we’ll do something like the Best Punches to the Face in a Hong Kong Film or maybe Best Hong Kong Films Involving a Fart Joke – you know, something important that shows people what an authority we are on the online Asian Cinema scene. Trust me, it’ll be awesome.
Oh whoops, we still have 10 left to go. I’ll figure out what they are by tomorrow.
March 21st, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Wow. What a list of 10 movies. All great. Such a differences from the 20-11 of the Aughts as wuxia movies were such an impact in the early 90s.
It’s a shame everytime I see the summary include “hard to find on DVD” now. Because I really want to re-watch all these films now. More so than I do the movies of the Aughts.
March 21st, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Now Wong Kar Wai can put his sunglasses on again.
Let’s pray that somehow the result of this vote can be a recommendation for those, whoever in charge, to reproduce those great legendary movies and make it more accessible
March 21st, 2010 at 2:28 pm
This is my first reply to this fantastic poll, thanks for the WM for creating. I think I know all of the movies in top ten already but It’s difficult to know the actual ranking. However, I guess the top 3 would be 1. the Mission 2. Chungking express 3. Hard boiled.
March 21st, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Wow, definitely some upsets here. I thought for sure that half the movies on this list would make the top 10.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Seen 2, voted 2… I really need to start ebaying for HK movies.
Total stats at 15/38/90.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:10 pm
I’m a sucker for lists and this one has been a joy to follow.
My pick for the top five would be 1. CHUNGKING EXPRESS 2. HARD BOILED 3. GOD OF COOKERY 4. INFERNAL AFFAIRS 5. SHAOLIN SOCCER.
You just can’t argue with the might of Chow Sing-Chi.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Oh wait! It’s of the 90’s isn’t it?!?
Silly me.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Glad to see C’est La Vie Mon Cheri up there–I was worried it would get lost among all the other HK awesomeness that was the 1990s, especially since it didn’t have any guns, wuxia, martial arts, mo le tau, or Wong Kar-Wai about it.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Finally some Wong Kar-wai movies! And more than I expected… So I guess all his movies from the 90s ended up in the top20.
Seen all of these great movies and voted for six of them. In total: Seen 74/90 and 12/20 of the movies I voted for are listed.
So what’s left? I’m guessing:
10. Drunken Master 2
9. Once upon a time in China
8. Bullet in the head
7. Days of being wild
6. Once upon a time in China 2
5. The Mission
4. Running out of time
3. God of Cookery
2. Hard Boiled
1. Chungking Express
So to the discussion we had earlier about the Four Kings and Leslie if my guessing is right:
In the top10: Andy 1, Aaron 0, Leon 0, Jacky 2, Leslie 1
In the top20: Andy 1, Aaron 0, Leon 2, Jacky 3, Leslie 3
So I guess Jacky is the winner!
March 21st, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Wow, Wong kar wai has 3 movies here and it is not his ace movie yet. Sure, he will make into TOP 3.
My vote for FIST OF LEGEND is out, so status is 6/10.
I have seen 84/90.
@Nil. How bout Stephen chow’s ALL FOR THE WINNER in The Top 10? Did anyone vote for it?
Aaron Kwok only has 2 movies in the TOP 100. Has anyone seen Johnnie To & Aaron Kwok ‘Barefooted Kids’?
March 21st, 2010 at 7:01 pm
@b3n1, ALL FOR THE WINNER already appeared at #48, so it’s done. It could have ranked higher, but I doubt it could have achieved a Top 10 rank because it’s really more of a local hit than an international one. It really took FROM BEIJING WITH LOVE before international fans really got interested in him.
March 21st, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Iron Monkey? Really?
I never thought that was much cop.
March 21st, 2010 at 8:03 pm
@Kozo. Oh…you are right, I made mistake I thought it could make at least TOP 20. So my vote status should be 7/10.
@David. Iron monkey is good. The fighting choreography is excellent. A must watch for any martial art fans.
March 21st, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Speaking of Carol Cheng, I really should have voted for “Murder”. What a brilliant movie. Oh well, maybe I’ll vote in the next one..
March 21st, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I expect Chungking Express and Police Story in the top 10.
No, I demand it!
March 21st, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Oh yeah! My beloved Fong Sai Yuk, which is my favorite Jet Li movie.
@David: Iron Monkey is stupendous!
At least the WKW movies I’ve seen are in the top twenty: Fallen Angels and Ashes of Time (Sanjuro made me watch it).
Current Stats: 46/90; top 20: 6/10 so far.
March 21st, 2010 at 9:54 pm
13/54/90 - Iron Monkey was one of the best. I don’t know I just don’t like Jet Li. Delighted that Happy Together is part of the top 20 because I didn’t think many people liked the concept. Warming up to Ashes of Time but I think I need to see a couple more times. There is still hope for Days of Being Wild (my #1)!!
March 21st, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Fist of Legend only 19 and The Legend, lower?? Ridiculous.
Tis atleast top 10, FOL, Iron Monkey and Drunken Master 2 are the best Martial Arts movies of the 90s IMO.
Quite surprised is all.
@Chan, Police Story is from the 80s.
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:12 am
whoaa..i suppose my knowledge of the 90s is lacking…
cant believe black mask didn’t make the list…i loved that movie..
March 22nd, 2010 at 4:13 am
Ah, much like others in the talkbacks lately, I keep forgetting this list is about 90’s movies.
March 22nd, 2010 at 5:46 am
I only submitted a top 10, 1 was in 30-21 and 3 more here. My list was pretty standard/canonical, so I expect my final 6 to be in the Top 10!
Great list by the way. I might take umbrage with some of order, but all in all I think the readership of this site has some great taste.
March 22nd, 2010 at 7:24 am
unless i’ve missed something it seems unlikely that bullets over summer will feature in this list?!
awwww sucks.
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:46 am
@anotherlonelyday. BULLET OVER SUMMER has already out at number 51. Yes, I like the movie for its quirk comedy. I didn’t vote for the movie but I thought it could rank higher.
@SC. I love FIST OF LEGEND and I voted for it. I guess this movie is for guys. Girls definetely won’t picked this movie.
Now, I had a feeling that Jackie Chan’s FIRST STRIKE won’t make into TOP 100 list.
March 22nd, 2010 at 9:45 am
I just watched KING OF COMEDY and I have a question someone might be able to answer.
IS the character of ‘The Director’, with his outrageous mannerisms, based on a real HK director who acts like that?
I’d really like to think so.
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Guess this means that “Banana Spirit” didn’t make the cut ; ) I am a little disappointed that “Once Upon A Time In Triad Society” has apparently been left out, though, but that might be because it’s completely inaccessible on DVD or VCD. But maybe I’ll be (very) surprised & it will show up in the next round–
I’m betting it’s a battle to the death between “Chung King Express” and “The Mission” for number one.
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Hi valerie, the omission of many great movies can easily be chalked up to access. Strong genre ones with great stars like Francis Ng would easily have been talked about had they been available on DVD, but VCD is usually not enough for fan sites to get excited. The situation is even worse for something like THE MAD PHOENIX, which isn’t on DVD and is patently uninteresting to people who salivate over Johnnie To.
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Fong Sai Yuk was my number 1 pick. It’s probably my favorite movie of all time. The only fault I have with this film is the scene where Jet Li is fighting Sibelle Hu and the shot where he is knocked off the structure and “narrowly touches the ground”. His foot obviously touches the ground and kicks around some pebbles. Are computers good enough yet where somebody can go in and edit that?
Other than that minor gripe, there will never be a time or mood where I won’t watch to watch this film.
March 22nd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Hey Kozo,
So could you please please please tell the powers-that-be to remaster Once Upon A Time In Triad Society? I would be grateful to you until my dying day.
Thanks!
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Wow! This means 4 of my picks made it into the top 5. Wich means Tony Leung kicks Jackie Chan pretty hard.
Kozo, How do you decide the points when it is a trilogy?
March 23rd, 2010 at 10:56 am
@valerie, sadly my influence with TPTB is nonexistent. Of course, if I did have my way both ONCE UPON A TIME IN TRIAD SOCIETY movies would be up for remaster, along with POM POM AND HOT HOT, IT’S NOW OR NEVER and a zillion other films.
@daika, there’s no difference between films in a trilogy and individual films for this vote. They’re all counted as separate films. The only film I made an exception for is CHINESE ODYSSEY, which actually did receive some screenings in a single combined cut. Other stuff, like ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA, LEE ROCK, etc., was counted individually.
March 23rd, 2010 at 12:16 pm
seen 60/90, voted 13/20
my first reaction of seeing the pic of tony leung and stephen chow is why have they never made a film together? stephen was the guy who brought tony into TVB and they collaborated on a kids program, but never on the big screen. I think the odds of that happening now is pretty much close to zero…
March 24th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Such great films on this list. Glad that Iron Monkey, Yu Rong-Guang will have a role in the Karate Kid and get exposure to an entire new audience (although some people may recognize him from Shanghai Noon).
March 30th, 2010 at 4:47 am
Iron Monkey, Fist of Legend, Fong Sai Yuk and Happy Together made the list! WOOT! Yeah, I included Happy Together? Wanna make something of it?? :-p