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Recommendations
by Kozo |
Updated: June 2007
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After
numerous requests, I've sifted through the hundreds of Hong
Kong Films that I've seen and come up with fifteen or so that
I will call my Top Picks. Keep in mind, I haven't seen everything
(though sometimes it feels like I have). My picks tend to favor
the films of the nineties, as those were the movies that really
brought me into the whole HK Cinema world. I hope this list
helps both new and old HK Cinema fans alike. A word of warning:
LoveHKFilm.com lawyers
stress that this list in no way constitutes an iron-clad guarantee
of cinematic enjoyment. |
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The
Blade (1995)
Mind-numbingly existential and overwrought in nearly every way,
Tsui Hark's revisionist swordplay film is by turns frustrating,
confusing and even muddled. It's also exhilirating, visceral
and bloody brilliant. Questionable as either a martial arts
revenge epic or a contemplation on the wuxia genre, it's remarkably
satisfying nonetheless. |
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Bullet
in the Head (1990)
One of the most punishing movies ever put to film. John Woo's
ultimate brotherhood action epic heads to Vietnam for some incredibly
over-the-top and emotionally wrenching action. It's not a very
subtle film, but the circle of violence Woo portrays is both
affecting and haunting. This is also Tom Cruise's favorite John
Woo movie. |
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Chungking
Express (1994)
The Webmaster would like people to know: this is not only his
favorite Hong Kong film, but also his favorite film EVER. Wong
Kar-Wai's breezy take on urban alienation is also a cotton-candy
confection of familiar emotional themes and beguiling existential
metaphor. Anyone with a deep love of the cinema should enjoy
this film. |
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Comrades,
Almost a Love Story (1996)
Praise for Peter Chan's 1996 drama cannot be exaggerated. His
portrait of two transplanted Mainlanders in Hong Kong is a film
of wonderful sentiment and rich, appropriate details. The strong
cast (led by the luminous Maggie Cheung) lend depth and reality
to a film that's uniquely Hong Kong and undeniably affecting.
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Fong
Sai-Yuk (1993)
Why this Jet Li movie? After careful consideration, the Webmaster
finds most of Jet Li's best pictures interchangeable. Still,
he considers Fong Sai-Yuk the most entertaining Jet Li
film out there thanks to its charming blend of action, comedy
and over-the-top Hong Kong emotions. The presence of Josephine
Siao clinches this one. |
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From
Beijing with Love (1994)
Oddly paced for a Stephen Chow film, this 1994 spy spoof still
makes the grade thanks to Chow's winning performance as slow-but-cool
special agent Ling Ling Chat. Nods to HK Cinema classics and
the expected spy movies make this a sarcastic comedy gem. Also
featuring Anita Yuen at the height of her Hong Kong Cinema powers. |
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God
of Cookery (1996)
Stephen Chow plays one of his stock characters in this 1996
comedy, but the film itself is what differentiates God of
Cookery from the rest of the pack. Partially a parody of
the TV cooking craze, the film also manages to parody triads,
other Hong Kong films, and more. Breathlessly creative and hilarious. |
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Green
Snake (1993)
Tsui Hark strikes again with this over-the-top costume fantasy
featuring Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong as ancient snakes seeking
humanity. There are more moments of sheer beauty in Green
Snake than you'll find in scores of other movies. The actual
drama of this film can be laughably lurid, but the whole spectacle
is a wonder of cinema. |
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In the Mood
for Love (2000)
Wong Kar-Wai's most accomplished film is also his least showy.
Possessed of a controlled narrative and gorgeous detail, this
tale of two would-be adulterers is a cinematic treat for movie-lovers
everywhere. Wong Kar-Wai's usual cohorts Tony Leung Chiu-Wai,
Maggie Cheung, Christopher Doyle and William Cheung Suk-Ping
perform superlatively.
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The
Longest Nite (1998)
Unflinchingly nihilistic, this noir thriller is without any
redeeming features. The characters are evil, their actions deplorable,
and the world they inhabit is a sweltering neon hell. Still,
this twisty thriller is also one of the most confident, exhilirating
thrillers out of Hong Kong. It's got plot holes, but who cares? |
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Lost
and Found (1996)
Lee Chi-Ngai's thoughtful drama is full of dramatic platitudes
and existential musings that would doom most films. However,
it also has some undeniably affecting sentiment, as well as
one of HK Cinema's most charming, utterly loveable characters:
Takeshi Kaneshiro as Mr. Lost and Found. This is a film that's
hard not to love. |
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The
Mission (1999)
A pure crime thriller that uses the language of cinema to its
fullest. Johnnie To eschews all-out action in favor of stillness
and controlled emotion. Casually off-beat, irretrievably cool
and even unexpectedly charming, The Mission surprises
on nearly every level. Francis Ng and Anthony Wong lead a terrific
ensemble cast. |
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Needing
You (2000)
Quite possibly the most inconsequential film on this list, Needing
You is also the most unabashedly enjoyable. Johnnie To and
Wai Ka-Fai's urban romantic comedy is surprisingly cinematic
and marvelously charming. Personally, there's another reason
this film makes the list: Sammi Cheng. |
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Peking
Opera Blues (1986)
Frequently referred to by the Webmaster as the ultimate Hong
Kong film. All of HK Cinema's prime signifiers are present in
Tsui Hark's dazzling mix of action, comedy, romance, history
and about fifty other genres. The troika of actresses (Brigitte
Lin, Sally Yeh and Cherie Chung) are wonderful, and the film
is darn near perfect. |
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Police
Story (1985)
Because one Jackie Chan film is absolutely necessary, the first
in his drawn-out cop series makes the list. It may not be as
polished as Supercop or as winning as Drunken Master
2, but Police Story caused so much damage that its
visionary stuntwork must be saluted. There could be more broken
glass in this film than in any other ever made. |
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top |
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The
Best of the Rest |
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Other
films of note are listed below. Please keep in mind: there are
a lot of very worthy films that didn't make any of these lists.
The following aren't necessarily the best films out there, merely
ones which happened to stick with me for one reason or another,
be it a great performance, stunning action, or a remarkably
affecting plot. Or maybe it was just a lot of fun. |
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Highest Possible Recommendation
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