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| Sanjuro's
Hong Kong Cinema Recommendations |
| Updated February 2005 |
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For the benefit
of LoveHKFilm.com
readers who might be interested, I've compiled a list
of some of my all-time favorite Hong Kong movies. Over
the years-heck, even just over a couple days-my tastes
will change. Acknowledging my shifting, ever-evolving
interests, I've gone ahead and put together a selection
of films that I've really enjoyed, and I hope others will
like, too. True, there have been some oversights. But
if your favorite Hong Kong film isn't here, maybe it'll
make the grade next time (Unless of course you think Gen-Y
Cops is the greatest Hong Kong movie ever made. Believe
me, that movie will NEVER be on this list!). So whether
you're a longtime fan or just a newcomer to Hong Kong
cinema, I hope this list helps. And no, I do not look
like the picture to the left. |
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| Hard
Boiled |
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| As John Woo's
last and perhaps best Hong Kong movie, Hard Boiled
is the kind of film where critical hyperbole like
"it's a pulse-pounding, high-octane thrill ride"
isn't far from the truth. Although his role as Mark in
the A Better Tomorrow films may be more iconic,
Chow Yun-Fat owns all as Tequila Yuen, a swaggering hardboiled
cop who radiates so much charm and charisma that it's
not hard to see why Chow was dubbed "the coolest
actor on the planet" a few years back. But of course,
with most John Woo films, the action is the main draw,
and Hard Boiled doesn't disappoint. In the words
of my esteemed colleague Kozo, this movie boasts the "MOST
INSANE BLAZING TWO-GUN ACTION YOU'LL EVER SEE." And
he's right on the money. In terms of balletic action,
this is John Woo at his finest. |
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| Drunken
Master II (1994) |
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| Drunken
Master II is perhaps Jackie Chan's finest film, if
not the best kung fu movie ever put on celluloid. It has
some of Jackie's best stunts, mixing original director
Lau Kar-Leung's old school choreography with Jackie Chan's
contemporary kung fu comedy shtick. A word of warning:
don't analyze the plot too closely (Oh Andy Lau, where
art thou?), and you'll be just fine. Just sit back and
enjoy the fireworks. Chan's last stand against the amazing
leg-fighter Ken Lo is probably one of the best ending
battles in cinema history. Really. |
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| In
the Mood for Love |
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| My favorite
Wong Kar-Wai movie EVER and probably the best film the
critically-acclaimed auteur will ever make, although one
hopes he can again craft something as wonderful as In
the Mood for Love, a beautiful film that improves
with ever subsequent viewing. Credit must also go to William
Cheung Suk-Ping, Christopher Doyle, Lee Ping-Ban for the
film's look, as well as Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Maggie
Cheung for delivering career-defining performances that
are sure to be remembered for a very long time. It doesn't
get much better than this. |
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| Shaolin
Soccer (2001) |
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| Some folks
think the first part drags, but those young grasshoppers
just lack patience. Believe the hype! Shaolin Soccer
is the ultimate Hong Kong flick super sampler. It's got
a good old fashioned underdog story with a lot of kung
fu, comedy, CGI wizardry, and just a little bit of romance.
Add to the mix the funniest, and most honorific Bruce
Lee homage to date, and you have the formula for a fantastic
picture. The presence of the lovely Zhao Wei helps, too. |
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| Once
Upon a Time in China II (1992) |
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| Admit it,
you think the first film is pretty boring. The truth is
that Once Upon a Time in China II is Jet Li's and
Tsui Hark's real epic masterpiece, actually surpassing
the original as the best of the series. Sure, I had reservations
about putting yet another sequel on the list, but OUATIC
2 is a great flick and also the first Hong Kong film
I ever saw that didn't star Bruce Lee (or his clones).
Part of what makes this movie a standout is the addition
of the very funny Max Mok to the cast (replacing Yuen
Biao) and the fact that Jet Li battles two great villains
at the end - the evil gwailo-hater Kung and a corrupt
official played by Donnie Yen. While the original film
experimented with a lot of themes and genres, Once
Upon a Time in China II successfully melds spectacular
martial arts, chivalric romance, and social commentary
into one great picture. |
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| Running
Out of Time (1999) |
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| While not
as sleek as Infernal Affairs, this Johnnie To-directed
heist flick most definitely delivers the goods. The plot
hooks the viewer immediately: a cancer-stricken thief
(Andy Lau) engages a dedicated police negotiator (Lau
Ching-Wan) into an intriguing game of cat and mouse. Though
there are probably gaping plot holes and huge leaps in
logic, who really cares? Ultimately, this Milky Way production
serves as a fantastic showcase for two of Hong Kong's
best and brightest actors, one of whom (Andy Lau) took
home the Best Actor prize at the 19th Annual Hong Kong
Film Awards. And even better, the film boasts an awfully
catchy theme song! |
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| Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon |
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| Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon is more than just a movie; it's
a phenomenon. Along with The Matrix, its title
will forever be used as a comparative term for film blurbs
around the world ("It's a cross between.").
Based on the book by Wang Du-Lu, CTHD is the epic
tale of two couples coming to grips with the realities
of living in the martial world. Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle
Yeoh are great, while Zhang Ziyi turns in a star-making
performance. With all the hype surrounding the film, it's
no wonder that there has been a bit of a backlash since
its original theatrical release. Some say that it's too
slow, or that there's too much flying, etc. But for me,
those complaints don't even register at all. Beautiful
and compelling to the very last, Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon is nothing less than a cinematic masterpiece. |
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| Cave
of the Silken Web (1967) |
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| My childhood
hero comes to life in the third (and best) installment
of the Shaw Brothers' adaptation of Journey to the
West. Here, the Monkey King and his merry men do battle
with a coven of sexy spider vixens. Hilarity ensues. Cave
of the Silken Web is wacky fun from start to finish,
boasting all the ingredients for a sidesplitting, adventure-filled
romp that the whole family can enjoy. In other words,
I liked it. |
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| Fist
of Fury (1972) |
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| Who's the
master? No, it's not Sho-Nuff, it's Bruce Lee, fool! And
while this Lo Wei-directed flick may seem like just another
"You killed my master!" revenge yarn, Bruce
Lee's charismatic performance puts Fist of Fury
at the top of the heap. Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen,
and even Stephen Chow have tried to fill the shoes of
the master in their own various remake and sequel attempts,
but even after all these years, Fist of Fury reigns
supreme. |
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| Needing
You (2000) |
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| With its
formulaic plotline and totally unrealistic finale, Needing
You is a movie that I should hate with a passion.
Well, I don't. Before I saw this film, I failed to grasp
the appeal of Sammi Cheng. But I get it now—boy do
I ever! The onscreen chemistry between the film's co-stars,
the Moment of Romance parodies, and Cheng's "seduction"
scene (see picture) coached by an affable Andy Lau are
just some of the memorable moments that make this bubbly
romantic comedy worthwhile. |
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| Dirty
Ho (1979) |
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| While it
does claim the single greatest title in cinema history,
Dirty Ho has a lot more going for it than mere
novelty status. Directed by Lau Kar-Leung, the film features
Wong Yue as the title character, an impetuous young
punk who meets up with a slumming, prince-in-disguise
played by the Shaolin Master Killer himself, Gordon
Liu Chia-Hui. After a series of humorous, well-choreographed
fight sequences, the two (in true buddy movie fashion)
form an unlikely friendship as they try to overcome a
royal assassination plot. Though the fighting is perhaps
not as speedy as most would expect from a Hong Kong flick,
the action set pieces in Dirty Ho are so intricately
choreographed—and oftentimes shot in a single take—that
you can't help but be impressed. And if the title alone
isn't enough to convince you, Dirty Ho even boasts
one of the funniest taglines in recent memory: "You
haven't lived until you've fought Dirty Ho…and then you're
dead!" |
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