Operation Billionaires (1998)


	Operation Billionaries		Return to Review Archive - O
	Year:	1998
	Director:	Ng Yiu-Kuen
	Producer:	Lee Siu-Kei, Ng Chi-Hung, Chan Wa
	Writer:	Lee Siu-Kei
	Cast:	Simon Yam Tat-Wah, Sherming Yiu Lok-Yi, Law Koon-Lan, Patrick Tam Yiu-Man, Raymond Tso Wing-Lim, Parkman Wong Pak-Man, Ng Chi-Hung, Ng Ting-Yip
	The Skinny:	Occasionally entertaining, but ultimately unnecessary crime film based on true events.
	Review by Kozo:	This quickie film chronicles the based-on-reality exploits of Cheung Tze-Keung, a kidnapper who made large headlines by only kidnapping the children of wealthy tycoons. As this film was released, his trial was starting. Think of this film as one of those “Amy Fisher” movies, as the filmmakers were clearly trying to capitalize on the free publicity. Laughably, they even included a disclaimer that the film wasn’t based on any real persons, dead or living. To protect the guilty, they change Cheung Tze-Keung’s name to Cheung Chi-Ho (played by the dependable Simon Yam). Director Ng Yiu-Kuen unabashedly paints a favorable picture of the “Big Spender,” as Cheung Chi-Ho is a righteous and good - even though he’s a kidnapper. He loves his wife (Sherming Yiu), is loyal to his men, and even tells kids not to play in the street. That things spiral out of control is not his fault - it’s just jiang hu, as his partners and followers only serve to muck things up. As cheap entertainment, the film is all right, as the first forty minutes are quite interesting. However, it loses steam shortly after that as the film can’t decide what to do with Cheung. This is understandable as Cheung’s trial had not been concluded, but it doesn’t help the film much. This is an OK time killer, but nothing to write home about. (Kozo 1998)
	Notes:	• A competing film about Cheung Tze-Keung called Big Spender was released in Hong Kong shortly after Operation Billionaires. It starred Ray Lui Leung-Wai as Cheung. The real Cheung Tze-Keung was executed in Guangzhou on December 5, 1998.
	Availability:	DVD (Hong Kong) Region 0 NTSC Mei Ah Entertainment 16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen Cantonese and Mandarin Language Tracks Removable English and Chinese Subtitles

		image courtesy of Universe Laser and Video Co., Ltd.
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