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A
War Named Desire |
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Gigi Leung gets tough in A War Named Desire
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Year: |
2000 |
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Director: |
Alan
Mak Siu-Fai |
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Producer: |
Joe
Ma Wai-Ho |
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Cast: |
Francis
Ng Chun-Yu,
Daniel Chan Hiu-Tung,
Dave Wong Kit,
Gigi Leung Wing-Kei, Sam
Lee Chan-Sam, Pace
Wu (Ng Pui-Chi),
David Lee Wai-Seung,
Grace Lam Nga-Si |
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The
Skinny: |
An
engrossing crime thriller with dynamite performances
from Francis Ng and Gigi Leung. Fans of the Milky Way
films should take a look. |
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Review
by Kozo: |
In the abscence of Milky Way’s sublime crime thrillers,
the Brilliant Idea Group have managed to fill the void
with this overwrought but affecting crime drama. Director
Alan Mak (Rave Fever, Nude Fear) shows he’s one
to watch with his effective and entertaining third feature.
Based on a Chinese comic book,
the film tells the story of Chun (Daniel Chan), who
arrives in Thailand with his girlfriend Jess (Pace Wu)
to search for his long-lost older brother Charles (Francis
Ng). It turns out Charles is a triad boss, and a well-respected
one at that. However, he becomes targeted for a frame-up
by evil triad guy David Lee. The frame-up implicates
Chun, and now Charles must choose whether or not to
save him. If he chooses to save his brother, he invites
a multitude of gangsters to gun him down. What's a brother
to do?
Charles' plight is embodied
with the greatest of dignity by Francis Ng, who’s fast
becoming HK’s most versatile actor. Charles is a righteous
guy who is tough on the exterior but compassionate underneath.
He’s mean to Chun, but his harshness masks his affection
for his only brother. Furthermore, Charles shares an
unspoken and quite affecting relationship Snow, a tough
bar owner played by a thoroughly amazing Gigi Leung.
Long considered an unskilled, wooden actress, Leung
brings strength and even a world-weary resolve to her
character. Her quiet, powerful performance is the centerpiece
of the film.
Mak keeps things moving and
allows each character to have their own moments, with
most of the actors acquitting themselves decently. Sadly,
Daniel Chan has yet to find a movie that demonstrates
anything other than his popstar status, and newcomer
Pace Wu is extremely blank. Dave Wong Kit and Sam Lee
both turn in good support, but this movie belongs to
Francis Ng and Gigi Leung, who get the lion’s share
of the acting accolades. While not sharing the same
edginess nor resonance as a Milky Way flick, Alan Mak's
thriller is bound to impress a good number of people.
(Kozo 2000) |
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Availability: |
DVD
(Hong Kong)
Region 0 NTSC
Mei Ah Laser
Widescreen
Cantonese and Mandarin Language Tracks
Dolby Digital 5.1
Removable English and Chinese Subtitles |
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image
courtesy of Mei Ah Laser Disc Co., Ltd.
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| LoveHKFilm.com
Copyright ©2002-2017 Ross Chen
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