| |
|
|
| |
| Sanjuro's
Seven - A list of seven (plus three) recommendations |
|
|
To fit in with my LoveHKFilm.com
brethren, I, too, have compiled a list of some of my favorite movies.
Over the years - heck, even just over a couple days - my tastes will
change. But you can be damn sure that under no circumstances whatsoever
will I ever watch Gen-Y Cops again. With that in mind, I've
put together a list of seven Hong Kong films that I would show to
a newbie if I had only one week to prove the inherent greatness of
Hong Kong Cinema. Though such a challenge is entirely fictitious,
please just bear with my semi-inspired lunacy and read on. Just for
the hell of it, I've even included three Pan-Asia picks to mix things
up. And no, I do not look like the picture to the left. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| 1.
Shaolin Soccer (2001) |
|
| 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. |
 |
|
|
| |
| 2.
Drunken Master II
(1994) |
|
| 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. |
 |
|
|
| |
| 3.
Once
Upon a Time in China II (1991) |
|
| 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. |
 |
|
|
| |
| 4.
A Better Tomorrow
II (1987) |
|
| Before Quentin Tarantino
introduced the world to Vincent Vega, Jules Winfield, and those wacky
Reservoir Dogs, he watched the three cool cats from A Better Tomorrow II: Chow Yun Fat, Ti Lung, and Dean Shek. The last movie on the
list with "2" in the title, A Better Tomorrow II represents
the oft-imitated John Woo "gun-fu" genre. Yeah, Hard
Boiled and The Killer might be better films, but neither
can match the pure aesthetic coolness of A Better Tomorrow II's
exhilarating guns-a-blazin' finale. |
 |
|
|
| |
| 5.
The Bride with White
Hair (1993) |
|
| Strong performances by
Leslie Cheung and Brigitte Lin are just part of the thrill of this
1993 Ronny Yu film. The Bride with White Hair is a spectacular
introduction to not only the fantasy swordplay genre, but to the HK
film experience as well. Dark, erotic, and visually stunning, The
Bride with White Hair is a romance of Shakespearean proportions…with
a Hong Kong twist. I mean, since when did Romeo and Juliet ever have
to deal with bloodthirsty, back-to-back Siamese twins? |
 |
|
|
| |
| 6.
The Duel (2000) |
|
| Storm Riders may
be the most famous CGI-enhanced Hong Kong film, but The Duel
is far more enjoyable. Playing fast and loose with the original source
material, director Andrew Lau has Nick Cheung and Zhao Wei ham it
up while Andy Lau and Ekin Cheng play it straight as two heroes battling
for martial arts supremacy. Imagine the epic grandeur of Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon minus the thudding solemnity. Add the lowbrow
humor of Stephen Chow, and you'll have a pretty good handle on what
The Duel is all about. In a sense, it's Crouching Tiger
with dick jokes. Did I mention Zhao Wei is in it? |
 |
|
|
| |
| 7.
Rave Fever (1999) |
|
| This movie isn't that
great (and actually is very flawed upon second viewing), but I was
straining to pick a movie that didn't have a "2" in the
title or star Jet Li, Chow Yun-Fat, Bruce Lee, Stephen Chow, Brigitte
Lin, Ekin Cheng, or Jackie Chan! Besides its twist ending, there are
several good reasons to recommend this film. For one, it shows that
it isn't mandatory for HK films to be dazzling kung fu extravaganzas
or two-guns-a-pumpin' Woo fests. Instead, this movie is just about
a bunch of wacky kids going to rave parties. Another reason I like
Rave Fever is due to its nonlinear storyline. Maybe it rips
off that gimmick from Pulp Fiction and the similarly rave-themed
Go, but Rave Fever does have its charms. Sam Lee is
his usual funny self, and though Jaymee Ong has the distinct honor
of being unable to act in TWO different languages, she ain't bad to
look at. |
 |
|
|
| |
|
top |
| |
And
three Pan-Asia nods just for good measure… |
|
| |
| Sanjuro
(1962) |
|
| I took my pen name from
this Akira Kurosawa flick, and with good reason - it's a fine piece
of samurai entertainment. Sure, Yojimbo always gets more press,
but Sanjuro is better - it's funny and has the single greatest
swordfight ever. Well, to be honest, Toshiro Mifune only manages one
stroke in his climactic katana duel, but what a slice! You'll see
what I mean…and probably laugh your ass off! Fans of the Evil Dead
trilogy should be pleased. |
 |
|
|
| |
| My
Sassy Girl (2001) |
|
| My girlfriend Christine
likes this movie, so if I know what's good for me, I better recommend
it. I was going to vote for Musa: The Warrior, but when I mentioned
that to her as my choice, she just looked at me angrily and asked,
"Do you wanna die?" |
 |
|
|
| |
| Enter
the Dragon (1973) |
|
| Though an American production,
Bruce Lee's magnum opus Enter the Dragon is a landmark film
for HK cinema and - in the view of many - the greatest martial arts
movie ever made. Not only did the movie help introduce American audiences
to the wonders of Chinese kung fu, but it also propelled Bruce Lee
to international superstardom, albeit posthumously. It's easy to see
why Enter the Dragon is Lee's most popular film. Of all the
Dragon's movies, this one is by far the most appealing. From its exotic
locale to its diverse cast to its thumping Lalo Schifrin score, the
film is a highly entertaining sensory experience. One need only look
at the climactic, pulse-pounding duel in the hall of mirrors to know
why Enter the Dragon is a certifiable classic. |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
back to top | back
to features | back to
home | |
|
|
Support
this site
by shopping at:
|
