Kent Cheng wrote and produced this pleasing comedy detailing one of the Hong Kong inhabitants most beloved gambling form. The only legalized one: horse racing. Mark (Lau Ching Wan) together with brother Hark (Michael Chow) and friend Bowie (Bowie Lam) are all gambling addicts and the stakes are getting particularly high for Mark. Finding it hard to balance his love for gambling and love for his fiancee May (an always radiant Wu Chien-Lien), a hard loss forces him to make a living the slow way...

Engaging stars and an easy going pace by director Billy Chan makes Beginner's Luck a very engaging piece plus it doesn't challenge us with complex lessons either. It's all done in a cinematic world where all will turn out perfect by the end but being well-meaning in intent prevents most pitfalls on the horizon. Although referenced throughout, the late Bill Tung doesn't appear in the film in his real life occupation as a horse racing commentator. Kent Cheng (as a character named after comedian Stephen Chow Sing Chi for no apparent reason), Lau Shun, Angelica Lo and Teresa Ha also appear.

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HK Flix.com
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This low-budget Taiwanese new wave Wuxia represents Jimmy Wang Yu's to date last on screen appearance, old enough in 1994 to play an elder sifu. Presented on Scholar's Taiwan dvd in its original 2 hour length (Hong Kong release had 20 minutes removed), it's clear director Ding Sin-Saai (The Story of Dr. Sun Yat Sen) has a few things he wants to combine with the excess. With Wang Yu's Executioner Ren having to battle back against the demons of those he executed, the running time allows for characters to stop a little, ponder real life and what just went on. This is as a concept welcome but pace is for the first hour not exactly tight.

Nowhere near the manic pace of productions of this era from Hong Kong, emphasis eventually leans towards the "special" effects rather than the high flying wire enhanced fights. Having set up characters as it turns out efficiently enough for the wild second half, The Beheaded 1000 reveals its charms here. Especially a long sequence with Wang Yu dodging obstacle after obstacle during his confrontation with the dead has some trademark ventures into the bizarre that you would only find in a movie of this sort. You'll get to see a Gremlin like creature, multiple beheadings, ghosts ripping their fellow ghost's intestines out and so it goes. As poor as special effects and especially animated ones are from this era usually are, The Beheaded 1000 possesses some quite extraordinarily ropey ones. Literally ropey as underneath all colours, not much can hide the Ed Wood-esque execution of certain elements. You do know the filmmakers are aiming for a dramatic narrative but as failed as that facet becomes, you'd gladly choose the grade moderately charming when it comes to summing up the hokey experience. The future Image dvd will get its chance to prove how Hong Kong wanted Ding Sin-Saai's vision to look and feel. I wouldn't mind too much if they actually got rid of the character driven bits as they make little to none impression. Also starring Chin Siu-Ho, Joey Wong, Pauline Wong and Wu Ma.

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HK Flix.com

Sparks rarely fly in this cheap comedy about an ex-cop turned conman (Alex Man) who cheats a number of bumbling, bored cops. The chief among them (Paul Chun, most absorbing performer in the film) is the sole one raising suspicions, culminating in a partially outrageous card game that somehow squeezes in a urine joke that you don't see every day. Jacky Cheung plays an informant and drug-addict whose knowledge of the conmans past doesn't get taken seriously. Also with Elaine Kam.

At times a wild, off-beat screwball satire about rivaling insurance agents but director Rico Cheung can only go a bit beyond his initial concept and the comedy quickly takes on worn proportions (the dvd cover simply promises a lot more wicked fun). Spicing it up with Category III rated material such as softcore sex and rape further spells a desperation and the lead cast in the form of Mark Cheng and Ivy Leung doesn't help either. The late James Wong however is very funny as a completely mad insurance agent. Also with Kelvin Wong, Dick Lau and Sai Gwa Paau.

Buy the DVD at:
HK Flix.com

Attacked and now possessed by a snake devil, a woman (Chui Ging-Sin) and her surroundings now seek help to break the spell...

Low-budget and set bound Taiwanese horror quickie that satisfies on very minute levels. Basically either filmed in the forest or in one house, various low-fi transformations and gore represents the only brief fun you can find plus the special effects ending is lively enough to not fall asleep in front of. Certainly was an opportunity somewhere in there to be a little bit more dramatic with the possession plot that us similar to the The Wolf Man but Bewitched Area Of Thousand Years concerns itself with little of that, not even nailing the drama on a soap opera level. Also starring Lung Tien-Hsiang (The Flag Of Iron) and Ku Feng appears briefly.

Jacob Cheung portrays the importance of mending broken relationships while also celebrating the life spirit, all through the eyes of a older mother (Fung Bo Bo). First, she has to come to terms with her daughter (Cecilia Yip) who has run off abroad and into a marriage lacking of blessing from the mother's side. Director Cheung surprises us by dealing and clearing out this matter quickly and instead Beyond The Sunset becomes a sweet, good old romance, with the emphasis on old as Fung Bo Bo and Richard Ng's characters begin to bond. Much of the material and its themes are bashed over the viewer's head but not only is it affecting, Cheung still actually manages to make the proceedings retain a subtlety. There are valid complaints to be directed towards the young actor playing Cecilia Yip's kid but the overall effect of the film is pleasing thanks to down to earth and warm performances with a suitably static direction. Lowell Lo co-stars in a part dopey, part dramatic performance, an oddity coming from this walking visual gag of an actor/composer.

Beyond The Sunset ended up taking home the Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Actress (Cecilia Yip) statuettes at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Two loyal, lowly brothers (Wong played by Chen Kuan-Tai and Cheung, Jimmy Lung billed here as Jimmy Lee and playing it only mildly psychotic compared to later roles) start from the bottom but after committing a murder they are forced to flee to Shanghai where their brief trek onto the gangster path prior, takes full flight. It also draws the brothers apart...

Nothing too surprising about Chen Kuan-Tai's story here as the two country bumpkins become part of the high class, early 1900s Shanghai. Wong remains loyal to his Chinese side as much as he can while Cheung looks for the riches and glamour the Western side of the city offer up. Although touching upon France and England leasing territories as well as opium- and ammo smuggling, these are only elements that in a highly basic way carry Chen Kuan-Tai's direction to each respective fight scene. Because nothing of the affecting kind can be found in Wong and Cheung's story. The bashing and fair intricacy in the various fights has its fair amount of standout moments though and the brutal finale involving acid is well worth the trip you have to take with Big Boss Of Shanghai. Also with Chan Sing and Cheng Hong-Yip.

KENNETH'S REVIEW: Also known as Dragon The Master 2, when you're exploiting, exploit from the beginning. Joseph Lai however continues to "develop" his idea of Bruceploitation for the new millennium, by going shot on video on us. Dragon Sek returns as our copy of the piece, showcasing a decent knack for charisma and the requisite Bruce Lee-moves but unlike Dragon The Master that scored hokey points in a boring frame, director Kant Leung (the hack behind Chinese Midnight Express II) delivers a fairly slick, yet inept and boring frame. Although minute basic storytelling was never something you could count on getting out of a flick with Joseph Lai's name on it, Big Boss Untouchable, with some minor hints at being a remake of The Big Boss, struggles to make any identity for itself. Once you get used to the fight action in this particular format, you also quickly realize it wanders between seeming like a fight exhibition to downright poor with zero impact. Former Category III baddies Ben Ng, Karel Wong appears as well as Karen Cheung (Dragon Sek's co-star in Dragon The Master).