Reportedly loosely based on the life of casino tycoon Stanley Ho, this largely Macau set Wong Jing epic surely had in mind a little acclaimed (but poor in this reviewer's opinion) flick from 1991 called To Be Number One. Therefore Wong takes his time, giving us a 2 hour movie coming out at best as standard. Just because you have ideas of grandeur and can design it as much, doesn't mean you clinch your goal. Wong seems to think so.

Starting with a quick run-through of Hsin's (Andy Lau) life, starting in poor times, going through war times and his first steps towards securing a position in the world of casinos and gangsters, with him he has loyal friend Kuo (Alex Man). There's a restraint in terms of the amount of times Wong attempts to lighten up the proceedings. There's no restraint to be found in the creation of the lush surroundings though that may radiate but does symbolize a director desperately trying. And that's a fact because in the end this larger narrative doesn't have good character-drama to warrant the expansive arena. These are age old characters possessing righteousness and all that bla bla and lead Lau is running on an autopilot that makes his performance watchable only if you really try hard. Leading ladies Chingmy Yau and Joey Wong are decorations and victims in the frame but it's Alex Man's role reversal that actually registers. Easily destined for the Wilson Lam role instead (playing a rival of Hsin's), Man puts forth warmth and a funny recurring bit where he uses his only knowledge of rather naughty English in any situation. By the hour mark, rivalry, jealousy and power struggles have taken form and it's actually an easy subsequent hour to go through. Much due to some colourful over the top acting by Paul Chun and scattered offensive material coming from Wong Jing as a pregnant woman is kicked around (you take notice, not put forth thanks) It IS standard and a 40 minutes shorter running time wouldn't have been unwelcome. To Wong's credit though, you do wish to take on the sequel just because it presents itself as a shorter tale and hopefully less dreamy in terms of character and grandeur wished upon. Lau Siu-Ming and Kwan Hoi-San also appear.

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Come to think of it, I didn't REALLY, REALLY want to go into a sequel of a rather failed movie anyway but I did. Following in the footsteps of the successful first by having events unfold 20 years later, clearly Wong Jing must've felt pretty anxious to make a dopey movie again and while there's no rules in cinema saying you have to keep a straight line in whatever you do, Casino Tycoon fans need to be pretty forgiving if they're going to endure this mess. Watch Andy Lau's Hsin mostly feature in a serious gangster movie where power struggles of Macau casinos are at the forefront while past rivalries and romances also pop up to give Casino Tycoon II more melodramatic drive.

But Wong Jing is tired of the textured design and everyone being gloomy all the time so he decides to make proceedings akin to a melodramatic gangster comedy instead. Yes, see him disrupt any momentum he might've had by featuring Feng Shui-nutters, recycle the God Of Gamblers score, make multiple racist jokes come out of the mouth of respectable lead Lau even and the aging process of having select gray strands of hair being similar in all characters except Lau Siu-Ming's who seems stuck in a time warp. Wong lays flat on his back and directs in his sleep so there's no argument here apparent that we should care for the soap opera that unfolds. Hui Siu-Hung gets used frequently the excessive comedy way Wong Jing likes, dishing out VD jokes amongst other things and Alex Man is thoroughly annoying in his reprisal of a character that was actually likeable the first time around. Also with Michelle Reis, Remus Choi, Calvin Choi, Sandra Ng, Lee Shu-Kei, Kingdom Yuen and Joey Wong appears in a cameo.

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Jien Chiu (Adam Cheng - Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain) and Bai Yu-Tang (Alexander Fu) are two rival swordsman constantly dueling it out. They share the same master who states that they have equal ability. This doesn't stop the rivalry and when Jien Chiu saves the traveling emperor (Gordon Lau) and his royal seal, he is knighted as an official, much to the dismay of the now hugely jealous Bai...

While My Young Auntie and The Lady Is The Boss divided its time between comedy and kung fu, Lau Kar Leung's 1982 effort Cat Vs Rat is almost exclusively the former. That beforehand means that it's aimed at a local market which also means that Westerners have it slightly more rough going with all goofy comedy featured. However the film comes highly recommended because after all frantic exchanges, verbal or physical are done, the double act between Adam Cheng and Alexander Fu emerges as a winning one. Fu especially is excellent as the deceitful rat and Adam contrasts well as the stoic Jien Chiu. It's not great fun but it's a minor delight and an unusual entry from master Lau Kar Leung. Possible nods to The Elephant Man and the animated Robin Hood resides in here and the action, while sparse and stripped of any serious intensity, adds to a fun mixture. Kara Hui, Hsiao Hou, Lydia Shum, Wilson Tong and an hilarious Lau Kar Wing co-stars.

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Considering the title, I doubt anyone is interested in a plot synopsis in order to make a decision whether to venture into Keith Li's 1982 horror effort or not.

Bad acting, cheap sets and make-up effects mare this production but its biggest crime is the fact that the filmmakers opt to play out the movie totally serious. Seeing as much is so low-grade, that choice aaaalmost kills off the film. Li thankfully cranks up the black magic climax to both tension filled and ludicrous levels, earning Centipede Horror a minor recommendation for genre aficionados. Margaret Lee (We're Going To Eat You) walks away with the acting honors as she's "blessed" with a sequence where live centipedes spews out from her mouth. Respect. Miu Kiu Wai (Magic Cop) also stars.

Presented by Tomas Tang's Filmark, it's always a shocking truth when in fact they bring forth movies that are not pasted together from various sources. It doesn't turn their catalogue into a status akin to classy but the "actual" filmmakers of this ilk can ACTUALLY keep the proceedings fun all the way as opposed to the cut-and-splice fun that most of the time sparkles only when Tang or even IFD's Joseph Lai inject their touches.

Our real filmmaker is Taiwan favourite Lee Tso-Nam (Eagle's Claw) and although bootleg companies tried to sell this Elsa Yeung (Golden Queen's Commando) vehicle as a sequel to Chang Cheh's Five Element Ninja (to add insult to injury, it was cut and came with a false promise that Polly Kuan of Dragon Inn-fame would appear in the film), Challenge Of The Lady Ninja works on its own. Although we get a taste of early music theft (Star Wars in this case), director Lee spices the proceedings with aspects that he's aware of works. Fans wants to see and get off on ninja techniques and whenever stopping for a fighting romp involving these, Lee has us in his pocket. See Elsa employ her jumpcut technique, shadow technique, throw red bombs all over the place, fight ALMOST nude (skin coloured underwear and literally hand body paint conceals what needs to be) and square off against a final opponent who drills himself down in the ground but also fights with Elsa below it! None of the above should be considered particularly well crafted (the wirework is awfully patchy) but A particular crowd of viewers (moi) knows it's not polite to point fingers at technical inaccuracies or lack of movie logic because why take the fun out of cinema created just for a fun purpose? Perhaps a slightly fresh approach is the feminist message imbedded as Elsa's character puts together a team of women warriors in her quest for revenge against Chen Kuan-Tai's character Lee Tong. The most splendid ninja technique utilized here concerns creating an illusion of sex basically. Best seen to be believed and it gets the film into more dopey, raunchy places, without our objection. As a film, sloppy, been there done that-esque plot (Chinese vs. Japanese) but as a ninja experience, it should end up being well-regarded. Robert Tai, director of Ninja - The Final Duel appears as the head tattooed Japanese bodyguard of Lee Tong.

TROY'S REVIEW: Bruce Baron and Pierre Tremblay from the incomparable Ninja Champion once again team up in this similarly entertaining effort from everyone's favourite hack master Godfrey Ho. In this crazy entry, Baron plays good cop, and ninja to boot, Mark who is desperately trying to bring down the evil black ninjas. Unbeknownst to Mark however, his own boss Dickie (Tremblay) is in fact the head of the criminal organization. Intercut into this tale is another story featuring Billy, a young man who after witnessing his family brutally slaughtered at the hands of a ruthless gang, decides to take revenge. This is where it gets a tad more complex however as our Godfrey attempts (with minimal success) to join the two tales together. According to this version, Mark employs Billy to locate the head of the gang, a somewhat portly chap going by the name of The Red Devil (so called as he wears a rather garish looking red shirt with white tassels all over it). Ostensibly, the logic of this plot contrivance is that if Billy can track down the aforementioned gang leader, it will in turn lead Mark to discover the true identity of the leader of the black ninjas... Yes, it makes very little sense to me too. But let us not dwell on such inconsistencies. Ney, let us instead revel in the numerous, hilarious scenes on offer in this which include Billy being "attacked" by a "vicious" dog which is so obviously not interested in the actor that it has to be literally thrown at him! Also brace yourself for the nail biting climax in which a little kid called Tommy finds himself hanging perilously over the edge of a vast cliff. Or at least that what we're expected to believe. In fact, the cliff is clearly a gentle incline of about five feet! Damn, the kid could have easily walked up it! Best of all though is a scene near the start where we see a ninja mugging a business man in a public park and reliving him of a suitcase full of diamonds. Mark just happens to be nearby and saves the day by transforming himself into a flying stick (!) which then trips over the fleeing ninja thief. A sword battle subsequently ensues (with Mark now back in human form), with Mark the clear victor. The very best bit is the response of the defeated ninja who in an riotous scene of overacting, declares to Mark, 'You're a damn good ninja!' Indeed. Also known as Challenge Of The Ninja.

Short but sweet romantic comedy that comes out on top thanks to a good double act by Anthony Chan and Sandra Ng. Law Gam-Fai wrote Dr. Lamb the same year and he proves not only a contrast in his work but a genuine feel for a simple sincerity. That is then competently handled by director Chin, resulting in a much painless 80 minutes of whacky fun and expected sentiments. Which is more than I ever expected from this effort to tell you the truth. Also with Michael Chow, Carrie Ng, Kenneth Tsang and Alfred Cheung.

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