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| A Chinese Ghost Story The Tsui Hark Animation (1997) Directed by: Andrew Chen |
Pu Song Ling's "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" gets another helping hand from Tsui Hark via the animated version of A Chinese Ghost Story. Produced and written by Tsui Hark, his main character Ning (voiced in Cantonese by Jan Lam) has not been able to maintain the love of Siu Lan (voiced by Vivian Lai) so he continues his work as debt collector while trying to impress Siu Lan again. Encountering adventures around every corner with his trusted K9 companion Solid Gold (Tsui Hark providing the squeaks and grunts of the dog), when walking into a ghost town he falls under the spell of Shine (Anita Yuen) who initially treats him as fodder for her madam but falls for him instead. All while rival ghostbusters are trying to help Ning in their own righteous way... Obviously a thinly plotted re-thread of classic events but with a few more percent of Tsui Hark's imagination being able to be translated thanks to the animated medium, the blend of traditional animation and computer generated imagery naturally doesn't fit but within the wildness of the sights concocted together with director Andrew Chen, Tsui Hark gets acceptance as much as he gets when employing this wild sense in live action. Standout sights such as the reincarnation train and the pop idol like Mountain Evil (Jordan Chan) signals modern elements being brought into the surroundings and coupled with the energy provided, A Chinese Ghost Story The Tsui Hark Animation makes a strong case for being a valid, colourful reprisal of the 1987 movie. So therefore, it maintains its Hong Kong identity and doesn't become a cheap imitation of a Japanese anime. The terrific voice cast across the Cantonese and Mandarin dubs of the film also includes Sylvia Chang, Eric Kot, Sammo Hung, James Wong, Charlie Young, Kelly Chen, Ronald Cheng, Rene Liu, Nicky Wu and Yonfan. |
| Chinese Godfather (1974) Directed by: Lui Gin |
On the strengths of Bruce Lee showing support and co-star Betty Ting Pei (who was rumoured to be romantically linked to Bruce), Chinese Godfather launched into atmosphere, bringing nothing but the utmost generic taste to the popular basher side of martial arts cinema. Michael Chan is asked by a dying man to deliver jewels to his wife (Betty Ting Pei) and kid. More folks want them jewels though, including Hu Chin's character, who seduces Michael Chan, and gangleader played by Cheng Lui. Possessing a gritty look to it but no needed grit for its fight scenes, even at a shortened 75 minutes, Chinese Godfather is boredom until it lights up for approximately 2 minutes. You should wake up right at the moment where you thought you saw Bruce Lee and indeed, the filmmakers inserted still shots of him during one of the fight scenes. Subliminal Bruce. Reportedly even more of the action contained this shameful device in the uncut version. The end fight between Chan and Cheng Lui also goes amusing places when it starts to feature a forest of traps and part of it is set in a snake pit. 2 minutes. Remember that. Also with Wei Ping-Ao. Buy the DVD at: |
| A Chinese Legend (1991) Directed by: Lau Hung-Chuen |
Although hard to fully appreciate on home video due to a massively cropped presentation being the only option in circulation, Lau Hung-Chuen's (Devil Fetus) movie rightly tagged with the "yet another A Chinese Ghost Story-clone) transcends it and manages to entertain and affect. Swordsman Kar Yat-Long (Jacky Cheung) encounters woman Ku Moon-Cher (Joey Wong) who's about to be sacrificed by her village in order to save it from destruction by the King Of Ghosts. Saving her but watching her opting to return to the village to fulfill her duty, eventually destruction occurs and Moon-Cher drowns herself. Yat-Long also encounters a deadly, blood drinking Fox Goblin (Sharla Cheung) whose spell he does not fall under. Treating her nicely and naming her Ching-Er, longing is planted firmly in the creature. She eventually helps out Yat-Long and a seasoned master (Wu Ma) in their attempts to save Moon-Cher's soul from the grasp of the King Of Ghost... Although the full frame Taiwan dvd ruins the beautiful 2.35:1 composition, Lau Hung-Chuen's intentions to provide a haunting, often downbeat atmosphere comes through. Clearly made on a limited budget (much of the film is dedicated to the three subjects with only sparse epic scope sprinkled throughout), the visuals created around his trio and the emotions within it ranks as unexpectedly affecting considering it's another movie that clones an effort that was 4 years old by 1991. Almost unmotivated and unexplained emotions are valid here as characters are taken onto this journey of love and sacrifice while the fantasy elements are consistently creative and even eerie. Lau Shun appears briefly. |
| A Chinese Odyssey Part One - Pandora's Box (1995) Directed by: Jeff Lau |
Combine Jeff Lau's always energetic direction, Stephen Chow's trademark comedy and you've got perhaps their finest collaboration in this hilarious adaptation of the Journey To The West novel (also interpreted back in the 60s at Shaw Brothers in movies such as The Monkey Goes West). Chow's is on top form while the production boasts impressive sets, make up-design and, as with other Chow films, features affecting sentimentality amongst all the craziness. One potential danger was that Western viewers would be lost in the plot revolving around the Monkey King but the filmmakers (and the subtitles) do a good job of conveying the different, often bizarre, events in the plot. Ching Siu-Tung's fine choreography involves a small dose of martial arts but mostly outrageous fantasy elements, the spider set piece being the best of the bunch in combining his, Chow's and Lau's talents. A Jeff Lau helmed sequel followed the same year. Also starring Ng Man Tat, Karen Mok, Yammie Tam, Law Kar-Ying and Jeff Lau himself. Buy the DVD at: |
| A Chinese Odyssey Part Two - Cinderella (1995) Directed by: Jeff Lau |
Everyone returned for the sequel (with the addition of Athena Chu), probably because it was simultaneously with part one, but one thing's for sure, while very much worthwhile, the best creative energy ended up in the first installment. Production values are consistently excellent, in particular the make-up design (Chow and Ng Man Tat are unrecognizable as the Monkey King and Pig respectively) but for Western viewers, the step down in physical humour creates a somewhat slow paced and confusing experience (the addition of below par subtitles doesn't help). The basic story of the journey to the west continues in a well enough developed manner but the character relationships seems somewhat spotty, making us more scratch our heads at certain development in the plot. However, I do reserve the right to completely change my mind upon a second viewing. Special mention to Law Kar-Ying who is terrific as the very boring Longevity Monk plus the stunning Athena Chu logs a playful and affecting performance. Buy the DVD at: |
| Chinese Odyssey 2002 (2002) Directed by: Jeff Lau |
Produced by Wong Kar-Wai (who also co-wrote Jeff Lau's Haunted Cop Shop) the good production values and cinematography makes this period comedy enjoyable to look at. Lau directed the prior Chinese Odyssey vehicles starring Stephen Chow and this 2002 edition has the feel of a Stephen Chow film. Many of the jokes are done in a similar way but I wouldn't want to call it a negative thing. It's all in the performers and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai provides many laughs as the leading man. It's basically all the scenes (whether serious or not) with him, Vicky Zhao and Faye Wong that makes the movie reach the enjoyable level. When focus is shifted away from that the content is not as fun nor interesting. A fairly sizable number of cast members are Mandarin speakers and are therefore dubbed on the Cantonese track, obviously so. That is especially noticeable in Vicky Zhao and Cheng Chen's case. In their scenes together I switched to the Mandarin track where we hear the original sync sound Mandarin dialogue. Buy the DVD at: |
| A Chinese Tall Story (2005) Directed by: Jeff Lau |
Jeff Lau goes back to the Journey To The West territory but not exploring it story-wise like he did with the Stephen Chow Chinese Odyssey movies. In fact, the monk Tripitaka (Nicholas Tse) is the main focus of the story with little contribution from the likes of Monkey (Wilson Chen) and Piggy (Kenny Kwan, neither of which are made up to look anything like the famous characters. Can't hide such "stars" behind make-up apparently). They are on their journey to retrieve Buddhist scriptures but during a stop at Shache City, the root of all evils (a bunch of demons, represented by horrible CGI) appear. Big battle ensues, Monkey sacrifices himself and when all is said and done, Tripitaka may or not fall in love with ugly lizard imp Meiyan (Charlene Choi)... Energetic but not in the Jeff Lau way that proved critically successful way before the advent of CGI, there's an argument you can put forth that such a fantasy based story that also mixes in sci-fi elements doesn't have many rules so ropey artificial imagery could work in its favour. All well and good but Lau mixing in old timey mo lei tau comedy but via less talented performers than Stephen Chow or Tony Leung Chiu-Wai proves to be a major downfall for A Chinese Tall Story. Many excursions to different lands takes place where they meet Yuen Wah as Lord Chancellor Tortoise, several non-subtle nods to The Matrix (the golden staff of Monkey is a very helpful tool during this hands on reference), Star Wars and Spider-Man (Tripitaka is fooled into believing he's a student of an ancient spider web shooting martial arts) are present so sporadic energy and so many elements makes us stay on but the full explosion into manic energy, hilarity and even emotions the more Tripitaka and Meiyan grow affectionate doesn't happen (violent comedy manages to work great though). That effect of Lau's is in the past. Kara Hui, Gordon Liu, Isabella Leong, Patrick Tam, Wong Yat-Fei and Wayne Lai also appear. Buy the DVD at: |
| A Chinese Torture Chamber Story (1994) Directed by: Bosco Lam |
Some of you might've seen a movie clip on the Internet where two people, Crouching Tiger style are having sex. That was from this 1994 Cat III and Wong Jing production directed by Bosco Lam (who came up with the concept for the Derek Yee/Law Chi Leung directed Viva Erotica). Period effort and the same flashback structure as many Cat III productions from this era. Yvonne Yeung plays Little Cabbage that endures grim Ching dynasty torture while outside influences tries to prove her innocence. For once the combination of low brow humour and the grueling scenes of this story blend well together to create a, at times, completely insane Cat III entry. Not FILLED with insane imagery but instantly memorable ones, the highlight being the flying kung fu sex-fight (with Elvis Tsui and Julie Lee) and a Cat III parody of Ghost. Fans of the Sex & Zen movies should like this but be prepared for fairly strong scenes of torture (cuts to the print was required at time of release and they still remain on the dvd). You have to hand it to the Ching's, they were creative when it came to this. Also starring Tommy Wong and Lawrence Ng. A very much inferior and non-related sequel followed in 1998. Buy the DVD at: |
| The Christ Of Nanjing (1995) Directed by: Tony Au |
Tony Leung Ka-Fai is Japanese writer Okagawa who meets and marries young prostitute and christian devotee Jin-Hua (Yasuko Tomita - Kitchen). When she finds out he already has a family in Japan, she detaches herself from Okagawa and devotes herself only to her God, a decision that in her mind strengthens but in fact leads her onto a road towards insanity... Tony Au bid farewell to directing Hong Kong cinema with this his 8th feature, a dark, depressing and complex drama where he and writer Joyce Chan subjects poor Jin-Hua to grave punishment. It's an interesting portrayal in the way they put a blurred line between belief, need and love and you'd better be prepared for pessimism of the highest order. If so, The Christ Of Nanjing offers up fine production values, style and acting, in particular the intense and daring role for Japanese actress Yasuko Tomita. |
| City Cop (1995) Directed by: Herman Yau |
Despite the Chinese title suggesting we're watching a sequel to Danny Lee's acclaimed Law With Two Phases, City Cop holds mere one connection and if you can't figure that out, you're still new to Hong Kong cinema... Herman Yau made Cop Image the year before, the film where the ordinary cop tried to adopt the characteristics of the unrealistic movie cop. City Cop, written by infrequent but obviously talented Anna Lee, toys with us a little as it's first established we're into buddy cop movie territory. That's the template and via the very small means, Herman crafts a very exciting and affecting film. His talent in this particular production is not just keeping an even pace and getting the action to register as effective but highlighting the little, humane things that make up the lives of cops Jackson (Parkman Wong) and Rambo (Michael Chow). Of course an odd couple to begin with, Yau plants incredibly simplistic notions of the validity of being the cop type you are, valuing family and relationships as well as keeping count of your hour quota. Rarely interrupted by silliness, whenever the generic plot of the invincible Mainland Chinese villains kick in, even here where the script calls for brief commentary on the weaponry possessed by the criminal underworld Yau gets his point across very efficiently. Employing focus when working with action directors Chin Kar-Lok and Yee Tin-Hung as well, the film never strays and offers suitable mayhem (including some very fine stunt work and a terrific finale at a cinema). The downfalls of City Cop, albeit briefly concerns predictability and melodrama played out under Canto-pop. Perhaps it's also too minor to register with the masses but it's a fine film underneath that familiarity despite. Danny Lee appears in support, handing out friendly advice but a lot of credit sure belongs to him as a producer for allowing those mentioned little things to take center stage. Also with a relentless Ben Ng, Peter Yung and Tam Suk-Mooi. |
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