Wing Cheong (Emil Chow) and wife Kitty (Cecilia Yip) are planning migration, she more intensely than him and the pressure is on to make career out of his dubbing job before following her move to Canada. Trusting her husband of course, he relives pressure (not necessarily sexually) from all hassle, bureaucratic or otherwise, when he engages in an affair with his new boss (Christy Chung)...

Wearing its 1997 concerns on its sleeve, Faithfully Yours is a case of sound, current issues turning into just a better acted soap opera. Emil Chow is fitting as the slightly lowly and not very career-driven Wing but his affair with Christy Chung's character reeks more of someone's dream coming true rather than being a true fit for the story. Neither actor is embarrassing, just the pieces are and they are ringing false. Cecilia Yip is a terrific actress and probably a fair fit as well for the self-demanding Kitty but several outbursts into tears cracks the surface of the film in a bad way, reducing it again to that better than average soap status. When writer/director Victor Taam also ties up the film via a Canto-pop montage and an all too neat ending, his Faithfully Yours ends up merely speaking but not well. An odd device is featured near the end where the actors turn to camera to explain their characters. In case we slept through the flick... Lau Siu-Ming, Cheung Kwok-Keung, Bowie Lam and Kingdom Yuen also appear.

I guess it makes sense that Dean Shek directing a drama would somewhat equal the manic energy he puts forth when on-screen. While no one can claim he's not being sincere in this story about children wanting to reunite their parents, every single mood is in typical Hong Kong cinema overdrive to the point of being genuinely irritating. One half of the kids is so obnoxious you want to strangle him, Dean Shek's supporting role as the warm grandpa generates annoyance instead and the melodramatic turns in the story are on the verge of hysteria so it's really hard to feel when everything is right up in your face. Still, it's a recipe of its time and A Family Affair became another success for Cinema City. Best part for the rest of us is another fine Sam Hui theme song and Olivia Cheng in a bikini. Melvin Wong co-stars.

Buy the DVD at:
Yesasia.com

The two sons, Big But (Kenny Ho) and Small But, of a father in the bra business decides to revolt in order achieve freedom and independency away from their family. Without an heir to the business therefore, the stern father disowns their sons but complications doesn't stop there as the entire family seems to be falling apart. Big But teaches his brother his knowledge about wowing women, making him act as a movie producer in order to get somewhere with a colourful, spunky and aspiring actress (Karen Mok). Meanwhile Big But's girlfriend (Vivian Chow) fails in her singing career and their unsteady relationship may lead her to try her luck in Category III films...

There's some warmth and heart amidst the rather standard comic complications that occur but while Family Affairs is pretty much safe, non-offensive material, it doesn't grow out of its premise at all really. Frankly, it's a bit of a bore that happens to move fast enough by you.

A family of firm and loose connections as well as bad and poor influence is bound to begin sliding down the spiral at one time or another. Director Norman Law (A Hearty Response) makes sure the cop of the family (Wilson Lam) understands the bad lottery ticket he has drawn in regards to this as well as how much appreciation he should have towards his wild triad brother (Shing Fui-On).

For what it's worth, Law does create a fairly watchable family drama from this template, focusing more on Lam and Shing's characters but still with worthwhile content to carry it. Joey Wong is pretty much haphazardly inserted into the narrative as the image of love besides the honor theme so obviously sloppiness exists. The film is otherwise also not at all your most originally scripted triad actioner from this era but changing perspective, all of the above can be viewed upon as a springboard for action director Tony Leung's work. In that regard, Family Honor is a rousing success. Having displayed signs of being a master of hard, gritty violence, Leung doesn't disappoint and is a major contributor to the dark atmosphere that escalates throughout. All culminating in a hard hitting warehouse finale where we might not care about themes or drama but just the rush of seeing Hong Kong cinema at its tough as nails best. Also with Dick Wei, Miu Kiu-Wai, Richard Ng, Max Mok and Chiao Chiao. Brief appearances by Ben Ng, Ronald Wong, Lam Chung, Barry Wong and Lo Lieh.

Back in human-ghost romance territory for Joey Wong for the umpteenth time since a certain classic called A Chinese Ghost Story, look for the pairing of her and lead Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in the third installment in the classic series instead. Taylor Wong's modern day take on matters is largely useless thanks to his trademark tedious direction rearing its head again. It's the commercial machine at work and failing (box-office figures were low at the time), thinking that echoing worn genre themes and using acclaimed leads will mean automatic work done. If work done equals a boring feature done, Fantasy Romance thoroughly succeeds. Leung is a comic book artist acting all wacky along with supporting characters essayed by Wai Lei and Paul Chun. Therefore ejecting all form of star power, charisma and attraction, merely Joey escapes unharmed by the virtue of being her beautiful self while acting as the rather playful spirit. Merits like that can't add up though to an experience worth noting in the wake of a classic film. Although the ending takes place within the animated confines of Leung's comic book, an unusual step like that barely registers as a footnote in moving pictures-history. Besides, Norweigan pop sensation a-ha made it a lot more fun in their famed music video using the same tool. Also with Deannie Yip.

Not surprisingly, the critical and financial success of Derek Yee's C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri triggered this production, centering on terminal disease. Writer/director Chan Hon gives us a well performed package in Farewell My Dearest though. Achieving excellent chemistry between stars Simon Yam and the luminous Alice Lau is a big key to make this epic 100 minute drama come to life for one. Starting out in the 70s, we're "treated" to a not so convincing youth version of Yam's character (patterned after Sam Hui at this point) but Alice pulls off the youth and gradual aging with aplomb. Emotional to a pretty high degree but deservedly so, some missteps are taken as Chan punishes all too much but in the end, he bounces back and nails his heartfelt message concerning persevering and making sure what's best for your perfect love. It takes something to avoid failing with a storyline and message like that. Chan Hon certainly does not. Appearing in support is Lau Siu-Ming and Ann Mui, who like her sister Anita Mui also tragically past away after losing her battle to cancer (in 2000).

Buy the DVD at:
HK Flix.com

Daughter of Darkness and Brother Of Darkness actor Hugo Ng got his wife Lily Chung from the same films to act in his AIDS drama and not so much due Chung's, Ng fails at creating enough of assured content out of a solid dramatic template. Bobby Au is Wah, a newly married truckdriver and father. After his sexdrive goes into overdrive, indeed a fatal encounter takes place in Mainland China. An unnamed beggar (Hung Siu-Wan) offers her services and since skipping on the condom bit, Wah is infected with AIDS. Doing his blood test prematurely and seemingly in the clear, months later Wah's positive diagnosis is confirmed. It all goes to hell from there...

The effect of showing real photographs of young AIDS-victims is evidence of Hugo Ng preaching but the story is certainly filled with the type of aspects in need of re-telling. His other sensible decision is to shoot in synch sound but nothing else in Fatal Encounter registers. In fact, there really is a rookie feel to the drama and ultimately Ng's severely trips over his drawbacks. The gloomy atmosphere is in Mainland China where soldiers and characters overall are no less than evil. On the flipside, Hong Kong is bright and about to be tainted, a possible symbolism in Ng's frame but an ultimate example of him trying to create something relevant comes during his own role as a gay (and very flamboyant) insurance salesman. Making sure to inject prejudice towards homosexuals therefore, this all would of course be difficult for any filmmaker but the fact of the matter is that Hugo is reaching way too high. Not even the grave darkness and tragedy matters despite not being overdone soap-style. Even though final emotions are better aimed, Fatal Encounter is way too ambitious for only your second movie.

Buy the DVD at:
HK Flix.com
Yesasia.com

After not being allowed to complete work on The Big Heat, Andrew Kam had to wait 2 years before another chance came, with Fatal Termination. By the numbers action-thriller initially, Kam gives the film some serious teeth and grit after the half way point, showing us what merciless cinema can be like. A particular outstanding and completely inappropriate scenario involves the little girl of the Ray Lui/Moon Lee unit being hung through the window of a fast moving car. And it's a fast moving car! Only in Hong Kong...

But this is intensity I find extremely thrilling, not ashamed to admit that and Kam doesn't let go until the very end, having fired off extensive bullets and gore by the time the final credits roll by. Big ups goes out to Moon Lee who is very dedicated to the emotional state of her character, be it big or subdued. Simon Yam, Robin Shou and scenery chewing Phillip Ko also stars.

Action-drama about a group of Hong Kong tourists in the Philippines that are taken hostage by a local rebel group.

Unexpectedly grim and dark coming from Eric Tsang which is why Fatal Vacation ranks as an interesting but flawed 90 minutes. Tsang throws in the odd commentary about the cynical media and the importance of uniting but overall it's a character drama of shaky proportions on offer here. Writer Nam Yin gives sufficient backgrounds to the people from different walks of life that comes together in the face of this hardship but Tsang, while doing passable work, isn't up to the task of getting the drama to greater heights despite good performances from himself and Tommy Wong.

Cinematographer Jingle Ma provides some well-captured images in the Philippines and the action by Ng Min Kan shows an eye for destruction but unfortunately not style as such. Co-starring Irene Wan, Victor Wong, Tang Pik Wan and Nam Yin.

Buy the DVD at:
HK Flix.com
Yesasia.com

It's quite a task to try and follow in the footsteps of an effort such as A Touch Of Zen but director King Hu successfully did it with The Fate Of Lee Khan. Largely set in the iconic setting of the inn, also featured to great effect in Come Drink With Me and Dragon Inn, Hu has a much smaller, intimate story to tell despite the rulers vs. the rebels plotline. He almost delights in being tedious for a good 40 minutes as he shows the inner workings of the inn, its sometimes dopey guests, adding a little humour in the process. But as soon as the mighty and ruthless Lee Khan (Tien Feng) and his entourage arrives, Hu kicks the tension into high gear and doesn't let go. His varied staging's within a single location is thoroughly captivating and edgy and his prior light touches only sprinkled with what's to come aids these latter sections of the film greatly. With his regular cast in place, such as Han Ying Chieh and Pai Ying in addition to Golden Harvest and Shaw Brother's profiles such as Angela Mao, Hu Chin and Kok Lee Yan, the stage is populated with dependency and Hu does indeed get excellent performances to aid this tension, especially from Tien Feng and the fiery eyed Hsu Feng as his closest guard.

When the action climax hits (action was directed by Sammo Hung and Han Ying Chieh), it can be argued that The Fate Of Lee Khan goes down conventional territories but for a smaller in scale story, the choice to erupt into fighting is valid and Hung and Han's work registers as exciting. Also with Roy Chiao and Li Lihua.

The Mainland Beauty dvd is a full frame presentation that doesn't do Hu's film justice. You're better off tracking down a copy of the UK Made In Hong Kong VHS that featured the 2.35:1 framing in all its glory in addition to the Mandarin language track and newly created subtitles. The screencap above is from that tape.

Buy the DVD at:
HK Flix.com
Yesasia.com