Intersecting stories of roommates Eddie (Jan Lam), Steven (Nicky Wu) and Co Co (Maggie Cheung) handled respectively by at least 2 fine drama directors (Yonfan hasn't shown inspiration in front of me...yet). A new age is represented by the fact that men and women share their happiness and woes together, with these stories aiming for both those moods and a little something in between.

Under Samson Chiu's (When I Fall In Love... With Both) direction, Eddie befriends distraught woman Icy (Wu Chien-Lien) and their friendship turns physical too. But is the shampoo boy just a shoulder to cry on? A question especially warranted since Icy is planning to get married. There's a challenge in all of these stories to define each and every moment because you have so much less running time to do so. In that regard, Chiu turns out standard, fairly likeable work but it seems the short format doesn't allow for him to be as playful and heartfelt, which is true for much of his work otherwise. Lam and Wu work generally fine together and there is something to be said for Wu's splendid presence that glues you to the screen whatever it is she's doing.

Stockbroker Steven and flat out unseasoned kid in terms of where he is in his life makes in a moment of loneliness (and possibly sexual frustration) plans to date a phone service woman but the one he befriends instead is classy, middle aged lady Anna (Sylvia Chang), the unhappily married wife of Stevens boss (Melvin Wong). Yonfan's (Rose) eye for perfectly composed beauty gets manifested in Chang's presence and there certainly is some emotional payoff concerning people's fear of being lonely. His contribution is very solid thanks to Sylvia Chang's ageless beauty, contrasted well to the dopey nature of Nicky Wu's character but again, the premise halts at likeable but empty.

Sylvia Chang thankfully saves In Between with a splendid, entertaining time. Maggie Cheung gets impregnated by either a Russian who heads for home the day after or ex-boyfriend Fai (Winston Chao) but she seeks support in colleague and an all out gay friend (called Gay Lo) played by Eric Kot instead. Evidence of the premise of He & She resides here but director Chang injects a great deal of funny, clever dialogue, flirts with darkness concerning Co Co's wish to terminate the pregnancy and hugely fitting performances, none more so than Eric Kot's. Despite playing up his annoying screen persona, his character is hugely funny, warm and thoughtful. The film is also known as The New Age Of Living Together and Conjugal Affairs.

The English title does accurately yet not describe the journey Alfred Cheung's character goes through but with a slightly sneaky dark edge, director Allan Fung (Freedom Run Q) throws expectations to the wayside. Interest is therefore always sustained in the story about Chang (Alfred Cheung), a cab driver with a big crush on TV reporter Jennie (Maggie Cheung) and in an attempt to get close to her, he feeds her news stories...

The excessive and broad comedy route is embodied by Chang's cabbie chums (most notably Sandra Ng) but the core of the film is performed to a workable degree by Alfred Cheung and Maggie, even when the film turns really surprisingly dark and graphic. Nothing noteworthy truly happens but In Between Loves has a, believe it or not, charming element of surprise that surpasses other Hong Kong productions that also concocted a brew of contrasting elements. Also with Lawrence Cheng, Wu Fung, Michael Chow, Lam Chung, Fruit Chan and Lawrence Ng.

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Yet another enactment of real life events (here covering the formation of the Anti-Triad division within the Hong Kong police) starring the person you always chose for your enactment of real events, Ray Lui (To Be Number One, Lord Of East China Sea being examples of his roles akin to this in the early 90s), The Incorruptible takes a daring stance early. Being short, obviously there's no room for a detailed look at history or characters. Then the whole package, despite looking above average, doesn't smell of interest one bit so Barry Lee (The Girls From China) wisely gives us something basic. Characters such as Simon Yam's alcoholic cop and Tommy Wong's loyal buddy are taken right out the cliché-gallery and the clash with a once lowly drug dealer turned powerful drug dealer played by Waise Lee has all the expected beats. Won't take long before it turns personal of course. Director Lee has nothing new or interesting to say but gives us a quick fix that includes some grim, bloody violence for our enjoyment. Despite using Carrie Ng (and lips) and Anita Yuen as decoration merely. That IS a bit of a crime. Recommended viewing over The Incorruptible would have to be David Lai's Tian Di starring Andy Lau because there you have something basic but more enjoyably noisier.

A sexy but over the top/poorly act by Francoise Yip in this Fatal Attraction copy still makes it valid/guilty pleasure thanks to some well honed instincts by director Sin Chi-Wai... even though they only last for a few minutes. Yip is Maggie, a secretary who goes after Ken (Wong Chung-Kwan) with all the love she can. But when he decides to re-unite with his wife May (May Lo - Red To Kill), Maggie's psychotic senses jump into overdrive...

Although acknowledging its source by having that particular Michael Douglas/Glenn Close vehicle feature in the film, Infatuation has no originality to flash anyway. The sex scenes are shot with a slick sense of style for sure but reeks more of softcore shenanigans from Playboy TV. But the slick sense moves into a more positive light when it comes to the narrative as director Sin emotionally grips during a few scenes where we witness the family of Ken dissolving due to all that's going on around them. As a valid story of a psychotic, matters are too over the top though and the end product mixed together racks up a below average tally. Simon Loui and Hugo Ng also appear. Sin Chi-Wai's only other directed movie Banana Club followed in 1996 and was an endearing, wacky time.

Worthy but not fully essential conclusion to the trilogy that kickstarted the belief in Hong Kong cinema again and spurred an Academy Award winning remake in The Departed, after the prequel dealing with the characters in the 90s, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak takes us back and forth in the timeline. Detailing events before undercover cop Yan's (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) death and the aftermath with the surviving triad mole in the police department Ming (Andy Lau), Yan's relationship with psychiatrist Lee (Kelly Chen) is deepened as well as Ming derailing mentally when trying to forget his shady past and be a good cop. But because the very affecting and poignant theme of continuous hell runs through Infernal Affairs III as well, no wonder it's all continually downwards for Ming. Especially in the light of the fact that more moles may be present, his cover might be blown and his focus is on shady head of the Security Wing, Yeung (Leon Lai). Seeing him in both the past and present segments, the introduction of Mainlander Shen (Chen Dao-Ming - Zhang Yimou's Hero) also makes up the main core of the film while Eric Tsang's gangster boss Sam and Anthony Wong's SP Wong are more background characters here. Said to have confused audiences during the theatrical run, reportedly the longer director's cut of the film fills in some blanks and it's good because clearly writers Alan Mak and Felix Chong went into convoluted territory a little bit too hard. It doesn't make the movie not essential but the first hour is quite underwhelming. Tension and in particular Andy Lau's performance impresses from the hour point though and the conclusion we do get is affecting. But somehow deep inside, blanks in the full story was quite ok at only two movies.

TROY'S REVIEW: Okay, bear with me on this. This is the story of the Rockford family, a truly ruthless bunch who are secretly headed by the deranged, armoured wheelchair driving old bag of a mother. Amongst their heinous deeds, the family happen to have a particularly callous deal going with the local hospital which involves the staff there bumping off various enemies of the family. This is where it gets a tad more complex however, for one such unfortunate victim's sister decides to infiltrate the family in order to get proof against them. Ah but wait, this is an IFD cut and paste job after all so another story inevitably kicks in, i.e. is edited in. This involves Richard Harrison's wife, who is an investigative reporter also trying to expose the Rockford's evil deeds. Naturally, this in turn prompts them to have her assassinated (by a gloriously overacting Pierre Tremblay) which somewhat understandably pisses Harrison off to no end. Yep, as you can probably guess, revenge is very much on the cards in both stories and in Harrison's case, it is dished out quite exquisitely in the grand finale as the theme from Dirty Harry blares out at full volume! Whilst it has to be said that this is sadly far from the most satisfying of IFD's output, for regular fans, this should at least raise a smile or two. The Luk Siu-Fan Taiwan vehicle The Anger was the basis for IFD's re-edit.

Renowned action choreographer Tony Leung's work as director actually includes a pair admirable excursions into the horror genre, working best to his advantage in Vendetta (starring Ray Lui and Kent Cheng). Made the same year, Insanity is the lesser of the two but shows Leung getting some mileage out of the small project at hand despite. Although structuring two ideas around the same movie was never the best instinct.

Simon Yam appears briefly at the beginning as a cop which then leads us into the haunted "scary" statue movie of the movie. The statue that should ward off spirits but instead spooks newlyweds Kathy Chow and Raymond Wong. But you must remember Simon Yam was in this movie too so at the half way point Leung gives us the 40 minute trapped alone with a deranged killer-movie. Treating us to all of the clichés of this scenario, Leung crafts decent chills out of it though. Simon Yam in over the top deranged-mode doesn't equal his more famous turn in Dr. Lamb but is a fun driving force nonetheless. Atmosphere prior to all this has been more forced with Leung utilizing bleak cinematography to evoke doom but the harsh blacks and blues are little mood-setters for when Kathy Chow fights back in and around her isolated house. With Leung also incorporating some gritty violence worthy of his action directing talents, it's easy for the short time it visits, to take a brief liking to Insanity.

Gordon Chan and frequent collaborator Lawrence Cheng in an amusing manner gives us a comedy with suitable hints at Peter Seller's Inspector Jacques Clouseau of The Pink Panther films. Content being more subdued compared to other Hong Kong comedies, Inspector Pink Dragon therefore works better as it's entertaining without being aggravating. Cheng also perfectly anchors the film, filling the shoes to the T of a timid, cocky buy largely useless cop. Suitable menace crops up in Damian Lau's villainous performance as well, showcased the best during the end shootout (choreographed by Deon Lam and Tony Leung Siu Hung). This synch sound production also gives us a chance to for once hear Rosamund Kwan and Nina Li act. Waise Lee, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Kenneth Tsang and Fruit Chan stops by as well.

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Jackie Chan acted as producer/action choreographer on this comedy concerning females in police training and with Wellson Chin directing the bunch of fine looking ladies, the success came. So much so that three sequels were produced. Everybody probably went home happy as the mix for The Inspectors Wears Skirts has it all but in terms of comedy and romance plotting, this is really Police Academy 5 standard already in the first of this series (there are some scattered better gags towards the end however). But having Jackie on board helps immensely and the involved parties do get a good and dangerous workout under his direction. The outtakes are proof of this, especially the fire walk sequence. Starring Sibelle Hu, Kara Hui, Cynthia Rothrock, Sandra Ng, Amy Yip, Ellen Chan, Ann Bridgewater, Stanley Fung, Alex To and Billy Lau. Jeff Falcon, Shing Fui On, Michael Chow, Ricky Hui and Mars can also be seen.

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Literally an unscripted sequel and again a box-office smash, the formula for this series proved to work again as most key personnel returned, including producer Jackie Chan. No one would blame you for thinking you've accidentally started watching the first The Inspectors Wears Skirts again though as director Wellson Chin goes through all the same routines, focusing much on the largely grating acts of Sandra Ng and Billy Lau for starters. Furthermore, there's another dance showdown, more training, limp romance and Chin does the right commercial thing by centering a whole lot of jokes around Amy Yip's enhanced assets. Amusing at times just because it is so silly and childish, this is just a series of skits with tacked on action scenarios so that Jackie can do something. It's a step down in scale from the first film but the reprise of the gymnasium ring fight and the finale offers up painful stunts to a decent degree.

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