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| My Life's On The Line (1979) Directed by: Wang Chung Kwong |
Shot in Taiwan and utilizing Leung Kar Yan (Warriors Two) and unfortunately Dean Shek, Wang Chung Kwong's My Life's On The Line registers favorably not only due to the fast and powerful action directing by lead Wan Li Pang. No, Wang even makes the film a very minor journey with a message concerning Wan's character Minute Fong's refusal to settle down but how he softens up at the sight of a kid who he opts to teach kung fu. Not all plot strands are explored though and whatever narrative choice of Wang's probably is in the end just a springboard for the plentiful fight scenes. However the hand to hand combat in combination with some great acrobatics and fair leg work by Wan Li Pang makes My Life's On The Line very much a worthwhile experience. Lung Fei also appear. This film also seems to beat Snake Deadly Act in terms of having the most abrupt ending. No final technique is ever shown, only animated blood running down the screen. Mad. Final reel footage lost? Running time too long? You be the judge, every version is like this reportedly. Buy the DVD at: |
| My Rebellious Son (1982) Directed by: Sun Chung |
A lot of grating noise trying to pass for a comedy, this Sun Chung (Human Lanterns) directed Shaw Brother's production is further evidence why the decline happened at the legendary studio. Fu Sheng in the Jackie Chan role is an irritating mimic and when the whole package is designed around even a basic storyline that doesn't involve, there's a realization that the crew thought either too much of or too little of themselves to actually deliver a fine product. Either way, the film sinks and stinks. The long trek towards the action doesn't make My Rebellious Son worth it but the intricacy of the choreography translates into quality at least. Also with Ku Feng, Cecilia Wong, Johnny Wang and Michael Chan. Buy the DVD at: |
| Mystery Files (1996) Directed by: Jeffrey Chiang, Sherman Wong & Tony Leung |
Three murder mysteries in one, all with nifty and quirky Mr. Solve-It-All Yat (Andy Hui) at center. Two occur during his Mainland visit, one on a cruise and the co-directed effort is a stinker in every sense. Never showing any belief in the material and just having the actors read and act out the short mysteries without any guidance, not only is it the recipe for boredom here but for full on incoherence as well. This is not a Hong Kong equivalent of Monk and never shows signs of ever being. Also with Ada Choi and Edmund Leung. Buy the VCD at: |
| Mystery Of Chess Boxing (1979) Directed by: Joseph Kuo |
Joseph Kuo's independent martial arts cinema can be very much hit and miss but along with The 7 Grandmasters, fan favourite Mystery Of Chess Boxing (aka Ninja Checkmate) ranks as one of his better genre efforts. Not so much thanks to his own directing as much as it covers generic genre content in generic ways while plot devices are pretty much lifted straight out of Snake In The Eagle's Shadow (Li Yi Min playing a bullied wannabe student who eventually gets trained by a reclusive master played by Jack Long). Despite, Kuo never makes the familiar template a hindrance and even gets a assured performance from Jack Long. Main highlight is of course the work of action directors Ricky Cheng and Wong Chi Sang who gives us extensive fight choreography with emphasis on acrobatics (a particular well-honed skill in Jack Long). This was also one of the movies hip hop group Wu Tang Clan incorporated into their act, hence the familiarity in modern audiences of such names as Ghost Face Kiler. Simon Yuen also appears as a cook and not Beggar So. A surprising fact considering the impact his portrayal had after Snake In The Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master. Buy the DVD at: |
| My Young Auntie (1980) Directed by: Lau Kar Leung |
Delightful kung-fu comedy from Lau Kar Leung that features Kara Hui (Best Actress winner at the 1st Hong Kong Film Award for her performance) as Ching Dai-Nan, the widow of the deceased 2nd uncle of the Yu family. She travels to Canton deliver the will to Yu Jing-Chuen (Lau Kar Leung) but the evil 3rd uncle of the family, Yu Wing-Sang (Johnny Wang) isn't about to let go off a heritage he thinks rightfully belongs to him... Kara Hui is as fetching as ever as the titular young auntie, which creates a fun comedic energy throughout and Hsiao Huo is the overseas educated son of Yu Jing-Chuen who's out to make her life a living hell, using the manners he's picked up in the West (including spouting English left and right much to the confusion of Ching and everyone else except of his fellow students). If this was the answer by Shaw's to the kung-fu comedy trend set by Snake In The Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master over at Seasonal, it's a pleasure to report that not only is it a successful combination of whacky comedy and massive doses of martial arts, but clearly much more polished than anything that subsequently came out of Golden Harvest. Hsiao Hou can grate on your nerves occasionally, as can the peak of the wackiness in the form of the masquerade ball, but that's minor quibbles in this more family oriented martial arts entertainment (if there ever was such a thing). Gordon Lau appears as one of Hsiao Hou's fellow students, sporting both mustache and a full head of hair and Lau Kar Leung himself, having stayed mostly in the background for larger parts of the film, comes out during the extensive finale to deliver some excellent action as on-screen fighter and choreographer. Buy the DVD at: |
| My Wife is 18 (2002) Directed by: James Yuen |
Ekin Cheng is livelier and more fun than ever before but it's effort wasted as My Wife Is 18 becomes another one of all too many examples of Hong Kong romantic comedies that can't combine its broad and heartfelt elements into an effective whole. Plus, what the hell is up with clocking in over 100 minutes these days for these kinds of films that doesn't have that much say to warrant the viewing time. Anyway, Charlene Choi without dedicated direction not surprisingly comes off as annoyance on two feet and James Yuen brings nothing of note to a romantic comedy that has neither romance or as much comedy as it clearly thinks. Richard Ng, Stephanie Che, Ronald Cheng and Patrick Tang also appear. Buy the DVD at: |
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