Not too far away from his favourite movie and justifiably critical high A Home Too Far, Requital sees Taiwan's "finest", Chu Yen-Ping emulate /steal unashamedly yet again. The heroic bloodshed movie, the gangster movie and a mish-mash of various American ones (including Once Upon A Time In America and State Of Grace) are all run through Chu's filter and the results are predictably familiar therefore. Predictably as well, Chu somehow avoids irritating the crap out of this viewer and his ultra gory take on matters is enjoyable. We're not far from fountain like manifestations of bloodshed, all within the spiral of events lead Tok Chung-Wa is part of. A quality cast in minor to large appearances includes Jack Kao, Amy Yip, Alan Tang, Chan Chun Yung (as a character obsessed with having sex with virgins), Blacky Ko, Lung Si-Hung, Wu Ma, Lo Lieh, O Chun Hung and Jimmy Wang Yu.

There's few that can rival the goofy horror mayhem of 80s Hong Kong cinema but very few who could make it extremely insane in a very compelling way. Clearly director Wong Ying (yes, that's NOT schlockmeister Wong Jing) is no Nam Nai Choi when it comes to this, even though what's on offer is has all the opportunities to rival the likes of The Seventh Curse.

The various set pieces probably do go on for a bit too long (such as the one where Charlie Cho turns into a dog) but it's nonetheless unique Hong Kong entertainment, one that maybe new viewers won't be so critical of. While it's really a small nugget of momentum on offer, much of it is lost in the latter stages and the finale becomes much of a chore to get through. The last few minutes amps the gore and excitement however, ending Return Of The Demon on a slightly better note. The Seventh Curse should be your first stop if you want an experience like this, Wong Ying's movie...roundabout spot 12 on that list, if you have one. Starring Shing Fui On, Robert Mak, Emily Chu, Wu Ma, Dick Wei, To Siu Ming, Nat Chan (who along with Charlie Cho for once that does not play a happy, horny character) and Chui Sau Lai.

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Largely unimaginative gangster tale and the production also seems to get itself in trouble when the action directing in a semi-contemporary environment leans more towards the new wave Wuxia films of the 90s, post-Once Upon A Time In China. It's no Ching Siu-Tung level in terms of the wirework either but the action directors compensates with a high level of energy and creativity within their own lower standards. Especially the ending is a full on blast of sheer ridiculousness but by being bathed in blood and bullets, this climax cements a fine, fun reputation for Revanchist. Zhang Fengyi flashes little charisma or talent (you are considered notable when you have Farewell My Concubine and Sun Valley on your resume) and unashamedly goes for the acting overdrive, with pleasing, gory results. Also convenient that he wears white throughout and in the finale, as you will find out. The Category III rating should be taken lightly as it has more to do with a gratuitous sex scene rather than with the violence.

A different Moon Lee vehicle but seeing as it partly replays the opera scene from Once Upon A Time In China and features the ghost/man love story that A Chinese Ghost Story made popular, it's hard to look at The Revenge Of Angel as a true original. In the role usually reserved for Joey Wong, Moon plays Angel, a peking opera performer that dies in a fire at the hands of local thug Chan Ping (Chung Faat - Spooky Encounters). 20 years later, fresh opera performer Siu Man (Lau Ji-Wai) finds the spirit of Angel and falls in love. With him and several others of the opera troupe on her side, Angel can finally plot her revenge...

Played almost totally straight (a gag at the very end concerns flashing your underwear to break Taoist priest's concentration), director Yeung Kuen (Seeding Of A Ghost) doesn't play out the otherworldly romance particularly well, pushing for emotions in the most sappy of ways (think stock, manipulative score). It's Hong Kong cinema being slightly more ambitious but in the end drawing a "storyline" merely as an excuse for fights and effects. The latter it does as standard as you'd come to expect from the era but the action choreography is well done. Standouts includes a skirmish onboard a ship heading for the afterlife where Angel's servants turn against her and the ending involving spells and weapons is rather noteworthy. Wu Ma and Alvina Kong co-stars.

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A diamond smuggling triad (Danny Lee) and his ambitious younger brother (Aaron Kwok) reunite but the former stirs up troubles via his criminal ways, drawing his Christian family closer to his shady world...

Directed by Andrew Lau and largely designed to be a movie for Aaron Kwok (dancing and lots of Canto-pop opportunities are utilized), standard sentimental drama comes with the commercial package deal therefore but having producer/lead Danny Lee on board makes Rhythm Of Destiny a lot more gripping than it probably should be. The requisite character that has to come to terms with shedding his criminal skin in favour of family values has Lee anchoring the picture as you've come to expect from the otherwise cop actor. The violent ending is disappointingly highly calculated rather than earned and director Lau really shows no interest in making any of this special. Danny did. Shing Fui-On is fun in a supporting role as one of Lee's wilder triad brothers. Also starring Sharla Cheung, Lisa Chiao, Peter Lai, Wu Ma, Blacky Ko and in one of her appearances in Hong Kong cinema, future Ally McBeal star Lucy Liu.

Rich And Famous, despite the being part 1 in a triad story that was followed up with Tragic Hero (aka Black Vengeance), it was the latter that was first unleashed upon audiences as it was thought to have more commercial potential (more action). Tragic Hero was successful, much thanks to the star power of Chow Yun-Fat and Andy Lau no doubt, but Rich And Famous managed to slide by, taking in over 21 million at the box office. It goes to show that audiences are willing to be put be subjected to mediocrity as long as there's stars involved...

Kwok (Lau), Yung (Alex Man) and Chui (Pauline Wong) are the trio of kids from a poor family that end up working for respected triad boss Chai (Chow Yun-Fat). With Yung being adopted into the family, he is naturally the one that goes astray, leading to betrayal and bloodshed along the way...

Manfred Wong and Stephen Siu's script is the epitome of ordinary and generic within the triad genre. Each and every role is a pure stock character and no attempts whatsoever are made to make old seem fresh. Director Taylor Wong doesn't seem to bothered either and hands over the duties to the actors. Can't say I blame them for acting left alone with no guidance. No star power in the world can in this case overcome the sheer dullness on display and while Chow Yun-Fat can look suave in his sleep, he looks thoroughly bored here. Remarkably sloppily directed at times, Rich And Famous offers up maybe a stunt or two of noteworthy nature towards the end. The other positive out of all this is a fairly likeable performance by none other than Alan Tam as Mak the stuttering coward who has to face his demons in the end reel as these things go. Also with Danny Lee (as yet another cliché character...the cop hellbent to nail the crime boss!), Carina Lau, Shing Fui On and Fan Mei Sheng.

Note that the screencap above is from the Tai Seng dvd. Mei Ah have out an anamorphic edition that surely beats prior home video presentations.

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Frequently slammed for efforts such as Passion Unbounded and Hong Kong Showgirls (and rightly so), Joe Hau's debut film is a fine ensemble drama focusing on career women possessing that tough/equally soft shell that speaks to their longing for love. A terrific cast consisting of Cecilia Yip, Carrie Ng (looking nothing like her trademark glamour self), Pauline Wong (also producer) and Petrina Fung performs in the often familiar template with gusto but much credit goes out to Hau's sense of making simplicity and familiarity work. Best scene probably being when the character of Dickson (Wu Shing-Guo - Temptation Of A Monk) takes Cecilia Yip's Ha to meet his parents. Staged as a cross examination, Hau's cinematic sensibility gels perfectly here and he remains truthful throughout. Bringing in elements of farce in the interaction between the women (Pauline's character doesn't go for a boob job, she goes for a pump that she adjusts whenever she likes), this clearly signals his desire to not go overboard with depth but Right Here Waiting... isn't a production that has calculated wrongly in its strife to be simple about the fate of characters. Their stern, playful shells make way for shyness, innocence in a way that is felt and even depressing. But the message about being pro-active, to only worry about the things you can change and change them brings the movie to a fine close. Shot in synch sound thankfully where you for once get to hear Pauline Wong speak in Chinese AND English. Emil Chow, Julian Cheung, Crystal Kwok, Jimmy Wong and Law Kar-Ying also appear.

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Before he managed to star in a bunch of Shaw Brother's more outrageous films (Super Inframan, Oily Maniac, Mighty Peking Man, Bruce Lee And I), the studio tried to find something for Danny Lee to do, not hitting the mark with River Of Fury. A familiar story of innocence abused and betrayed, thematically much can be squeezed out of it but director Cheung Chang-Chak never manages to find the sparks for the film to ignite into worthy poignancy. No complains about the sets and cinematography plus Lily Ho (Intimate Confessions Of A Chinese Courtesan) is stunning as a Peking opera performer yet it's far from sufficient. Really far. The usual end credits caption "Another Shaw Brother's production" never rang more true. Also with Ku Feng, Tin Ching and Ouyang Shafei.

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